o when the assigner slipped us a napkin with the big assignment: Big League A, Lindenhurst and Copiague, 8:15 p.m. at Tanner Park, we knew we'd be on center stage. We had all of three or four games under our belts, but we couldn't wait to show DiRubba the future of Western Suffolk umpiring. We knew he lived within walking distance of the park and he rarely stayed away from a night game. He was our top-rated umpire for 13 straight years and he was gonna see us work, then take us under his wing and lead us to the Promised Land.

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