DeKalb GA News

Becoming a baseball umpire was an unexpected path for Natola Hawthorne, the Library Media Assistant at Stone Mountain Elementary School. Her journey began in 2017 while officiating a high school football scrimmage when she felt drawn to a nearby baseball field. "When I heard [the message], I thought I was losing my mind," said Ms. Hawthorne.

Ms. Hawthorne's dedication to umpiring has led her to make significant strides as an African American female umpire at both high school and collegiate levels. She attributes her passion for baseball to watching Major League Baseball (MLB) stars such as Harold Baines, Ricky Henderson, and Darryl Strawberry during her teenage years.

After deciding to pursue umpiring, Ms. Hawthorne attended several training camps, including the MLB Umpire Prospect Development Camp in 2023. "Mock games, batting cages with pitching machines, simulated situations, and live games were used to gain experience," she explained.

In 2021, she made history by becoming the first woman to officiate in the Alaska Baseball Collegiate League and the Ralph Garr Lucas HBCU Classic. Her achievements continued in 2024 when she became the first woman to umpire MLB's "Uninterrupted Fam Jam" Celebrity All-Star Game.

Reflecting on this experience, Ms. Hawthorne said, "Being asked to umpire a game comprised of celebrities and players I’ve watched on television was surreal." She found it humbling and an honor that confirmed her dedication was being recognized.

Despite challenges such as uniforms not tailored for women, Ms. Hawthorne finds being a female umpire rewarding due to efforts promoting female officials in sports. She founded She Calls It All, LLC to support women interested in becoming umpires.

The DeKalb County School District honors Ms. Hawthorne’s achievements during Black History Month and beyond.