As part of the new agreement, ECUA and Ed Crane, Coordinator of Softball Officials, will assign umpires for regular season and MAAC Championship games.  In addition, ECUA will provide a central database to the league and its schools to improve the evaluation process for officials.  

"The addition of ECUA and in particular Ed Crane as the MAAC's softball assignor is a reflection of the growth and importance of softball within the conference," noted Ensor.  "As the MAAC has grown its access to NCAA Championships, there is an increasing need to ensure that in-season and championship games are being assigned and officiated in a uniform and equal manner. The MAAC student-athletes and coaches deserve no less as they seek to win the NCAA bid for softball."

Crane added, "We are really excited that we're going to be working with the MAAC. I am confident that the league will be pleased with our umpires' professionalism, rules knowledge, hustle, and game management."

East Coast Umpires Associates is an organization of almost 200 umpires that is contracted to service the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, BIG EAST, Patriot League, and Ivy League for softball.  In the 2012 season, 24 umpires were assigned to Division I Regionals, eight were assigned to Super-Regionals, and two umpired at the WCWS.