From Baseball5 volunteer to home plate umpire: The inspiring journey of Thalia Villavicencio

At 36 years old, Thalia Villavicencio from La Paz, Baja California Sur in Mexico, has become a symbol of determination and passion in the fast-growing discipline of Baseball5. Her path to becoming the home plate umpire in the WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup 2025 final wasn’t straightforward, but her story is a testament to resilience, courage, and an enduring love for the game.

Villavicencio’s introduction to Baseball5 came during the inaugural World Cup in Mexico City in 2022, where she joined the Local Organiing Committee. Initially tasked with logistics and team support, she never imagined her journey would lead her to officiating on the world stage.

“I was invited to be part of the LOC….one of the officials told me I had the qualities to be a game official,” she recalled. With encouragement from mentors and support from her supervisor, she took the leap into umpiring, a decision that opened doors she had never envisioned.

Her first taste of officiating came as a table official in the gold medal game at el Zocolo, which saw Cuba claim the inaugural title by beating Japan. The experience ignited a spark. When the first WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup took place in Türkiye in 2023, Thalia eagerly accepted the call to Ankara, where she served as a second base official in the championship game. That moment planted a new dream - officiating behind home plate.

“I knew that to get there, I had to convince the Operations Committee I could do it,” she explained. With guidance from colleagues Tony Jones (USA) and Brian Manyeki (Kenya), she refined her craft and built the confidence that would carry her to her biggest stage yet.

Her defining moment came at the WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup Nayarit 2025 in Tepic, Mexico. As officials for the final were announced by Games Official Director for the tournament Andrea D’Auria, Villavicencio braced herself for disappointment. Instead, she heard her name called as the Home Plate Umpire for the gold medal match.

“It was a really emotional moment. Seeing the approval of my colleagues made my heart burst,” she said. Despite the nerves, she embraced the responsibility with poise, leading the officiating crew in a thrilling final between Cuba and Chinese Taipei.

For Villavicencio, umpiring goes beyond calling plays. It’s about professionalism, authority, character, and empathy - qualities she believes are essential for any official. Her favourite part of the job? Ensuring that every game is fair and that players can showcase their talents on a level field.

“Baseball5 reflects how far we have come as a global society, with men and women on the field showing that together they can put on an extraordinary show,” she noted.

Baseball runs deep in Villavicencio’s family. Her father and brothers were players, and she herself once represented Mexico on the women’s national baseball team. But it was through umpiring that she discovered a new dimension of her passion - an opportunity to shape the sport’s future.

Villavicencio’s ambitions remain as bold as her journey. She hopes to build a solid international career as a game official, contribute to the sport’s growth, and become recognised among the world’s best. “I want to create opportunities for this sport and be a part of its development globally,” she said with a particular eye on next year, when Baseball5 makes its Olympic debut at the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026.