Another longtime, accomplished umpire in the province is calling it a career.

Keith Pender recently announced his retirement after 30 years of calling balls and strikes with Softball NL and Softball Canada.

Pender had been Umpire-in-Chief with Softball Newfoundland and Labrador for the past three years, as well as from 2005 to 2010.

He umped at the Canadian Fastpitch Championships 11 times and also served in numerous administrative roles including president, scheduler and treasurer with the Metro Umpires Association.

Pender was also twice named Softball NL executive of the year, as well as Softball Canada Umpire of the Year in 2011.

His retirement comes just a couple of months after longtime baseball umpire Carl Lake hung ’em up after a 53-year career in the game.