For two weeks, Torben Begines felt like a rock star.

Signing autographs. Getting compliments from people around the nation - it was a good two weeks to be an umpire.

"It was just awesome," said Begines, a Hayden resident who returned last week from Williamsport, Pa., after umpiring the Little League World Series from Aug. 16-26. "I felt like a rock star the entire time. Walking into the complex each day and walking through the crowd and having players and parents asking for your pins and autographs - it was cool."

"The whole autograph thing never gets old," said Begines, 56. "I signed a few before I left to practice."

His 10-year wait ended in January when he received the letter he'd been accepted to umpire at Williamsport. All that was left was to get on the plane.

"It just built and built inside," Begines said. "The anticipation and excitement just kept building until I got there."

Once he did, the emotion took over.

"We rolled into Williamsport about 8 p.m.," Begines said. "I saw the field and told my wife to stop and I jumped out of the car and just burst into tears."

Tears of joy.

"For me, it was the realization of a dream," said Begines, who has been umpiring for 19 years. "For a lot of people that chase a dream, it's one thing - but to catch it is just incredible. Sometimes the whole experience doesn't exceed your expectations, but this one did. It's really hard to explain how great it was."

Had Post Falls made it back to the series with him, it might have been the icing on the cake. The local squad came up one game short of making it to Williamsport.

"It was a pretty exciting run," said Begines, who works for a roofing company in Spokane. "I kept connecting with them and had formed a bit of a bond with them. It was a big disappointment they didn't make it."

Post Falls lost to Gresham, Ore., in the Northwest Regional final in San Bernardino, Calif.

"They were the better team, no doubt in my mind," said Begines, who also attended the regional in San Bernardino. "They belonged (at the World Series). It was really disappointing because I was looking forward to having those friends and family there."

After receiving their initial assignments, umpires rotated around the six different spots - home plate, first base, second base, third base, left field line, right field line - with Begines behind the plate twice.

"Once we got our first position, you could almost guess where you were going the next day," Begines said. "I've got no idea what the rhyme or reason was - all I know was I was pretty excited about the (home) plate games I had."

One included a U.S. semifinal game between Tennessee and Texas - won by Tennessee.

Begines added that there wasn't a big issue with the language barrier. The Little League World Series consisted of eight U.S. teams and eight international teams.

"You learn the sign language right away," Begines said. "And I lived in Japan for a year, so I could kind of communicate with them. It wasn't that tough because most of that stuff is done behind the scenes and they've got their interpreter right there if you need them."

Friendships with the other umpires also grew.

"It was unbelievable," Begines said. "I've got 16 new friends and partners on the field. I started a Facebook page because some guys encouraged me to do it to stay in contact with them."

As if that wasn't enough, having the national television cameras of ESPN also took some getting used to for Begines.

"It is at first," Begines said. "When you're waiting to be introduced, it gets a little nerve-wracking. But after the first inning, it just starts becoming another game. You're aware of them, but it doesn't affect you too much."

The inability to get into the flow of the game was a little different.

"The biggest thing is that they (ESPN) control everything," Begines said. "After being in control of games at all times as an umpire, you've got no control over the game - they do. It's hard to establish or get a rhythm going. The first time (behind the plate), it was a little awkward behind the plate."

The second game was a different story.

"It was kind of like riding a bike," Begines said. "I got accolades from all over the country - literally. My goal was to go and not embarrass my state and my family. With the response I got, I think I accomplished that."

As far as a return to Williamsport - it won't happen as an umpire for Begines.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime deal," Begines said. "They don't ask you back and to do it again at a different level, it's a four-year wait and I'm not sure I'll keep doing this another four years. I've always said I wouldn't take another World Series because I know what it's like to have to wait, and I don't want to take someone else's spot. I'll kind of evaluate it and see what people around me think I should do, but as of right now, I've reached the pinnacle. I'm good."

Begines was the first umpire from Idaho to umpire a Little League World Series game and was on the field for Africa's first game in the tournament.

"I made history and was part of history," Begines said. "I'm in the Little League museum now and I'll be there forever. What more is there?"

Begines added he'll continue with the Little League games for another year, but wants to remain involved in training umpires.

"The big thing for me right now is to help others get to regionals and the World Series," Begines said."

Begines was at second base for the international championship game, won by eventual champion Japan.

"It was a pretty exciting game," Begines said. "Most of their teams had pretty much blown their pitching trying to get to the game. Panama had a little shortstop that was a phenomenal athlete, but I red-flagged him four times. I don't know if he had a thing out for me or what, but I always write my son's name (Ty, who passed away in 2006) in the dirt where I'm at and he kept erasing it. I rewrote it an inning later and he kept doing it. Every time I'd do it, Japan would hit a home run, so it felt like karma a little bit."

For the 24-16 U.S. final between Tennessee and California, Begines was in the stands watching some of his newest friends call the game.

"They wore each other out in that championship game," Begines said. "But it was sure exciting to watch. It was just a fun experience. To have six guys on the field that I've bonded with over the week and I'm excited for them to have that chance. Usually you've got a few egos on the crew, but there wasn't a single one on this group."

The umpires' wives also bonded over the week-long tournament.

"Between the international and U.S. championship game, they all slid down the hill," Begines said. "They really all turned into pin traders."

He'll remain involved with District 1, helping train future umpires to get where he is.

"I still want to be around to help train the younger guys," Begines said. "But I've resigned as the area UIC (Umpire in Chief) and there's a new one coming in. I took the umpiring program as far as I could and I'm very happy with where it is now - even more than the World Series, because I took it from nothing and now we've got a great group of guys that are excited. Nobody thought about going to regionals until I went and nobody thought about the World Series until I did. Now, some of them want to go. All of them have goals, which is exciting for me to see."

"I had the greatest time in the world," Begines said. "I got well wishes the entire time I was there, and I think that really drove me the entire time and really enhanced the entire experience. I hate to see the whole trip end, but it's just like a buddy of mine said, 'two weeks after you get back, you'll just be a has-been like the rest of us.'"

Little League umpires are all volunteer, with Coeur d'Alene Little League among others donating money to help Begines offset costs to get to Williamsport.

"This year has been a dream of a lifetime," Begines said. "I'm really thankful for the community and their support through the entire thing. I am now a World Series umpire."