Kevin West didn’t have to worry about working through the New Hampshire Little League bracket to earn a spot in Bristol for the East Region baseball tournament. His spot was already sealed. West, a Hooksett resident, is New Hampshire’s representative as an umpire for the 11- and 12-year-old regional, which decides which team represents the area at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

“It’s a thankless job. You’re expected to be perfect the first time you walk on the field, and you improve from there,” said West. “Nobody ever wants to miss a call, but it’s human nature. A lot of fans and coaches recognize that. It comes with the territory, and you have to turn a deaf ear to the people who are better umpires from the stands than the (ones on the) field.”

As a teenager, West worked for his father, Brian, who was a fixture at Manchester East as an umpire for more than 20 years. The elder West, for whom the East majors field is named, died at the age of 52 about 12 years ago.

Afterward, West went to his father’s house, grabbed his equipment and began to umpire again.

“It’s a big honor,” said West. “From the very beginning, it was always one of my dad’s dreams to go down to Bristol. He kept putting it off. When I started, one of my goals was to go and fulfill that not only for him, but also for me.”

Beginning Friday, Aug. 6, West reaches that goal when he walks onto Leon J. Breen Field. In the stands will be John Caron, a Manchester umpire in his 32nd year. Two years ago, Caron umpired in Bristol, and West made the trip to support his longtime friend.

When Caron and West umpired local action recently, the pair discussed the pressure that accompanies making calls under greater scrutiny. Caron said the biggest shock comes during the games deeper into the bracket, when the spotlight is on – literally.

Following round-robin play, New England Sports Network and Madison Square Garden arrive with their own sets of lights to shine on the field, and ESPN arrives to cover the championship game with towers of its own.

“It’s almost to the point where you wear sunglasses,” said Caron. “I was petrified, absolutely petrified. The kids are nervous, the umpires are nervous, but once you get out there and make the first call, it’s just another game.”

West said he starts preparation in the off-season, when he begins conditioning for the summer. The Hooksett resident said each year takes more of a toll on his legs and lower back.

A calm head and consistent demeanor are crucial to becoming a good umpire, according to West. It’s those two attributes that Caron said his friend has in abundance. Though West has been behind the plate up to the Babe Ruth age, he said Little League is the ideal level of play.

“A lot of the kids play with a lot of emotion,” said West. “You can really see the joy on their faces, and that really reminds you of what the game is all about. The kids really get it. Little League is by far my favorite, because the excitement is very genuine. They seem to have the most fun with it.”