When she dons the umpire gear and steps behind the plate Wednesday, Diane Wagner will make history.

The DeMotte resident is scheduled to be the first woman to work the plate in the Little League Softball World Series championship game, said Cathy Workman, the media contact for the 2008 Little League Softball World Series.

Wagner, who is the only female umpire in the 2008 Little League Softball World Series, also umpired the Indiana Little League baseball state tournament and the Michigan Little League Softball state tournament this season. She was chosen for the championship game at the Alpenrose Dairy Farm in Portland, Ore., based on evaluations of her performance in regional tournaments since 2001.

ESPN2 will air the championship game at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Games not broadcast by ESPN2 can be seen at www.softballworldseries.com.

Christopher Downs, the media relations manger for Little League International Baseball and Softball, said each umpire is a volunteer who has worked through the various levels of play for a number of years. At each level of international play, the umpires are reviewed and evaluated, and recommendations are made to the respective regional offices for assignments at additional tournaments, he said.

"Most have been umpiring for several years, support their local leagues and are still working in their local leagues," Downs said, adding that for Little League Softball, Wednesday night represents the pinnacle for Wagner.

"When you reach the World Series level, that's it," he said, adding that Wagner would no longer be eligible for working the Little League Softball World Series, but could work the World Series events for the seven other levels of competition.

"We want to open it up to as many umpires as we can."