Connie Robertson signals an out as she umpires a softball game at the Clinton Lake Softball Complex on Thursday, June 11, 2015.

On the ball field, Connie Robertson is a woman to be taken seriously.

Over 50 years she’s built her reputation as a no-nonsense softball player. And for the past 35 years she’s carried that reputation over to her umpiring career.

“There’s no cussing on the field and no beer in the dugouts,” she’ll say.

Currently in her 51st season, Robertson, 62, said she’s played softball since grade school and figures she’s been playing in Lawrence’s city leagues longer than anybody else around.

“No one’s ever done it this long that I’ve known of and probably no one ever will,” she said. “These days the girls start younger, but they get on traveling teams. They just don’t stay in the city leagues.”

Within the city’s leagues Robertson said she’s played on women’s teams and co-ed teams alike. Currently she plays in the adult women’s league where players range in age from those who just graduated high school to women in their 60s.

One of six children, Robertson said she started playing softball back in the 1960s simply because “that’s what you did.” Many of her brothers and sisters also played the game, and her mother was her first coach.

Robertson said she quickly grew to love the game and developed a taste for the competition. Knowing she was never going to be a long hitter, churning out home runs, she worked hard to hit the ball where she wanted it to go instead. On many days she forced her little brother to pitch to her so she could practice hitting.

In the summer months Robertson said she was the only girl playing ball in her neighborhood, and she would often play in sandlot games against neighborhood boys.

“I grew up on a farm south of Lawrence and when we went outside all summer long we were playing ball,” she said. “I remember playing ball in our alfalfa field. I wasn’t going to let those boys be better than me.”

Over the years Robertson said she’s played in local, state and national tournaments. She alternates between catching, playing third base and outfield positions.

In her time Robertson said she’s seen her share of change. These days Lawrence’s leagues are less competitive than they used to be, and teammate turnover is high.

“Players change, they get married, they have kids, they move away,” she said. “There have been a lot of teammates over the years.”

In the early ’80s Robertson said she began working as an umpire. As a single mother she appreciated the additional income and could bring her then-7-year-old son to the ballpark with her.

“It was the greatest second job in the world,” she said.

In her time as an umpire, Robertson made a name for herself as a rigid yet consistent official, said Paige Moore, adult sports supervisor for Lawrence.

“She’s a strong umpire,” she said. “Everybody knows who she is and they know that if they’re on her field she’s going to keep the reins really tight.”

“She doesn’t take a whole lot of guff from anybody,” Moore added.

Robertson, a retired public works employee, may take the game seriously, but she’s quick with a smile and a quip whether she’s behind home plate as an official or somewhere on the field.

“She’s very sweet but very direct,” said Sheila Ward, Robertson’s longtime coach. “I’ve had to tell some of my players not to take her too seriously. She’s going to yell at you, it’s her background, but it’s all in good fun and in the name of recreation.”

For the past 15 years Robertson has been on the same Pepsi-sponsered softball team, Ward said, and she’s grown close to those around her.

“Every year she tells us she’s retiring and she never does,” Ward said. “She’s in really great shape. I think she likes the exercise and the social aspect of playing, knowing all the same people.”

“We all laugh and make fun of her because she’s still using the same glove she used as a kid,” Ward added, laughing.

That glove, Robertson said, was given to her as a present in the ’70s and is so heavily worn that the pocket is now held together with a zip tie.

“Back in 1974 it cost $120,” she said. “It was a very nice glove and I’m still using it. They just laugh and laugh at me.”

Despite the indecision on hanging up her ball glove and cleats, Robertson said this season may be her last. Recently she’s become more involved in playing pickle ball and may switch sports entirely after the season.

Cory Ingham, who has played in Lawrence’s adult softball league since the mid-’90s, said everybody knows Robertson.

“She’s friendly, tough and fair,” he said.

For years Ingham said he avoided playing catcher, but recently he’s taken a liking to the position. Since then he’s found that Robertson, among the other officials, often joke around with their players, making the experience even more fun.

“She’s still in great shape and she can keep up,” he said. “But I don’t want to say too much. It’s unnatural to compliment an umpire.”