University of California Riverside Athletics

The NFL announced this week that former UC Riverside baseball player Rob Vernatchi, who has been an official with the league since 2004, will work his first Super Bowl this Sunday at Miami's Sun Life Stadium as the Indianapolis Colts take on the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLIV.

Vernatchi was a left-handed hitting first baseman for the Highlanders Nine in 1979 and 1980. During his senior season of 1980, he appeared in 20 games hitting .250, scoring eight runs and knocking in six in 44 at bats. In 1979, the Sacramento native appeared in 12 games and hit. 286 scoring two runs and driving in three in 28 at bats.

When he isn't acting as an arbiter at NFL games, Vernatchi is an investigator with the State of California, Department of Health Services. He lives in Sacramento with his wife Julie and her three children.