All For Naught...

Hey there folks. The Comcast television broadcast was a roller-coaster of fun. We got Scott Navarro on (as you heard), and just watching the game on the preview monitor the Comcast folks set me up with in the booth was a thrill. A whole barrel of fun. Although, ....no face time for old Joe Berg. My hackjob on my beard ended up being all for naught! Well...my Mom would be happy. The late running suspended game prevented us from doing a pre-game sit-down with manager Cadaret, but we'll get to that next time and get us both some on-screen time.

How I understand it, this crew from Yuba City produces a lot of local sports and airs them locally in the North State and sometimes aires them on Comcast in the Bay Area. Either way, all five of them produced a great looking broadcast, and again, unsure until I'll get a work-week phone call into the director, but the game should become available on Thursday on Comcasts On-Demand viewing for a nominal fee. I believe we'll get some DVD's sent up to us, and we'll see how far we can burn that along down the distribution chain.

The only bad thing of the night was that the seven game win streak is over. That just means we'll have to start another one. On the other hand, did the webcast levels come through alright? Did you enjoy a night off from the commercials, or did you miss the Chipotle jingles? Is everyone wanting more Scott Navarro?... Sorry for the abrupt close to the broadcast.

Today's Lineup(s)

Hey folks...Comcast crew is here, spiffing us out. Getting me nervous.

Here's the Outlaws lineup for tonight's second game.

CHICO
1. Jonny Ash SS
2. Dan Luyben 2B
3. Rich Janeway CF
4. Jason Crosland DH
5. Ryan Brown 1B
6. Bryan Silverman C
7. Truan Mehl LF
8. Blake Gailen RF
9. Darrick Hale 3B

No lineup from Calgary. Think they might wait until after the suspended game to make one up.

The suspended game will begin at 6 p.m. with the beginning of the 12th inning. Jesse Oster will be pitching to Colin Moro. The first three up for the Outlaws in the bottom of the 12th are Ryan Brown, Jason Crosland, and Truan Mehl.

Special Broadcast Today

Well...tonight, we're going to be simulcasting with Comcast Television. The folks at Comcast are going to be broadcasting three games this season, and the whole crew is coming up from Yuba City, and although the game will not be live, it is apparently going to be broadcast throughout Northern California. I think they told me the ComcastHomeTeam channel, but I'll have all the details after meeting with the production crew this afternoon.

So...big time for Joe Berg tonight. Got into the office a little bit late this morning because I had to take a weedwacker to my beard. Looking fresh for TV. But...I'm not sure how this all is going to affect the radio broadcast. There will be a radio broadcast for sure. Whether or not it has commercials is the main question. I'm sure that doesn't disappoint anyone, unless you're like me and can't stop singing..."Hey hey hey....Burrito Lady....drive me crazy..."....

The director told me he'd prefer I did more of a "radio" style, describe everything broadcast, as opposed to the TV style "just touch up the picture". So that's a good thing. He wanted me to serve my primary audience, which is nice. But, with the picture going on, I'll have to be half-a-step ahead, as opposed to half-a-step behind. It'll be an exciting challenge.

But, be sure, the radio broadcast will happen even though I'm going big-city tonight. We'll come on around 5:45pm for the end of the suspended game which starts at 6 p.m. Then, we'll probably take a break, and come back on just five minutes before first pitch with the television simulcast. We'll see.....

Fireworks Beat Both Teams...

Interesting end to the affair tonight. As we reached 11 p.m. and the top of the 12th, tonight's play was suspended until tomorrow, as by city code our fireworks show had to begin. The game itself was great. Filled with a lot of errors, but excitement in the ninth as the Outlaws scored two runs to tie the ballgame at 6. Then, the Outlaws had chances in the 10th and 11th to wrap up the win with the winning run at third base in each inning, but came up empty. Thus, nearly 3 hours and 50 minutes into the ballgame, the fireworks just couldn't wait. A huge crowd of close to 3000 had stuck around, and the show had to go on!

Here's the grand finale...or at least some part of it. And the folks streaming out of the ballpark who hung around to see it all happen.

Everyone gets into the ballpark free tomorrow for both games, as the suspended game picks up tomorrow at 6 p.m. in the top of the 12th, with Jesse Oster coming into pitch for Chico and Colin Moro at the plate in the 8th hole to lead things off.

No Broadcast Tonight...sorry

UPDATE:
The Outlaws technically drop the exhibition game, 8-4. As mentioned, the high-schoolers pitched to each other, and the Outlaws threw bullpen coach James O'Neill for three innings, our very own front-office guy, Scott Navarro threw two innings, and a local high-schooler who had gone on to play a year at UNLV, Thomas Whitsitt pitched two innings. So...glad we didn't broadcast a technical loss. For certain, the Outlaws in no way were beat by high-schoolers. It was cool to see the interaction between the youngsters and the professionals. With a large crowd on hand, I bet the high-school seniors really had a great time and made a memory.

But...we get back to it tomorrow night. The real stuff! Looking for 7 in a row! Calgary Vipers with an identical 6-1 record pay a visit. Andrew Alvarado goes to the mound for your Outlaws in his second start of the year.
################


Hey folks. Tenatively, we're planning not to broadcast tonight's exhibition game. I'm planning on being everywhere around the stadium tonight and really bolstering our photography stock.

However, I'll leave it open for you folks to plead your case and change our minds....

Wednesday Line-Ups

CHICO LINEUP
1. Blake Gailen LF
2. Jonny Ash SS
3. Jason Crosland 1B
4. Truan Mehl CF
5. Bryan Silverman RF
6. Gabriel Riley DH
7. Darrick Hale 3B
8. BJ Underkofler C
9. Dan Luyben 2B
SP - Michael Martin (1-0, 6 IP, 3 R, 3 K)

Win Streak Continues

I'm beginning to expect it. The late runs, the big hits...It's been fun. That's the number advice given in broadcasters circles...be sure the team wins, it more fun. Win or lose, I'm enjoying myself, but this streak is exciting and well deserved and fulfilling for all Outlaws fans.

Happy to see the blog has spanned four continents. North and South America, Asia, and my sister in Manchester, England pulling us in over in Europe. Wish I had more pictures for you. I'll needle the front-office folks for any pictures that have been took tomorrow at the office. There is a video of Rascal parachuting in for opening night, you can find it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_6n27bcDGs

As I mentioned, much busier at home than on the road. I need to call on more sponsors and find a replacement cord. The press box is "intimate" at The Nett. PA, other teams broadcaster, team employees, and the bugs and me, all mashed together. Got spoiled with that larger-than-rooms-rented booth in Tucson.

I'm going to write columns and features here in due time. Want to steal the very fine beat writer Patrick Kinmartin's idea of having an ongoing ranking of the Top 10 Indy League teams. I would believe our Outlaws would be in the top 5, the way they're playing. Obviously, the early cream rising to the top in the Golden Baseball League.

The homestand has four more dates, so come out and see us if you're nearby. What beats a summer night at the ballpark? And judging by Chico feeling warmer than Tucson, it's summer here in the North State.

Hope you folks have enjoyed this informal forum that I can scribe in. Trying to think of some insider info that could be shared. .....Hmmm...Greg Cadaret, like me, enjoys Diet Coke. He has his office refrigerator filled with 'em. The players had gourmet pasta and salad from CalPasta in the clubhouse tonight (good stuff, we had the leftovers at our house during spring training). I need a day off to listen to Jon Miller on the Giants radio broadcast and pick up a few pointers!

Tuesday Line-Ups

Been busy now that I'm back at home. Don't tell anyone, but I enjoyed being on the road. Too much going on here in our office and around town to focus on just the blog and website, etc. But..here are tonight's lineups.

CHICO LINEUP
1. Swinford SS
2. Ash 2B
3. Janeway CF
4. Silverman C
5. Brown 1B
6. Riley DH
7. Hale 3B
8. Mehl LF (pre-game interview)
9. Gailen RF
SP - Kevin Altman (0-1, 7.11 ERA)

ORANGE COUNTY LINEUP
1. Damian Jackson 2B
2. Derrek Perren DH
3. Travis Becktel CF
4. Robert Fick 3B
5. Julian Benavidez LF
6. Fernando Pacheco 1B
7. Shane Buschini RF
8. Frank LoNigro C
9. Danny Morrow SS
SP - Matt Durkin (first start of season)

The Bus Returns...

Getaway Night! And a big win to carry the wheels of the bus home a little lighter. The Outlaws continue to thrill early in the season, winning their third in a row in come-from-behind fashion.

Can’t wait to get back to Chico. It’ll be my first regular-season taste of action at “The Nett”. Our Chico fans have a good reputation that travels. I heard from folks in the press-box and Tucson fans in the stands about a “professional heckler” and the rabid nature of baseball fans in Chico. Congratulations! Seriously…

It was great to be in Tucson, and it seems like the locals are going to support their Toros. All four nights saw large crowds and I saw plenty of smiling faces and baseball fans that stuck it out until the final pitch. Hi Corbett is a fine facility and one long in the tooth with baseball history. A great atmosphere and great organization.

But, now we’re home for a week. It’s looking like (writing on the bus at 5 a.m. rolling through Palm Springs in the morning sunrise hour) we’ll get to Chico by 3 p.m. at least. Manager Greg Cadaret is literally in the “bullpen”, as with the proper credentials, he’s the substitute bus-driver should we need him. Apparently Cadaret has been driving his Redding Colts summer collegiate teams the past couple summers. I want to see it!

Everyone will be pretty weary, but coming off a win, and playing in front of an expected large crowd at home will be just the adrenaline cocktail that can get the guys over the top. I am waiting to see Rascal (the Raccoon) parachute into the stadium. (Spoiler Alert: Don’t read aloud to the kids…) How is he going to drop 2,000 feet while keeping that head on? Must see theatrics at “The Nett” and that’s even before first pitch.

It’s Memorial Day (thank you all veterans and active duty service men and women…John, thinking of you), the official beginning of summertime, and an evening of baseball to get it started. Hope to see you there. And for those of you who can’t be there, I’ll finally have a camera to get us some good pictures for the blog (took my camera to Tucson but didn’t have any batteries!).

Getaway Day Lineups

CHICO LINEUP (2-1, W2)
1. Dale Swinford ss
2. Dan Luyben 2B
3. Bryan Silverman RF
4. Jason Crosland 3B
5. Rich Janeway CF
6. Gabriel Riley DH
7. Ryan Brown 1B
8. BJ Underkofler C
9. Truan Mehl LF
SP Jo Matumoto

TUCSON LINEUP (1-2, L2)
1. Skip Adams 2B
2. Lino Garcia DH
3. Dustin Yount LF
4. Jim Rushford 1B
5. Andre Marshall CF
6. Lyndon Poole RF
7. Mayobanex Santana 3B
8. Dylan Parzyk C
9. Franklin Gonzalez SS
SP Toby Nordman

First Set of Audio Highlights

UPDATE: I have added mp3 links to the game story that appears on the main website, chicooutlaws.com. While the webpage and our broadcast are both optimally enjoyed in Internet Explorer, I'm having better luck playing the mp3 highlights in Mozilla's Firefox (another popular free web-browser). Depending on what happens, as much as I want to drive traffic to the blog, I believe if all goes well, I'll have the mp3s at chicooutlaws.com so that our own website can host the files. Feedback on using Internet Explorer and getting the mp3s to load correctly from our main site?.....

Hey Folks...trying to figure this out. If it ends up being easier to put it on the main website, I'll have to figure that out. But...some mp3 highlights for you to enjoy, either stream them or you can download them. The site that you'll be taken too where the files are at is safe and secure.

Dan Luyben (pictured) breaks a 1-1 tie with a 3-RBI double in the 4th inning
http://www.box.net/shared/hlsypiliat

Here Is Bryan Silverman scoring the go-ahead run on a wild-pitch http://www.box.net/shared/7ak74y9nq1

Blake Gailen knocks in two more in the 9th for added insurance
http://www.box.net/shared/cn67684qzk

The Final out of win number two
http://www.box.net/shared/eymygm8uh8

Saturday Sunshine...

No chances for rain at the yard today. Sun is shining and it's hot out there. Just wanted to send along some quick updates.

Andrew Alvarado will get the start for the Outlaws tonight as we look to get two in a row. Jo Matumoto, our newly acquired Japanese left-hander will get the start Sunday night. Evan White is scheduled to start the home-opener on Monday night.

First Win of The Season Comes On A Great Night...

Ho-ly Cow! What a night! Two Outlaws hit it out of the park, and humbly, I believe I might of as well. A much better performance from your play-by-play (pbp) man on Friday evening. No studders, Jim Rush-Ford came off the tongue fine and dandy, and the Outlaws charge out of the gate and get their first victory of the season.

The bus ride home was much more pleasurable. Boss man Cadaret was in an upbeat mood, as were the 22 guys on the bus, and I'll bet we get right back to it tomorrow night with the same vigor. Winning is good for the soul. Good like no other place than indy baseball. All about winning, all about results, and your Outlaws played a fantastic game tonight. All over the Toros from the start, five runs in the first three innings, and the bullpen and starter Michael Martin made it stand up, and here we are, 1-1 on the season.

Two more games here in Tucson before the home-opener. Long bus ride home to Nor Cal, but the clean fielding and solid batsmanship (don't know that that's a word..haha) and the Outlaws have that taste of victory now salivating.

And did I mention I love Tucson. What a city. I promise you, there's no better "desert city" in America. Over 2,000 feet in elevation, it gets hot but remains cool enough, the Catalina Mountain Range stands as a proud symbol of beauty over the city, and of course, the UA is here...(University of Arizona). I'm a proud two-semester alumnus. Moved on to the local community college and then Northern Arizona University up at 7000 ft. elevation in Flagstaff. Beautiful city, beautiful state. Wish we came here on more than just two trips, regardless of the zillion-hour bus ride.

Folks, tune in tomorrow night (tonight, Saturday) for the latest Outlaws action. I've settled in, the team is ready to start a streak, and whhhhhy not? Every pitch, with a 20 minute pre-game, right here at ChicoOutlaws.com.

Great Column in Tucson paper

Here's a great column about the history of baseball here in Tucson and also about the will and spirit of the players of the Golden League

http://www.azstarnet.com/sports/293998

Heading out to the ballpark at 3:15. Humid outside, but no threatening showers or rain today.

And...We're Underway...

What a night! The Outlaws came up short in their comeback bid, but an exciting ballgame nonetheless. Really loved the heart the guys showed in fighting back, and as G-rated insider information goes, manager Cadaret said on the bus ride back to the hotel, "We played a full nine." Meaning, he appreciated and recognized the effort and spirit of the ballclub. A lot has gone on in the past 48 hours. The final cuts, the long bus trip, the rain showers here in Tucson, falling in an 8-1 hole...but the guys didn't let the battle end until that final pitch.

Geez...I love this job. Probably we're all getting spoiled here at Hi Corbett. From the spacious clubhouse to the immaculate pressbox, the facilities here in Tucson are certainly first-class. Wish we had more than just two trips down here to the Old Pueblo. I opened up the side-window in the booth early in the afternoon after the bus arrived around 3:30 p.m. As the game drew nearer, I wondered how I could get this large window right in front of me open. Being non-mechanical (other than a piano-moving employment history), I saw a couple wires connected to the window, and figured, "don't tug on it...probably more expensive to replace than I can afford". So...as first pitch drew near, I asked the helpful media staff, and MAGIC! The window opened with a press of a button. Like some fancy luxury box at an NFL stadium, all I had to do was press a button and the windows' hydralics kicked right in, opening me up to the sounds and smells of the ballpark. As I said...MAGIC!

And what a place to make my professional baseball debut. In a town I love, inside my own booth larger than rooms I've rented in college for months at a time. I was nervous, and I was studdering. Jim Ru..Ra...Ra...Ruuu....Rushford...curse him! My sister-in-law is a speech pathologist, maybe I need to phone her up. Maybe I just need to breathe easier and deeper, and overall pay more attention to my broadcast physiological mechanisms. Maybe I need to stand up. Might try that. But...overall, I felt like I hit my groove later in the ballgame, just as the Outlaws themselves did, and I'm thinking as opposed to a week into the season, perhaps before we leave Tucson I'll be settled into my rhythm.

As I said, what a vocation I convinced Mr. Jacey to pay me for. I went into the clubhouse and got my pre-game interviews with Cadaret and Silverman, and then, just sat out on the concourse at Hi Corbett at a picnic table filling out my scorebook with the lineups. A cover-band was playing oldies from the 60's, the kettle corn and churros and grilled goods made for a potent aroma, and excited fans (over 4,000 of them) filled the ballpark with the necessary opening night buzz.

Ya know, operating on three and a half hours sleep, I was fueled all day with the adrenaline as if I were batting clean-up at Wrigely Field. They'll be only one "first game", and while I grade myself at a 4 out of 10...I can promise, it'll get smoother.

But, I'm going to enjoy some sleep if I don't stay up watching this replay of the Lakers-Nuggets playoff game. Just being in a hotel room on a "business trip" is exciting and something I wouldn't do otherwise. Breakfast ends at 9 a.m., bus leaves to take the guys the gym at 10 a.m. Don't know if I'll make either...

Rain, Rain Go Away

UPDATE - 2:15 P.M. - The hard rain has stopped. Been stopped for about an hour or so. Hopefully they tarped the field. Solid spots of rain still on the radar, but those radars can be mirages when we're talking about desert rains. Haven't heard any official word.

Updating you on the weather here in the Old Pueblo. After sprinkles this morning, the skies have opened up and it's raining pretty good here at the hotel (approximately 3 miles west of Hi Corbett). Forecast doesn't look great, as chance of rain and thunderstorms remain throughout the evening. Will send along all the latest information as we get it.

We've Arrived...Opening Morning...

Hey folks...Didn't want to Tweet, incase anyone is receiving those via text message on their phone. But...we're here! Tucson, Arizona! Google maps tells me we all rode 990 miles on the charter. We left at about 10 a.m Wednesday, and rolled in about 2:50 a.m. Here's a big shout-out to our captain, Art! He soldiered on! For those wondering, that was good enough for a five movie bus ride, with the seeming staple of all staple, "Anchorman" closing the curtain on the night as we get near Phoenix.


In not too long, we'll be at the ballpark. 3:15 p.m. bus to Hi Corbett. Don't claim to be passing along crazy insider info, but without having asked (I should've), I'm pretty sure Kevin Altman will be on the hill to get us started.


I spent three years in Tucson, going to school and working part-time as a piano-mover (apparently this town is a huge piano town, as the roaring '20's really roared here with some jazz). I can smell the palo verde trees, and it smells like there's more moisture than normal in the air. Apparently, there is a possibility of showers for later today. I'm not going to be worried about it though. Most likely won't get anything, and if we do, it'll be an early season monsoon that can be best characterized as hit and miss. Rain on one block, dry the next.



Here's a picture of Hi Corbett Field. A historic park. Opened a long time ago as the spring training home of the Cleveland Indians. I saw my one and only spring training game there five years ago, going to check out my Cubbies against the Rockies. We're expecting a good crowd, as the Tucson locals really have an attachment to their Toros, who after being dormant for over a decade, are back. The park is in the middle of town, part of a larger city park that includes a golf course.


Well...I better not get too wound up, or else I won't get to sleep. Quarter to four right now. Now that the final roster is set, I'll have some good information for everyone up in the booth. I'll be down in the lobby tomorrow hounding guys for five minutes to go through the 20 question press. We'll be connecting via a wireless network again tomorrow, so some potentiality for cut-outs. Was not glad, but intrigued to hear that we had cut-outs during the exhibition, but it must've come back??? I'm used to having an outage, and then having to recalibrate the whole deal. Hmmmm......Either way, thanks for bearing with me.


CAN'T WAIT! Today's the day!! Talk to you all soon!

One In The Books...

Well...the exhibition game came and went. The broadcast, apparently, went out and never lost its signal. If it did, please do comment and let me know. I'm going to arm everyone with my cell-phone number from here on out, so that if there is an outage, you folks can call me directly in the booth and I can recalibrate it all in 30 seconds.

I'm definitely clearing out the dust bunnies. I apologize in advance for any unnecessarily disturbing audio level changes. My first not in Chico, and first night trying to run commercials and everything right there on my laptop in the press box. It'll only get better from here on out, that's what I can promise you.

Otherwise...a busy day, and getting ready to be a busy night. I'm cutting it close, back at the office writing this blog and a story for the website. Bus leaves fairly soon. Don't think I'll have a problem getting to sleep. Everyone got to the office and was spinning plates from 8 a.m on to the time gates opened. Now that I've got the first game broadcasted under my belt, I can sit on the bus for the next long while and rehash and think of better conventions. Read my notes as well.

Can't wait...I'm tired...we're all tired. A night to just chalk up to butterflies and experience, all the way around. But...catch you again soon in Tucson. Hope to have some good pictures and some even better broadcasts for you.

For you...our fans...

As our very own Golden Baseball League gets set to open its fifth consecutive season of operation, independent baseball continues to thrive across the country. From coast to coast, there are eight uniquely different independent leagues that will bring all that a summer evening at the ballpark entails to communities thirsting for their very own “boys of summer”.

As evenings settle through dusk and into the solid night hours, ballparks will be brimming and buzzing with independent baseball fans enjoying the nation’s pastime unfolding before them nightly. The crack of the bat and the pop of the mitt will resound. The smoothly turned double-play will dazzle and stand as example to the Little Leaguers and old-timers alike. The long-ball will get fans out of their seats, and the big strikeout will douse rallies while igniting applause. The smell of the ballpark fare grilling, the hum from the light-standards, the manicured grass, and “Steeee-RIKE” howl from the umpire are all authentic elements indy ball gives to it’s fans.

And I say give, because that’s what independent baseball is about. Giving communities the pleasure and opportunity to take in a timeless summer night’s pacing of the world’s most beautiful game. Indy ball is not about the money, or fame and vanity. It’s about providing and promoting the passion of the game that has permeated our nation for generations. Every ballpark in each of the eight indy leagues are for certain chalked-full of those that love the game. From the team owner, to the players, to the fans, all the way to the ticket-takers…baseball brings us all together.

Giving so as to share. All for the love of the game. That’s your Chico Outlaws. That’s your Golden Baseball League. All of it encompassing the spirit of independent baseball that carries on providing yours and my corner of the world with major leaguer’s of our own.

See you right around twilight for first pitch…

Spring Training Evidence!

Hello again everybody...Spring Training has been underway for nearly a week now. However, tucked away at Butte College south of Chico, some folks might not have believed baseball was about ready to envelope the Chico consciousness all over again. Well...here is the hard evidence.

(Here on the right is Errol Simonitsch, a big southpaw who played last year with the Reno Silver-Sox, bringing a hard heater right into your computer screen.)


Pitchers reported on Saturday morning for their first bullpen sessions. New manager Greg Cadaret wanted to see his guys throw 75 pitches, making sure everyone was sufficently stretched out.


After our Saturday afternoon Host Family and Booster Club BBQ, the whole team got together for it's first official workout on Sunday morning. From 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Cadaret put nearly 40 guys through the paces.


After a few days of drills, the players finally got going with intra-squad scrimmages on Tuesday. Exciting times for everyone. All of us in the office were competing to see who would get to take the lunch sandwiches out to Butte so we could see some innings of action. Our operations manager Stephanie Valdes drew the long-straw at the office, and she enjoyed the afternoon out there, taking all these pictures for us.

(Above, we've got two newcomers...Jason Crosland leading off first, with Ryan Brown holding him on)

With the first exhibition game being announced for Tuesday May 19th at Nettleton Stadium, the coaching staff has a lot of decisions they'll have to make. The league mandates a 22 man roster, and the exhibition coincides with the day final rosters need to be submitted to the league office. It's disappointing that so many guys will have to be released, but that is the nature of "chasing the dream". I know the ballplayers are trying to make every decision tough for the Manager.

The good news is that the team will work out for the first time at their summer stomping grounds tomorrow morning (Friday) over at the "Nett". Opening night in Tucson is fastly approaching, and the Outlaws are certainly setting lofty goals to return to prominence in the GBL.

(I'll leave you here with one final picture of the intra-squad action. Berek Fasking started 13 games for the Outlaws last season, and has returned to turn the ship around in 2009. And I believe that is fan-favorite and returning team MVP Steve Boggs patroling center-field off in the distance)

It's That Time of Year, folks...

Hello for the first time everybody! The weather’s getting warmer, the days longer, and right around the corner is everyone’s favorite time of year…BASEBALL SEASON!

Welcome to the first entry of this here fashioned, “Outlaws Booth Blog”. I’m Joe Rauschenberger, new on the scene here in Chico, and it’ll be my pleasure all season long to bring you every pitch of all the exciting Outlaws action.

We’re one week out from opening night down in Tucson; ten days away from opening night in Chico. I absolutely cannot wait! Driving out from Missouri, I’ve been in Chico since the beginning of the month, working around the office as we all get prepared for another summer campaign. With the beginning of the season, I can finally settle in behind the microphone and really begin enjoying myself.

Baseball is by far my favorite sport to play, watch, and broadcast. I’ve broadcast the four major sports (baseball, basketball, football, hockey), but the pace and rhythm to a baseball broadcast is an animal all to itself. I enjoy broadcasting baseball because every night is a three-hour chapter in a mesmerizing summer long drama. The game and the broadcast have its’ own unique pacing, and unlike any other sport, it’s my job to foster an entertaining and friendly relationship with all you listeners.

Thus, I’ll be channeling my Midwestern drawl and mannerisms through the broadcast this summer. I’ve been told by the folks around the office I have a “Southern” accent, but I definitely do not. Certainly a “Midwestern” cadence, something entirely different to a “Southern” accent.

I was born in central Illinois and raised in Mid-Missouri. My die-hard Chicago Cub allegiances come from my grandfathers. I went to Wrigley Field for the first time when I was three, and having been back nearly 20 times since, there’s no better city block on earth than that ballpark. Being a Cub and Wrigley fanatic, I’m all about what’s pure and traditional in baseball, and that’s how I became so enamored with minor-league baseball.

My first minor-league experience was while on vacation on the Maryland shores. Dad took us three kids to a DelMarVa Shorebirds game. Since then, I’ve been to many a Frontier League game, some Midwest League games, and a slew of Las Vegas 51’s games while on vacation with my family. There’s just no better value and enjoyment than being 10 rows off the diamond at a minor-league ballpark. While I worked at the Arizona Winter League and saw more baseball than I thought was humanly possible in a month, my first Outlaws game will be my first Golden League game.

As mentioned, Opening Night is just one week away now. Am actually looking forward to that long bus trip. It’ll give plenty of time to read my game notes, look out the window, and I’m sure, catch a few movies. Tucson is actually old stomping grounds for me. I began my illustrious and long-winded University career there at the UofA, and I have an Aunt that retired there. She’ll be out at the ballpark cheering on the Outlaws for sure. Should be warm!

Well, all for now. Been a pretty long introduction for myself. But, this is just the beginning. Hoping to keep everyone well-read this summer, being an English major.