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.