(March 5, 2014) Seven more STAA clients have accepted baseball broadcasting jobs for this summer. Jason Guerette is the new Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations for the Southern Illinois Miners; Michael West and Jason Patterson are joining the Jacksonville Suns, West as a Broadcasting/Communications Assistant and Patterson in a utility role that includes pre and post-game show contributor; Sam Levitt is the new Broadcasting/Media Assistant for the Gateway Grizzlies; Jess Knaster is the voice of the St. Cloud Rox; Erik Oas joins the Klamath Falls Gems and Sean Kellerman will be broadcasting games for his alma mater, the University of Kansas.
Jason Guerette spent last summer with the Northwest Indiana Oilmen of the Midwest Collegiate League. With the Miners, he’ll call 96 regular season games plus playoffs. “This is a phenomenal opportunity for me because I get to break into professional baseball with a first-class organization. I can tell I’m going to feel right at home with this team.”
Michael West moves to Jacksonville from Daytona, where he spent last summer with the Cubs. “It should be another great year for me out in Florida,” West says excitedly. “I’ve heard nothing but excellent things about [Suns Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations Roger Hoover] and am positive this will be an awesome opportunity for me.”
Joining West in Jacksonville is Jason Patterson. Patterson has spent the past two summers calling college baseball in New York and Alaska. He’s also a former coach at North Greenville University. “I’ve been extremely impressed with Roger and I’m looking very forward to working with him this summer.”
Both West and Patterson applied with Jacksonville using their STAA Talent Pages. “Their STAA pages made this progress very easy for me,” says Hoover.
Sam Levitt graduates from Northwestern this Spring. He spent the past two seasons in the Cape Cod League with the Orleans Firebirds. With the Gateway Grizzlies, Levitt will be working alongside fellow STAA client Adam Young. “I’m excited to work with Adam and continue to hone my craft. It should certainly be an exciting and valuable summer.”
Jess Knaster will handle broadcasting and communications for the St. Cloud Rox. He’ll move to the Midwest after completing his degree this Spring at San Jose State University, where he has broadcast baseball among several other Spartans sports.
“St. Cloud is a great place for me to gain experience because it’s a community that gathers around its team, and doesn’t take kindly to the characterization of the Rox being ‘just a collegiate summer ball team,’” says Knaster. “That passion and loyalty will create a fun atmosphere to work in.
“Although I didn’t find this opportunity through STAA, I don’t feel I would have gotten it without the help of STAA and it’s [resources].”
Erik Oas takes over the mike for the Klamath Falls Gems after spending the first two months of this year broadcasting in the California Winter League. Like Knaster, Oas is loyal to San Jose State University after earning his degree there last year.
Sean Kellerman gets the unique opportunity to broadcast for his alma mater. With the Kansas Jayhawks, Kellerman is working alongside KU baseball broadcasting legend Tom Hedrick.
“It’s been a blast so far,” says Kellerman. “I’ll do this throughout the season, and when it ends in late May I’ll head to Wisconsin to do play-by-play for the Woodchucks.”