(April 9, 2015) A few months ago STAA member Erik Oas had hit a low point his pursuit of a sportscasting job. Frustrated after a fruitless visit to Baseball’s Winter Meetings and with no other potential job opportunities on the horizon, Oas was considering taking a year off from broadcasting.
That’s when Oas received an STAA job leads email listing an opening with the Bellingham Bells. Suddenly, his immediate future in broadcasting looked more hopeful. Now, Oas is the new Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations for the Bells.
Oas was encouraged to pursue the opening with the Bells when his college roommate and fellow STAA member, Justin Allegri, agreed to help get Oas an interview. Allegri served as the broadcaster for the 2012 Bells season.
“That was big, because what made it so frustrating not making the jump to the minor leagues was not even sniffing an interview. That type of rejection makes you question whether you’re good enough,” Oas says. “I knew the Bells were one of the best teams in the West Coast League, they are defending champions for a reason, so I decided to go after the job. With no back up, the Bells were the only broadcasting position I was even pursuing.”
Oas was a broadcaster and media relations assistant for the California Winter League at the beginning of 2014 and spent the summer with the Klamath Falls Gems.
“I was in the league last year with the Gems in Klamath Falls. It was the best job I have ever had but I wasn’t paid. I may not be good enough for the minor leagues yet, but I know that I am now good enough to get paid. So, I never really considered returning to the Gems. That being said, it is the place I look forward to visiting the most when the Bells go on their first road trip.”
Now that he has secured employment in sportscasting, Oas is excited about the two things in particular: getting plenty of baseball reps and traveling.
“The West Coast League is great because of its schedule. I think that is the simplest way to look at it. Its roughly 60 games and is laid out like a short season minor league season. You get the chance to follow a team for two and a half months with very few off days, and that’s what’s so great. During the season it really feels like you have made it, because you get to work on calling games every night in a league with a real fan base. Parents of players and fans of the teams are so close to you that you really feel like part of a franchise.
I also love to travel and last year I got to go to Canada for the first time, bringing my country total to 16.”
(Visit Eric’s STAA Talent Page).