(April 29, 2020) Many STAA members were preparing for baseball season with new teams when the Coronavirus hit. The teams they were joining range from affiliated to independent and summer collegiate clubs.
Regardless of whether baseball ends up being played this summer, these individuals still deserve recognition.
They include . . .
Nick Badders
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (previously the Miracle) No. 2
The 2020 Arizona State University grad moves to Florida after spending the first part of this year broadcasting in the Australian Professional Baseball League. He spent last summer with the Elizabethton Twins.
Adam Bertsch
Sioux Falls Canaries No. 2
Adam will move to Sioux Falls after spending January broadcasting in the California Winter League in Palm Springs. He spent last summer with Duluth in the Northwoods League. Adam is a South Dakota native, so the Sioux Falls opportunity keeps him close to home.
Paul Fritschner.
Bowie Baysox No. 2
Landing with the Baltimore Orioles AA affiliate is testament to Fritschner’s drive and hard work. “I reached out to pretty much every AA team. [Baysox Director of Broadcasting Adam Pohl] and I stayed in contact through the winter until the spot opened.”
Fritschner is a 2019 graduate of Xavier University. His baseball broadcasting experience includes summers in the Frontier, Cal Ripken and Great Lakes leagues.
Luke Hallett
Winston-Salem Dash No. 2
The Dash never publicized their opening but Luke found out about it through STAA. The Indiana University alum previously did broadcasting and media relations with Mankato of the Northwoods League.
Carlo Jimenez
Portland Pickles No. 1
This will be the first summer spent with a baseball team for the talented USC freshman.
Nick Lalpuis
Sanford Mainers No. 1
Nick will handle broadcasting and media relations for the Mainers. He graduates from the University of North Texas in December.
“In my previous summer league job (with the Brazos Valley Bombers) I was a lower level member of the media team so getting the experience of being the media coordinator for the team,” he says.
Chris Markowitz
Somerset Patriots No. 2
Chris is a 2019 graduate of Drexel University. The Patriots play less than 40 minutes from Markowitz’s home in Elizabeth, NJ.
Brandon Monty
Walla Walla Sweets No. 1
Brandon is the latest in a long-line of talented sportscasters from Ohio University. He graduates in the spring. Brandon spent last summer in the Alaska Baseball League.
Josh Sperber
South Bend Cubs
Josh will assist the Cubs in media relations and production. He’ll also serve as one of their broadcasters and host of their pregame and postgame shows on radio and select TV broadcasts.
Sperber did color for the State College Spikes last summer while working as a sports reporter and studio host for WHVL-TV. He is a 2015 graduate of Lafayette College in Pennsylvania.
Josh White
Chicago Dogs
Josh will move to the Windy City shortly after he graduates from the University of Miami in May. He’s spent the last two summers with the Orleans Firebirds in the Cape Cod Baseball League. The Dogs play in the American Association.
Congratulations to all!