We have personnel news to report today from the Hickory Crawdads (Low Class A; Sally League), the Rockford Aviators (independent; Frontier League) and the Madison Mallards and Eau Claire Express (summer collegiate; Northwoods League).
The Crawdads made several staff announcements today: Newcomers to Hickory include Promotions Director Pete Subsara, Head Groundskeeper Zach Van Voorhees, Group Sales Director Travis Gortman and Group Sales Executives Stephen Johnson and Zach Miller.
Pete comes to the Crawdads after serving as the Promotions and Merchandise Manager for the Lancaster Jethawks (High Class A; California League). Prior to that, he worked for the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach and for the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League. A native of Buffalo, NY, Pete graduated from SUNY Brockport in New York in 2012.
Zach Van Voorhees enters his first season in Hickory with five total years of grounds keeping experience. The Vanceboro, NC native has worked on the fields of the Kinston Indians (High Class A; Carolina League) and Eastern Carolina University Pirates, before spending the 2013 season as the assistant groundskeeper for the Greenville Drive (Low Class A; Sally League). Zach graduated from North Carolina State University in 2010 with a degree in Turf Grass Management.
Travis joins the ‘Dads after spending 2013 in Arena Football with the Jacksonville Sharks as their Director of Game Operations and Group Sales Manager. Travis has previously worked in MiLB with the Memphis Redbirds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and the Lynchburg Hillcats (High Class A; Carolina League), while also spending three seasons in the American Hockey League with the Rockford IceHogs. Travis is a native of Winston-Salem, NC and a 2008 Graduate of Liberty University.
Stephen is entering his first season with the Crawdads after spending last year as a ticket sales intern with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Class AAA; International League) Prior to that, Stephen worked for four other MiLB teams over the last 10 years, including the Kinston Indians, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (High Class A; California League), Myrtle Beach Pelicans (High Class A; Carolina League) and Gwinnett Braves (Class AAA; International League). A native of Kinston, N.C., Stephen graduated from East Carolina University in 2012 where he majored in Sports Management and worked in the athletic department.
Zachary Miller comes to Hickory after serving as a Stadium Operations Assistant with the Tulsa Drillers (Class AA; Texas League) in 2013. A native of Michigan, Zach graduated from Central Michigan University in 2012, where he studied Sport Management and Business Administration. He also worked in the CMU athletic department as a marketing/promotions intern.
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Jared Revlett is the new Voice of the Rockford Aviators. In addition to his broadcast duties, Revlett will also serve as the Media Relations Coordinator and Sales Executive with the Aviators.
“We are eager to have Jared as a part of the Aviators’ front office,” said Aviators President Bryan Wickline. “I spoke with quite a few people throughout the industry and everyone spoke very highly of his talent and professionalism, but most importantly, his work ethic. Our fans will enjoy listening to his unique style of announcing the play-by-play of Aviators’ games.”
“I am extremely excitied about this incredible opportunity to work for such a great program,” said Revlett. “I plan to hit the ground running and make an immediate impact, not only with the team, but especially in the community. I can’t wait to meet the great people of Rockford and help put a quality product on the field that the community can be proud of.”
Revlett has spent the past two years as a play-play-play broadcaster for Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee where he covered volleyball, basketball, baseball and softball on ESPN3. He also announced the 2012 Atlantic Sun Conference Volleyball Championship and the 2013 Atlantic Sun Softball Semifinals that were each broadcast on ESPN3.
Prior to his work in Nashville, Revlett was the Director of Media Relations and Broadcaster for the Evansville Rage professional indoor football team of the Continental Indoor Football League.
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Former Madison Mallards PA Announcer Rich Reynolds will return in the same role for the club in 2014.
Reynolds was the voice at the Duck Pond from 2001-2004 and is the creator behind the phrase wiener, so commonly heard at Warner Park.
“It’s been almost ten years, and I couldn’t be happier to be a part of the Mallards organization again,” said Reynolds. “Being part of the early days, I never imagined the organization would be what it is today.”
Reynolds currently manages several bowling alleys in the area, and has been in the restaurant management industry since his first stint with the Mallards. While with the Mallards, he had several sports talk radio shows on WTLX and WTDY.
Reynolds is one of the early contributors to creating the zany atmosphere that Mallards fans have grown accustomed to. “We always had given out a free hot dog for any foul ball,” said Reynolds when asked about the “wiener” phrase. “A wiener was what a foul ball was worth. Every foul ball became wiener and it stuck!”
When asked how his past experience with the team would help him in his return, Reynolds had a quick response. “The familiar faces, the familiar ballpark and knowing the attitude of Conor Caloia and Vern Stenman (Mallards General Manager and Team President, respectively) is going to help a lot. It is an honor being back with the team, and something I always hoped for. I am excited to be back.”
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Pete Knutson as the fifth radio broadcaster in the history of the Eau Claire Express. Knutson replaces Doug Raftery, who departed from the Express in November 2013 after serving as Play-by-Play Announcer in 2012 and Director of Broadcasting and Media Sales in 2013. Knutson enters his first season in the Northwoods League but has a variety of broadcast experience to bring to the Express.
“As a new Eau Claire resident and local sports broadcaster, I am both excited and grateful for the opportunity to be the voice of the Express this summer,” Knutson said. “I look forward to getting to know more people in this very vibrant and welcoming community. I hope to help make the 10th Anniversary Season of the Express a memorable one.”
Knutson’s experience before relocating to Eau Claire includes time working at the University of Kansas and also at KJHK 90.7 FM. While at KU, he broadcast baseball, softball, soccer and Track & Field. At KJHK, Knutson broadcast KU baseball, men’s and women’s basketball and football along with hosting a weekly sports radio show. Since October, he has been broadcasting local high school, college football and college basketball games at Clear Channel in Eau Claire.
“We are very fortunate to be able to add someone with Pete’s experience to our organization,” Express General Manager Andy Neborak said. “We pride ourselves on having a professional and informative broadcast and Pete’s track record makes him the perfect fit to ensure that standard continues to be met.”