We have news today from the broadcast booths of the Reading Fightin Phils (Class AA; Eastern League) and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Class AAA; International League).
In Reading, Michael Ventola will be joining the club in 2014 as the team’s radio broadcaster.
“The Fightins are thrilled to have Mike join the club this season,” said Fightin Phils General Manager Scott Hunsicker. “Mike’s energy and experience broadcasting on the East Coast will make him a great fit with our front office and team.”
Ventola, 25, comes to Baseballtown after spending the past two seasons as the Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations for the Southern Illinois Miners (independent; Frontier League). Prior to his time with the Miners, Ventola spent the 2010 season in Reading as a media relations assistant and with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Class AAA; International League) in 2011 as a broadcast assistant. He also worked as broadcasting and promotions assistant in 2009 with the Augusta GreenJackets (Low Class A; Sally League).
“I am thrilled to be joining a well-respected organization here in Reading,” said Ventola. “I hope to convey my excitement and love for this great game with each and every sentence I broadcast to this great fan base.”
Ventola is the play-by-play voice for both Wagner College and NJIT Women’s Basketball. A 2010 graduate of Immaculata University, he has also worked with the Lehigh Valley’s ESPN Radio affiliate and the Danny Bonaduce Morning Show in Philadelphia.
Ventola will call the complete 142-game Eastern League schedule in addition to the 222 Showcase Exhibition Game on April 1st on 1340 WRAW-AM.
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The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders announced the addition of Aaron Berlin to the organization’s broadcast team for the 2014 season. Berlin will work alongside RailRiders’ director of media relations and broadcasting, John Sadak and will assist in delivering the exciting play-by-play and color commentary on the RailRiders’ radio and television broadcasts throughout the campaign.
“I can’t thank John and (team president/GM) Rob Crain enough for the opportunity to broadcast games for the RailRiders this season,” Berlin said. “The opportunity to broadcast professional baseball has always been a life-long dream of mine and to be able to broadcast at the Triple-A level for one of the most respected organizations in all of professional sports, the New York Yankees, is an added bonus.”
Berlin, a native of Kansas City, Kan. and graduate of the University of Kansas, joins the RailRiders’ front office after spending the 2013 season with the University of Kansas. While with KU, Berlin served as one of the school’s lead broadcasters for their baseball and volleyball teams, while assisting in the school’s communications efforts. Berlin spent the summer months as the director of broadcasting and media relations for the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (summer collegiate; Northwoods League. Prior to being on-air, Berlin served as a production assistant for the Tampa Bay Rays Radio Network during the 2012 season, assisting with broadcast production and player interviews.
“Aaron’s talents are among the best in the country,” said Sadak. “We had a huge applicant pool that included announcers with Major League experience, and Aaron’s materials quickly rose to the top of the stack. He comes highly recommended from all of his previous employers. We believe NEPA will warmly embrace his conversational style and passion for this great game.”
Berlin fills the vacancy that was left after the departure of Andrew Kappes, who filled the role in 2013 before departing to become the lead broadcaster for the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Low Class A; Midwest League) this season.
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