We have personnel news to report from the Frederick Keys (High A; Carolina League) and the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (summer collegiate; Northwoods League).
In Frederick, the Keys have added several new staff members.
Kelly Wallace joins the Keys as a Sponsorship Account Manager following a stint with US Lacrosse. There, she worked in partnerships and advertising, while climbing the ranks from office manager. A 2015 graduate of the University of Delaware, Wallace was a gameday intern for the Wilmington Blue Rocks while studying in the First State. She has also worked for the Ravens and for the Philadelphia Spinners of Major League Ultimate (a professional ultimate Frisbee league).
Not the first member of his family to spend time in Frederick, Kyle Huson comes aboard as the team’s Broadcast, Community Relations & Public Relations Assistant. In this role, he will serve as the Keys No. 2 radio broadcaster, while also assisting with team marketing initiatives. Huson joins the Keys 21 years after his dad, Jeff, played for Frederick on a Major League rehab assignment. A 2016 graduate of UConn, Kyle was a four-year defenseman for the Huskies hockey team. Additionally, he did radio play-by-play for Huskies baseball and women’s basketball on WHUS and interned for ROOT Sports Rocky Mountain.
Trever Sheets has been hired as the Keys Video Production Assistant. Experienced in live event production, the Pennsylvania native previously worked for the University of Pittsburgh and the ACC Digital Network, handling audio and graphics for a variety of events. Owner of two college degrees, Sheets graduated from Point Park University in 2016 after receiving a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemical Engineering in 2010 from Pitt.
Entering his second season with the team, Kevin Hernandez worked as a gameday intern for the Keys in 2016. Elevated to Marketing Assistant this season, the former UMBC graduate has also spent time with the Navy Athletics Department. Working with the school’s marketing department, Hernandez assisted with the Fund for Athletic Excellence, the major gift program for Midshipmen athletics.
Brandon Kline and Ben Underwood come on board as Box Office Assistants for the 2017 campaign. Originally from Buffalo, NY, Kline begins his second season in pro baseball after previously working for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. Serving as the Merchandise Assistant, his responsibilities included running the team store and helping manage inventory.
Underwood stays in the Carolina League after working gamedays for the Blue Rocks last year. A recent graduate of Towson University, Ben was an Event Manager for the school’s Campus Recreation Department. In this role, he oversaw all of the school’s club sports events. Underwood hails from Mt. Laurel, NJ.
Vernon Koslow takes over as the Keys Home Clubhouse Manager. Prior to joining the team, he held a similar role for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the independent Atlantic League. He has also worked as a clubhouse manager for the Sussex County Minors (NJ) in the Can-Am League and for the South Florida and Arizona Winter Leagues.
Not the only new member of the Operations Department, Cannon Schrank takes over as the Keys Operations Assistant. A former pitcher at Hendrix College, the Texan previously interned for the Kansas City T-Bones of the American Association.
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In Wisconsin Rapids, the Rafters have named Mick Tidrow their new radio broadcaster and director of media relations.
Last season, Tidrow handled the same role in Washington with the Kitsap BlueJackets, a West Coast League team in their final season before moving to Port Angeles, Washington. While calling all 68 games home and on the road, Tidrow compiled game recaps, previews and wrote feature stories on players. He also advanced the reach of the team’s social media platforms.
In the 2017 season, on top of calling all 72 Rafters games on AM 1320 WFHR with all home games additionally simulcast on live HD video steam, Tidrow will act as the Rafters traveling secretary and media relations coordinator. In addition, Mick will help with additional video, audio, and graphic projects this season.
“Mick’s professional demeanor and broadcasting experience will be a valuable asset to the Rafters organization this season,” said Rafters general manager John Fanta. “I know Mick is excited for this opportunity in the Northwoods League and I think Rafters fans are going to love the passion and energy he will bring to the broadcasts.”
Tidrow is a junior at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana where he is studying Digital Sports Production and Broadcasting. As a student, Tidrow handles play-by-play duties on ESPN3 and the campus’s student radio station, WCRD 91.3 FM. On ESPN3, Mick has broadcasted baseball, men’s volleyball, women’s soccer and field hockey. With WCRD, he has called softball, volleyball, soccer, basketball and field hockey.
This upcoming spring, Mick will continue calling games on both platforms while working with baseball and softball. Tidrow co-hosts a baseball radio talk show on 91.3FM called ‘The Hot Corner’ breaking down all things baseball. Within the athletics department at Ball State, Mick works as the color analyst on the Ball State Radio Network covering women’s basketball. Outside of broadcasting, he has gained skills in the sales and marketing fields while working within athletics.
Tidrow is elated to be a part of the defending Northwoods League champion Rafters this upcoming summer and deliver a product on the air that describes in great detail and the fans enjoy.
“To be a part of the history and national recognition of the Northwoods League is an honor, especially with the reigning champion Rafters,” Tidrow said. “The summer is about the players and watching them develop and put a career together, and it is special to have a chance to take the next step as a broadcaster while they are doing theirs as ball players. The Rafters are world-class as an organization, and this summer will help play a pivotal role in helping me develop not only a broadcaster, but as a professional.”