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Personnel News: Wisconsin Rapids, Connecticut

Wisconsin Rapids Rafters

We have personnel news to report from the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) and the Connecticut Tigers (Short Season A; NY-Penn League).

The Rafters have announced that Emily Steines has been promoted to Assistant General Manager-Corporate Service & Marketing. The announcement was made by General Manager John Fanta.

“Emily has really stepped up to be a top leader for the organization and this is a direct reflection of her work,” said Fanta. “She has done a nice job of not only coordinating all of the on-field entertainment during games, but has progressively taken on numerous other responsibilities. Her success managing those effectively has earned her this promotion.”

Steines is in the midst of her fourth season with the Rafters and most recently served as Inside Sales and Corporate Service Manager. She spent the summer of 2016 in a seasonal role as the Corporate Service and Marketing Manager.

After starting her career in baseball with the Rafters in 2013 as a Marketing Intern, Steines spent one summer with the Johnson City Cardinals (Rookie; Appalachian League) as a Community Relations Intern and another with the Great Falls Voyagers (Rookie; Pioneer League) as the Promotions Coordinator. She received her bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2015 and is a native of Marshfield, Wisconsin.

“I enjoy being a part of this organization and the community. I look forward to seeing everyone at the ballpark for the rest of this season,” said Steines.

In Connecticut, the Tigers announced the hiring of Kevin Gehl as their new Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations.

Gehl will serve as lead radio play-by-play announcer for all home and away games on the Courtyard Marriott Connecticut Tigers Radio Network. He also joins the Dodd Stadium front office as a sales executive and manager of multimedia outreach for the club.

The new Voice of the Connecticut Tigers brings a decade of professional broadcasting experience to Connecticut. Gehl is the inaugural television voice of Maine Mammoths football in the National Arena League and serves as a play-by-play broadcaster in multiple sports for Patriot League, Ivy League, and Northeastern University coverage on NESN, ESPN+ and Stadium. He’s an EMMY-nominated sports reporter whose work has appeared on Big Ten Network and NBC Sports California.

“Kevin’s on-air experience speaks for itself,” said Tigers general manager Dave Schermerhorn. “We’re excited to welcome a seasoned play-by-play voice with personality and enthusiasm that Tigers fans will love when they tune in throughout Southeastern Connecticut and beyond.”

“I sincerely thank Dave Schermerhorn and senior vice president C.J. Knudsen for developing this new front office position around my strengths as a broadcaster, content creator, and media facilitator,” Gehl explained. “With a first-overall pick in the upcoming MLB First-Year Player Draft, there’s a focus on the future in the Detroit Tigers organization and I’m honored to team up with a top-notch club I had the privilege to cover as a reporter.”

From 2011 to 2015, Gehl worked as a sports anchor at WLNS-TV (CBS) in Michigan and reported from Comerica Park during the American League Championship run of the 2012 Detroit Tigers, who included current Connecticut Tigers manager Gerald Laird on their World Series roster.

“We take great pride in our affiliation with the Detroit Tigers,” said Schermerhorn. “Kevin’s background and knowledge of the Major League club will be a great asset as we extend our Player Development Contract with Detroit through the 2020 season.”

A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Gehl graduated from the University of Missouri and previously served as Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations for the Hagerstown Suns (Low A; Sally League). He also provided radio play-by-play for the Lansing Lugnuts (Low A; Midwest League).

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