Minor Conversations

For this episode I’m joined by Tonya Petrunak, Director of Marketing and Executive Director of Baseballtown Charities for the Reading Fightin’ Phils.

Tonya returned to the team five years ago and in her position with Baseballtown Charities has recently helmed the development of the Savage 61 Dream Field, the first baseball field in Berks County that is designed specifically for children with physical and developmental challenges.

Traditional baseball diamonds are not suited for those with special needs whether it’s the uneven terrain, the change from dirt to grass, the mound in the middle, or even the raised bases. Instead Miracle fields are inclusive to all who wish to enjoy the great game of baseball.

April 21st was Opening Day for the Baseballtown Dream League as players, coaches, volunteers, sponsors, and the Reading Fightin Phils front office staff and players opened up the new facility. We get her impressions of that day and what the entire project has meant to her and the Fightins organization.

So sit back and enjoy episode seven of the Minor Conversations Podcast with my guest Tonya Petrunak of the Reading Fightin Phils.

For this episode, I’m joined by Jason Klein of Brandiose, the San Diego-based sports marketing and design studio that has become the go-to company for minor league baseball teams.

Along with his friend and business partner Casey White, Jason created Brandiose and began this journey when they sold their first logo redesign to the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx.

Seventeen years later, the company is thriving in minor league baseball as well as with work for Major League Baseball, Nike, the NBA, Mattel’s Disney division and more.

In the Eastern League, Brandiose has worked with the Richmond Flying Squirrels and Hartford Yard Goats when they moved. They’ve rebranded the Reading Phillies into the Fightins and the Binghamton Mets into the Rumble Ponies. They’ve done extensive work with the Altoona Curve and Harrisburg Senators among others.

So sit back and enjoy episode six of the Minor Conversations Podcast with my guest Jason Klein of Brandiose.

For this episode, I’m joined by Flying Squirrels’ broadcaster Jay Burnham. The current season is Jay’s fifteenth behind the microphone and sixth for Richmond.

Named the 2011 MiLB broadcaster of the year by Ballpark Digest, Jay and I discuss his career path to Richmond, the 24-hour bus ride from Pensacola to St. Paul, “Biagini in a Bottle”, and his love of craft beer and haikus.

You can also hear in real time, Jay’s game get postponed as we follow with a short interlude and pick up the conversation later.

So sit back and enjoy episode five of the Minor Conversations Podcast with my guest Jay Burnham of the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

For this episode, I’m joined by Harrisburg Senators’ broadcaster Terry Byrom. 2018 will mark Terry’s 14th with the team and 17th overall in minor league baseball.

I could have Terry on the podcast to talk about almost anything but one of the things that interested me the most, and I hope it does for you too, is how he got into broadcasting baseball.

After serving our country in the first Desert Storm and years working jobs in the corporate world, Terry decided to take a chance on a career change when he became the voice of the Ogden Raptors in 2002 at the ripe old age of 39.

We go into great detail into how he got his start in the business, that first season behind the microphone, and how that’s made him the broadcaster he is today.

So sit back and enjoy episode four of the Minor Conversations Podcast with my guest voice of the Harrisburg Senators Terry Byrom.

Latest episode of Minor Conversations

Tom Reisenweber always wanted a career in sports. He just never imagined it would be as a sportswriter. Yet , here he is covering all manner of high school, college, and professional sports for the Erie Times News.

Tom is one of the best and most dedicated beat writers in the Eastern League covering all things Sea Wolves.

We talked about his unusual journey to sportswriter, a typical day in his life covering the SeaWolves, and the direction of the team both on and off the field..

Last season, Adrienne Roberson was one of two female public address announcers in affiliated baseball and the only one in the minors. 2018 will mark her fourteenth season manning the microphone for the Bowie Baysox.

We talked about her career path, her preparation for a game, the opportunities she’s had over the last several years to be the PA announcer for some Baltimore Orioles games, and her place in the male-dominated world of baseball.