The Asheville Tourists have announced their radio Broadcast team for the 2009 season. Director of Broadcasting and play-by-play man Jay Burnham will return for his second season with Asheville and will be accompanied by Ben Levine from the Orioles organization.
Burnham enters his seventh season in professional broadcasting and fourth within the South Atlantic League. Burnham began his career with the Hagerstown Suns and is a graduate of Elon University. The 27 year-old has spent time across the globe from Hawaii to Japan and now considers Asheville home. The Shelburne Falls, MA native guided the Tourists first full season on the airwaves with WRES FM 100.7, The Urban Sounds of Asheville.
“It is truly an honor to be part of this team and this city” Burnham said from his perch at McCormick Field. “The 2008 season was truly one for the record books here in Asheville and I can’t wait to see what the Rockies and (Joe) Mikulik have in store for this year.”
Joining Burnham and replacing last year’s assistant broadcaster Eric Little will be Ben Levine from the University of Maryland. Little has sought out to find a director position within the industry thus opening the opportunity for Levine.
“This is an outstanding opportunity for me to begin my career,” Levine said through a phone interview. “My passion has always been sports and to be able to work in the city of Asheville just adds to my excitement for the 2009 season.”
Levine joins the Tourists after an internship with the Double-A Bowie Baysox in the Baltimore organization. The New Jersey native will provide color commentary during Asheville home games while also conduct several innings of play-by-play. Levine will assist in media relations and lend a hand in the Tourists web blog and daily comic strip as well.
The crew will once again air on WRES FM 100.7 and online at www.theashevilletourists.com. Express Employment Professionals will be back as the title sponsor of the Tourists Radio Network. The team will start the 2009 season on the road in Kannapolis against the Intimidators before the home opener on April 13th against the Greensboro Grasshoppers.