From Indiana to Alaska to the world

PALMER — On just about any summer evening for the next six weeks, Mat-Su Miners Nation members from around the globe can listen in as a couple of guys from Indiana describe the scene at Hermon Brothers Field in Palmer.

Dale Long and Aaron Watson, a pair of communications majors from Indiana State University, are serving as this year’s team broadcasters. Although most Miners games aren’t broadcast on local radio, Long and Watson are able to bring the games to life for fans listening anywhere in the world thanks to the magic of the World Wide Web.

“We’ve only been on the Internet,” Long said after wrapping up Mat-Su’s Alaska Baseball League opener against Athletes in Action Wednesday night.

Because ABL teams are made up primarily of college players from across the nation, many of the team’s fans live Outside — a situation ideal for online radio broadcasts.

“We have players come up to us and say their families are all listening to us,” Watson said.

In addition to broadcasting a full program (complete with pre- and post-game shows), Long and Watson are also responsible for updating the team’s statistics and play-by-play onto the Web site.

“It gets a little hectic with a lot of substitutions,” Long said.

During gamecasts, the two take alternate every three innings as either the play-by-play announcer or “color man,” whose job it is to make observations on the game. Long said the fast pace in the booth is exactly the kind of work experience he sought when he applied for the job.

“I wanted to have at least of year of experience doing it day in and day out,” he said.

Long and Watson are both interested in pursuing careers in sports broadcasting and both said the idea of getting to call an entire season of Miners games was irresistible.

“Everyone I know thinks this is a great opportunity,” Watson said. “They’re jealous of me.”

Long isn’t sure if he’d rather work in television or radio, but he does know what he’d like to cover.

“I just want to work in sports broadcasting,” he said.

Long, meanwhile, is more focused on his intended career path. With a deep voice ideal for radio, he said he’s got his sights set squarely on becoming a baseball announcer.

“I want to be the voice of a team,” he said.

Both broadcasters are housed with host families in the area, which helps cut down on food and transportation costs. They travel with the team on away games and often share meals with the ballplayers and coaches.

“It was just too good of an opportunity to pass up,” Long said.

Neither had been to Alaska before arriving in the Valley, but both said they’ve enjoyed their stay so far.

“Post cards don’t do it justice,” Long said.

Long, from Terra Haute, and Watson, who’s from Farmersburg, said their families were a bit nervous about sending them so far from home.

“My mom was like, ‘I feel like you’re in another country,’” Watson said.

But because of the online Miners broadcasts, Watson was quick to point out that anyone who wants to hear his voice is just a mouse click away.

“We have a lot of people listening back at home,” he said.

To hear Long and Watson, visit www.matsuminers.org.

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com