Miners announcers are the talk of the team

June 22, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/Frontiersman

PALMER - Before leaving Syracuse University for Alaska, Ben Youngerman and Greg Morrison didn't know quite what to expect from the Last Frontier.

&#8220I thought it would be like being in a foreign country,” Morrison said Wednesday.

As students at one of the nation's top schools for broadcast journalism, the duo has plenty of schooling in the basics of sports journalism. But they took their game to the next level this summer when they landed a gig as the radio voices of the Mat-Su Miners, an opportunity both called the chance of a lifetime.

&#8220Ben and I look at each other every day and say, ‘I can't believe this is our summer job,'” Morrison said.

As the Miners' announcers, Youngerman and Morrison can be heard online for each game on the Miners' Web site, as well as during selected games throughout the season on radio station 700 KBYR.

Youngerman originally heard about the opportunity before last season, but was told by Miners general manager Pete Christopher that he needed a bit more experience. So after finishing his sophomore year at Syracuse, he applied again this spring. This time, he got the call, and brought Morrison along with.

&#8220Greg was the first person I asked, and he jumped at the chance,” Youngerman said.

The two arrived in Alaska a couple weeks before the season began and immediately got to work on research into the Alaska Baseball League and the Miners.

&#8220We have to do research every day on all the teams,” Morrison said.

Once they finally got into the booth, the newly-formed broadcast team said it took a few innings to get a feel for each other's style.

&#8220The first couple days were a little rough,” Morrison said.

But now, five games into the season, they're already old pros.

&#8220You learn so much in this job as far as thinking on your feet,” Morrison said.

As a team, each broadcaster typically works three innings as play-by-play while the other does color commentary before switching seats and broadcast personas.

In addition to their job as the radio voice of the team, Morrison and Youngerman also serve as official scorekeepers and constantly update the team's Web site, which carries live box scores and scoring summaries via the Internet. In addition, they often visit a special chat room set up by the team, and are able to provide insight into the action to fans and the team's family members around the country.

It's a big job, but both said they wouldn't trade the work for any other summertime gig.

&#8220It's priceless,” Youngerman said.

&#8220You can't get this experience anywhere else,” Morrison added.

Like the Miners players, the broadcasters are housed by Miners boosters and said they feel like they're part of the team.

&#8220It's just like one big family,” Morrison said.

Following their time in Alaska, both said they feel like they'll have completed a summer job that few of their classmates at Syracuse will be able to top.

&#8220It's the opportunity of a lifetime,” Youngerman said.

As for their Alaska expectations, they also said they've found the state to be much like home - with a couple exceptions.

&#8220It's America, but prettier and more laid back,” Morrison said.

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

frontiersman.com