Pippins Select New Play-by-Play Voice for 2020

Broadcaster Chris Rosato Jr. will oversee Pippins’ cross-platform communications

YAKIMA, Wash. – Chris Rosato Jr., a Southern California native with a range of broadcasting experience across several sports, has been named as the new play-by-play broadcaster and media relations manager for the Yakima Valley Pippins.

Rosato Jr., who currently resides in Erie, Pennsylvania, will take over broadcasting duties for the 2020 season, set to begin on Friday, June 7. He will also be responsible for developing content across a wide array of platforms and coordinating coverage of the team with local media.

“We’re excited to have Chris join the organization and be the voice of the Pippins in our seventh season,” Pippins general manager Jeff Garretson said. “We built a tradition of strong up-and-coming professionals who have a passion for telling stories, and I believe Chris will continue that in Yakima this summer.”

The Pippins have established one of the most sophisticated broadcast and integrated communications platforms in the West Coast League. All regular-season Pippins games are broadcast live over the Internet and via mobile devices, including video streams of all home games. The team’s YouTube page also provides fans behind-the-scenes access during the season with pre- and post-game shows and player features.

Rosato Jr. served as a back-up public address announcer for the Detroit Tigers AA affiliate, the Erie SeaWolves, and was the play-by-play voice of McDowell High School football in 2019. He is currently the public address announcer for Mercyhurst University’s men’s and women’s hockey teams, and provides play-by-play for Erie-area universities when needed.

A graduate of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Rosato Jr. holds a bachelor of arts in journalism and public relations. He served as the sports editor of The Spectator, Edinboro’s student-run newspaper, for three semesters while serving as the primary play-by-play voice of Edinboro’s football, wrestling, basketball and softball teams. Before transferring, he earned an associate degree in journalism at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California.

“I can’t wait to hit the ground running this year,” Rosato Jr. said. “With a new manager in place and a welcoming community, I’m honored to be able to share the 2020 season with Pippins fans – whether they see me at the ballpark, listen in the car or watch from another state.”

The Pippins host three-time defending West Coast League champion Corvallis in a three-game series to open the 2020 campaign at Yakima County Stadium. Single-game tickets for all 30 home games are currently on sale at PippinsTickets.com, or by calling 509-575-4487.

By Yakima Valley Pippins

January 17, 2020