(Rochester, Minn.)— The Rochester Honkers announced today that play-by-play broadcaster Michael Keeley is returning for the 2017 season. Keeley will be entering his second season as the "Voice of the Rochester Honkers.” He broadcasted all 72 games of the 2016 season.
"I'm really excited for another summer of Honkers baseball," said Keeley. "I had a blast last summer at Mayo Field and all the ballparks around the Northwoods League, getting the chance to do what I love on a daily basis."
Keeley has also been the broadcaster for the Austin (Minn.) Bruins NAHL hockey team since 2015. He's been working in the NAHL since 2014 when he began his career with the Keystone Ice Miners (PA). Keeley has been broadcasting hockey since 2009 when he began his career as the radio voice of the Oswego State Lakers NCAA DIII Men's Ice Hockey Team.
Since graduating from the State University of New York at Oswego with a degree in broadcasting-mass communication in 2013, he has worked in New York and Pennsylvania before finding a home in Austin, Minn. He was born and raised in Rochester, N.Y.
"Doing Honkers games allows me to both sharpen by broadcasting skills and expand my resume," said Keeley. "And like the players, it gives me the chance to get a taste of the pro baseball routine."
Although his broadcasting has primarily been within hockey, Keeley is a die-hard baseball fan, enjoying his beloved Chicago Cubs winning the World Series in 2016. He called games for the Rochester (NY) Ridgemen of the New York Collegiate Baseball League in the summers of 2014 and 2015.
"The Honkers are a great organization with amazing people both on and off the field and I can't wait until first pitch of the season opener," said Keeley. "There's nothing quite like summer nights at the ballpark."
The Rochester Honkers 24th season begins on Tuesday, May 30th when the team hosts the Mankato Moondogs in their home opener at Mayo Field at 7:05 pm. Season Tickets, ½ Season Plans, Suites and Patios are now available. Call the Rochester Honkers office at 507-289-1170 for more information. The Honkers are also looking for host families for the 2017 season and ask all interested parties to call the business office for more information.
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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 24-year old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 160 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.
