Rafters Tab West Coast Product Perkins as New Broadcast Voice

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are pleased to announce the hiring of Cooper Perkins as the team’s new Radio Broadcaster and Director of Media Relations. Last summer, Perkins served as the lead broadcaster for the Orange County Riptide in their inaugural season in the Southern California Collegiate League. In addition to handling the play-by-play duties for 41 games, he wrote press releases and spearheaded the advance of the team’s social media campaigns.

During the 2016 season, on top of calling all 72 Rafters games on AM 1320 WFHR with all home games additionally simulcast on live video steam, Perkins will act as the Rafters traveling secretary and media relations coordinator, while assisting with additional video, audio, and graphic projects this season.

“Cooper’s skill-set and summer-collegiate baseball experience will be a valuable asset to the Rafters organization this season,” said Rafters general manager John Fanta. “Rafters fans are going to love the energy he brings to every broadcast.”

Currently a junior at the University of Southern California, Perkins is majoring in Communications and minoring in Business. As a student, Perkins has worked extensively as a play-by-play voice for both AM 1560 KXSC, the school’s student radio station, and the Pac-12 Network’s online streaming of USC sports. Among the sports Perkins has broadcasted are women’s volleyball, women’s soccer, baseball and football. In the coming weeks, Perkins is set to take over play-by-play duties for KXSC’s coverage of USC men’s and women’s basketball, while transitioning into a new role as the voice of USC baseball in the spring.
Apart from play-by-play broadcasting, Perkins has co-hosted a weekly sports talk show titled “Simon Says to the Max” on AM 1560 KXSC and is in the process of producing a new weekly radio show set to air in the spring. He has also spent time learning the management side of sports, working in the broadcasting division of international sports marketing and management firm Wasserman Media Group, LLC during the summer of 2015.

Perkins is thrilled to join the award-winning Rafters organization and looks forward to bringing a unique perspective and style to the Wisconsin airwaves. As the product on the field continues its upward trajectory in 2016, Perkins looks forward to describing the memorable moments of every Rafters game.

“Knowing the national reputation of the Northwoods League, I’m thrilled that my next step as a broadcaster will go through Wisconsin Rapids. I’m ecstatic to have the chance to bring my style and passion to the Rafters and their first-class organization. I sincerely believe that this unique summer experience with the Rafters will play an integral role in my holistic development as a broadcaster and professional,” said Perkins.

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The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2016, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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 140 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website.  For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com.