Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Rafters will have a new voice in the booth for the upcoming 2021 Northwoods League baseball season. The team is pleased to announce the hiring of John Vicari as the Rafters’ new Director of Media Relations and Radio Broadcaster.

Vicari, a native of Queens, New York, is a junior majoring in Sports Media at Ithaca College. He is currently the Sports Director of the Ithaca campus radio station, WICB 91.7 FM. Vicari was also the Play-by-Play Broadcaster of the Ithaca Women’s Basketball team in 2020.

For the 2021 season, Vicari will call all 72 Rafters games on AM 1320 WFHR. This season a separate TV broadcaster will be commentating the game live on Northwoods League TV. Vicari will manage the press box at Historic Witter Field, as well as act as the Rafters travel liaison and media relations coordinator.

“I am thrilled to receive this opportunity!” Vicari stated. “In this year, being back in the booth in any capacity is exceptional, but to do so in the prestigious Northwoods League, with one of the top clubs in collegiate summer baseball, is more than I could have asked for.”

During 2019, Vicari spent his Summer broadcasting for the Albany Dutchmen baseball team out of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League in New York. Due to a canceled season in 2020, he had the opportunity to conduct Zoom interviews with former Dutchmen. In addition to broadcasting games for the Dutchmen, Vicari also published game recaps and press releases, as well as managing social media platforms.

The Rafters Front Office will be closed Monday, December 21 – Friday, January 1 and will reopen Monday, January 4. The new office hours will be Monday-Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm.

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The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 27^th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 245 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB All-Star Jordan Zimmermann (DET). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Rafters as your favorite team.