ESPN Radio's Kestecher Fills in During Cutters Game
July 28, 2011 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Williamsport Crosscutters News Release
If you happened to catch the Williamsport Crosscutters broadcast on Monday July 25, you may have heard a familiar voice alongside Cutters play-by-play man Todd Bartley. Bartley was joined for seven innings by ESPN Radio notable Marc Kestecher, a former mentor and colleague of the voice of the Crosscutters.
Kestecher currently works for ESPN in the media giant's base in Bristol, Connecticut. He can be heard studio-hosting many Sunday Night Baseball games on ESPN Radio stations across the country. With the Cutters only a short drive away in the town of Norwich, Bartley and Kestecher were thrilled to reunite and join forces on the air during the Williamsport's 4-3 victory over the Tigers.
"I can't thank Todd enough for giving me this opportunity," Kestecher said. "We've been friends for a long time. We worked together in Cleveland in the mid-90's, and I'm so glad he extended the invitation."
"It's great to have your mentor sitting side-by-side doing innings with you the day after he was part of a broadcast where the Reds had a walk-off homer at home against the Braves," Bartley said. "It's a career highlight to have him back in the booth again with me for the first time since 1998."
The two radio announcers have a long, rich history that dates back to their time in Ohio working radio media for the Cleveland Indians in the 1990's. Bartley completed an internship in 1995 for WKNR-AM, and that internship laid the foundation for his future work with Kestecher, who was already in a full-time position with the flagship station. Afterwards, Bartley completed his internship and networked his way into a position as a sports anchor who also prepared audio for Kestecher's program the next day.
"He taught me a lot about work ethic and staying true to my abilities, and not trying to be someone or something on-air that I wasn't," Bartley said.
The two men with the special knack for radio were able to be a part of the Cleveland Indians era that saw the team make World Series appearances in 1995 and 1997. Bartley and Kestecher then made job changes that saw Bartley land in a new radio station based in Marietta, Ohio. Before Kestecher moved on to Bristol to join the main ESPN headquarters, he would drive to Marietta on the weekends to broadcast Marietta College football games.
Thirteen years later, the two were once again back in action together, as they traded play-by-play and color commentary roles while broadcasting live from Dodd Stadium in Norwich.
"The feedback has been amazing from the fans, and Marc and I agreed we can't wait to do it again very soon," Bartley said.
All Crosscutters games can be heard on ESPN Radio Williamsport 1050AM & 104.1FM.
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