Voices of the Valley
Crowley, Tuetken return to radio booth for WOON's high school football coverage
A little of this, a little of that …
• Just in time as R.I. high school football teams begin training camp next week, Woonsocket-based radio station WOON (1240 AM & 99. 3 FM) has finalized its 10-game slate for the 2018 season.
The local pigskin enthusiast will be able to tune in beginning Friday, Sept. 7 when Cumberland hosts non-league foe Cranston West and listen to a familiar duo describe the action. Marty Crowley (play-by-play) and Andy Tuetken (color commentary) are returning to the WOON booth for the third straight year and will serve as your guides all the way through the annual Thanksgiving morning clash between Woonsocket and those aforementioned Clippers.
“You’re talking about a community-based radio decision that understands the importance of giving back,” Crowley said. “If you love listening to high-school football, WOON provides a great outlet.”
Upon closer inspection of the broadcast lineup, WOON cannot be accused of being biased toward one particular school. Woonsocket leads the way with four appearances, while Cumberland and Lincoln will each be featured three times. Burrillville and the North Smithfield/ Mount St. Charles Co-op team will each have one date with the local airwaves.
Here’s the complete schedule:
Friday, Sept. 7 – Cranston West at Cumberland, 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8 – South Kingstown at Burrillville, 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15 – Lincoln at Woonsocket, 1 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 21 – West Warwick at Lincoln, 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29 – East Greenwich at Woonsocket, 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5 – Woonsocket at Johnston, 7 p.m. Friday, October 12 – Johnston at Lincoln, 7 p.m. Friday, October 19 – Ponaganset at North Smithfield/Mount St. Charles Co-op, 7 p.m. Friday, October 26 – Cranston East at Cumberland, 7 p.m. Thursday, November 22 – Woonsocket at Cumberland, 10 a.m. WOON could end up adding more dates depending on whether a local entry qualifies for the playoffs. Those who live outside the radio signal can follow along at www.onworldwide.com. The tradition of WOON and high school football dates back to Thanksgiving Day, 1946. t
• The PawSox won’t have to contend with Pawtucket native and outfielder Mason Williams when the local Triple-A club kicks off a three-game series against Louisville on Tuesday night. Williams was promoted from Louisville to Cincinnati on July 26 and entered Monday’s action with hits in six of his first nine games with the Reds. Williams’ case to remain in the majors also includes a threehit performance this past Saturday that was followed by a two-hit showing the very next day. Should the Darlington American Little League product and St. Teresa School alum build upon his small but impressive sample size – .379 batting average with one home run, four RBI, and a .931 OPS – perhaps that will translate into figuring into the Reds’ plans beyond this season.
• Sharing the stage with his Pro Football Hall of Fame dad this past Saturday night was Thaddeus Moss, who suited up for Lincoln High as a sophomore in 2013. Thaddeus, nowadays a tight end who’s entering his redshirt sophomore season at LSU, was chosen as dad Randy’s presenter and had the honor of helping the elder Moss unveil the bust that will forever be on display at the Canton, Ohio pigskin museum.
• Judging by the numerous positive responses on social media, PawSox broadcaster Will Flemming was a certifiable hit during last Monday’s one-game stint in the WEEI Red Sox radio booth.
No doubt having the proper elements to make a favorable impression were there as Flemming was afforded the chance to call a game that lasted 13 innings and culminated with a Boston walk-off win. To anyone who tuned in, they heard dialogue between Flemming and longtime voice Joe Castiglione that was smooth, easygoing, and featured a healthy balance between describing the action and telling interesting and amusing anecdotes. In short, Flemming hit one out of the park.
• PawSox manager Kevin Boles didn’t have to think twice when asked to catch the ceremonial first pitch from Central Falls native and longtime MLB executive Roland Hemond last Friday. Hemond gave Boles’ father John his first job in pro baseball when both worked with the Chicago White Sox in the 1980s. Kevin Boles wanted to follow in his dad’s baseball footsteps and knows that would not have been possible had Hemond not called John Boles, who at the time was working at the University of Louisville, and offered Papa Boles a job to manage in the Gulf Coast League. “I told Roland thank you. The reason why I get to be in professional baseball is because of you. You did something for my father and he passed it down to me,” Boles said. “Once I heard Roland was going to be (at McCoy Stadium), I called my father right away.” With Kevin Boles serving as the intermediate, John Boles asked how Hemond was doing and vice versa. “He’s a great man who has done a lot of great things for people,” Kevin Boles said about Hemond.
• Speaking of Hemond, let’s hope the naming of a Little League ballfield at Higginson Park in his honor provides a much-needed shot in the arm as it relates to resurrecting youth baseball in Central Falls. It’s been several years since C.F. fielded an entry in the District IV Major Division playoffs.
• From those in the know, PawSox chairman Larry Lucchino spent time at the Massachusetts Statehouse last week, meeting with economic development folks behind closed doors. If that’s not a warning signal that the Worcester relocation efforts have reached the point where it might be too late for anyone in Rhode Island to turn the tide, consider this: House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello has not reached out to the Triple-A club since Gov. Gina Raimondo signed the bill to build the proposed Ballpark at Slater Mill. For those keeping track of the time, Raimondo put pen to paper on June 29.
• What hasn’t been discussed nearly enough is the continued struggle on the City of Pawtucket’s part to acquire the desired land that’s being courted as the future home for the PawSox. The cost of the bonds certainly represents a major sticking point, but even if the team signed off on the bill that was passed by Rhode Island’s legislative leaders, what’s not to say that Apex owner Andrew Gates elects to continue to hold a hard line in negotiations to the point where even more time elapses? Those familiar with the Apex land dealings say that Gates’ asking price still eclipses – by a large amount – the roughly $4.3 million that it’s valued per the city’s tax database. With each passing day, it appears we’ll be stuck looking at the same tired and depressing site where a mostly unused department store sits.