The 'Voice of Lacey Football' to be Heard in Pro Baseball Stadium

Tim LeCras was known as the “Voice of Lacey Football.”

This summer, thousands will hear his voice, as he announces for the Evansville Otters, a professional baseball team of the Frontier League in Evansville, Indiana. LeCras was recently announced as the Otters Media Relations and Broadcasting Intern for 2012.

“I’m honored and extremely excited to be joining the Evansville Otters organization,” he said. “Baseball and broadcasting have been a major part of my life for as long as I can remember, now to bring the two together with the Otters is a dream come true.”

LeCras’ dream began in Lacey.

“Growing up in Lacey was different for me than it was for everyone else,” he said. “Once I got into high school and started working with WLTS TV-21, my life changed drastically. I went from having dreams of becoming a professional athlete or a doctor to becoming a sports journalist.”

LeCras, a 2008 graduate of Lacey Township High School, moved to Forked River just one month before he started eighth grade. During his freshman year at Lacey Township High School, he began announcing games as a color analyst for the varsity football team, then a play-by-play broadcaster for the women’s basketball team.

“That is what drew me to the field,” LeCras said. “The first year I had so much fun. Despite the football team not being very good, I had so much fun interacting with the players and coaches.”

Traveling on the road with coach Patti Cooke and the women’s team as they made it to the 2004-2005 state playoffs was “remarkable,” LeCras said. The team made it to three state championship fames during his final years in Lacey.

LeCras credits WLTS TV-21 and its then advisors Heather Cleary, Tom Lytle, Mark Clauberg and Jeremy Muermann for his success as a broadcaster, he said.

“Credit also has to be given to the LTHS Athletic Department under Karen Hughes, without their support of WLTS, I wouldn't be in the position I am now,” LeCras said. “I spent hours upon hours of my free time in Coach Vircillo's office learning the intricacies of football, the same goes for girl's basketball head coach Patti Cooke.”

At WLTS TV-21, LeCras had time on-air during games, hosted the first weekly sports show “This Week in Football” (known today as “This Week in Sports”).

“From there, every waking moment of my high school career, when I wasn't playing baseball for the school's team, was focused becoming a better broadcaster so that one day I can have an opportunity to broadcast professionally like I do now,” he said.

One of the most memorable moments for LeCras was calling three state football championship games, he said.

“Not many people can say they even broadcasted one, and I had the opportunity to call three of them.”

LeCras was recognized as the ‘Voice of Lacey Football” following the 2006 season at the football team’s awards banquet. LeCras said the moment was “very special.” “I still have the plaque I was awarded hanging on my wall at home, as well as my WLTS Emmy award for “Excellence in Broadcasting.”

A senior at Seton Hall University, LeCras is a play-by-play announcer and an Assistant Sports Director at WSOU. He is also the Assistant Managing Editor for The Setonian, the student newspaper.

“Every day I look forward to my next game,” he said. “At this point, I have only a handful of games remaining on my Seton Hall schedule on 89.5 FM WSOU, Seton Hall's Pirate Radio, with the best games still to come.”

During his time at Seton Hall, LeCras has broadcasted the Big East women’s soccer and basketball championship tournaments as well as the longest baseball game in Seton Hall history—a 1-0, 18-inning win for Seton hall.

“I've traveled around the country to childhood dream places, such as Notre Dame in South Bend, and also to Cancun, Mexico,” he said.

This March, LeCras will be the lead broadcaster for coverage of Seton Hall’s run in the Big East tournament.

“Each day I am truly blessed to even have the opportunity to be a broadcaster at Seton Hall, the rest, all the acknowledgements and game assignments is just the icing on the cake,” he said. “My ultimate goal is to become a broadcaster for a team in one of the four major sports (MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA).”

Broadcasting for the Otters this summer is a “blessing and an honor,” he said.

“The fact that the Evansville Otters organization, as well as Mike Radomski, have chosen me is not just a testament to how I work, but also the hard work and dedication from the people around me, both in the Lacey Township School District and Seton Hall University as well,” he said.

LeCras will be announcing several innings for each home game while also assisting with game notes, press releases, social media and the production of each broadcast.

“Tim comes to us with significant collegiate broadcast experience,” said Otters president Bill Bussing in a press release. “He should complement play-by-play announcer Mike Radomski and color commentator Bill McKeon well.”

Radomski called LeCras’ resume “impressive.” “His character, work ethic, knowledge of the game and passion for the sport will be an added bonus to our organization this year.”

Opening Day for the Otters is Friday, May 18 against the Washington Wild Things.