BAYCATS CONFIRM BEN DAVY TO RETURN FOR HIS 10TH SEASON ON HOME BROADCASTS
Time flies when you’re having fun.
And it’s been nothing but fun for local sports broadcaster Ben Davy, as he will enjoy his 10th season calling Baycats games on the mic this summer.
“I really am quite literally living the dream,” says Ben as he reflects on the opportunity that first came his way in 2005. “My first year announcing baseball was also the same year the Baycats won their first IBL Championship. The city was exploding with excitement. I’ll never forget the roar that erupted that muggy Sunday night when they beat Toronto right here at home.”
Davy went on to call games for seven seasons before stepping away to accommodate other career endeavours and to be more present for his family.
“A few people have said they feel bad for me because I missed the six straight championships. I didn’t miss them at all,” he chuckles. “I was in the stands with my kids screaming our voices hoarse like everyone else! We were in Kitchener for the clincher in 2019. I never took a break from this team…just moved from the booth to the bleachers. For a while.”
Indeed, it wasn’t long before Ben was back in the booth and behind the mic. “(Baycats manager) Josh Matlow took the helm in 2020, and once we got through the pandemic, a whole new era for this franchise began. He invited me to be a part of it and I can’t thank him enough. I can’t wait to see the final out or walk-off hit that brings a championship back to Barrie, and selfishly I do hope it happens on our field!”
2023 BARRIE BAYCATS BROADCAST AND MEDIA TEAM INFORMATION
Davy will be the lead play-by-play announcer for the Barrie Baycats in 2023, calling the action from the broadcast booth at Vintage Throne Stadium. Joining him for the majority of home games across the season will be Patrick Melbourne, in his third season as a broadcaster and Media Coordinator for the team. Brian Backland, of Brian Backland Photography, will return as the producer of home Baycats TV broadcasts.
Melbourne, who got the opportunity to call IBL Finals games in 2022, will also be the play-by-play announcer for an expanded number of Baycats TV and Baycats Radio road broadcasts during the upcoming season. He'll be joined by Julius Hern, who joins the Baycats broadcast team for the first time in 2023. Hern will also appear in the home broadcast booth for select games this season, as well as appear as a field reporter. Davy will also call the action for select road games this year. Dylan Quinn also joins the Baycats Media Team in 2023, contributing in a variety of roles - both on-air and behind-the-scenes!
At the ballpark, you'll hear 107.5 Kool FM's Rob Daniels back behind the mic for his second season as the Public Address Announcer for the team. Kendra Doyle will also return to the Baycats media team in 2023, in her new role as In-Game Host.
Bob Hurley, of Bob Hurley Photography, returns as the team's photographer. In addition, Sam Aucoin joins the Baycats Media Team as a writer and podcast co-host. James Henderson joins the Baycats Media Team in 2023 as our first-ever Analytics Coordinator. Dan Miller, Riley Stone, Joseph Nardella, Adam Khan, and Sam Hossack will also contribute to the Media Team this season.
Each Barrie Baycats home game will be available LIVE on Rogers tv Barrie (Cable 10) and Baycats TV. Road game broadcasts will also be available on Baycats TV, as will road game radio broadcasts.