SPRINGDALE -- There is a new voice for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals this season.
For the first time since the Kansas City Royals Double-A affiliate moved to Springdale, the Naturals have a new radio broadcaster in Benjamin Kelly. Kelly replaces Steven Davis, who called Naturals games for the first six years.
Naturals games are broadcast on 92.1 FM The Ticket.
Davis is doing baseball television play-by-play for the University of Kansas and he will still be the voice of the Missouri-Kansas City men's basketball team. Davis and his family are living in Kansas City.
Kelly comes to the Naturals from the Schaumburg Boomers of the Frontier League, where he was the No.2 broadcaster last season. Kelly, who was a catcher for Goshen College (Indiana) for four seasons, is a native of Omaha, Neb. but grew up a St. Louis Cardinals fan.
"I have now placed my allegiance with the Kansas City Royals," Kelly said. "The Royals games were always on T.V. and I went to games in Omaha (Royals Triple-A affiliate), so I am very familiar with the Royals."
Kelly, 23, said he was glad the Naturals started the season on a six-game road swing to Frisco and Midland.
"It gave me a chance to develop a relationship with the coaches and the players right away," Kelly said. "I am the same age as a lot of these guys. It's nice to relate to them on a personal level because we are all going through the same thing. We are all on the route. They are trying to get the the bigs to play, and I am trying to get to the bigs to call games."
Another change that some fans may notice is that Brock White is the Naturals new head groundskeeper. White was part of the ground crew last season and he replaces Monty Sowell, who spent six years as head groundskeeper.
Error Free Baseball
The Naturals ended a 10-game losing streak Thursday and they took a two-game winning streak into Saturday night's game at Tulsa. They return home Monday.
Naturals broadcaster Benjamin Kelly said the team was more focused the last two games.
"The biggest change is that we have not committed an error in two games now," Kelly said. "Those were the first two games of the season that we have not committed an error. I think the team has become more engaged in the game. They seemed more focused on the field, and the pitching is getting better. Keeping the leadoff guy off base has been key."
Sports on 04/20/2014