Episode 8: Episode 8: Andrew Kappes

Like many baseball fans growing up in Northern Kentucky, Andrew was influenced by Marty Brenneman and Joe Nuxhall calling Cincinnati Reds games on the radio.
Andrew got his start working in baseball at the tender age of 14 in the summer of 2005 when he started to cover the Florence Freedom of the independent Frontier League for the OurSports Central (https://www.oursportscentral.com) website.
Andrew gives credit and thanks to Freedom manager at the time Jamie Keefe along with his staff especially pitching coach Chris Hook (http://m.mlb.com/mil/roster/coach/116123/chris-hook) and bench coach John Christman for allowing him the opportunity to come into the coach’s office and learn about the game.
Brady helped mentor Andrew in the Freedom press box but not without some good-natured ribbing that sometimes might have bordered on hazing. Brady along with play-by-play announcer Jeff Johnson and press box workers Mitch Morrison, Aaron Zupka and Rob Ellington took Andrew under their wing thought the course of that summer and beyond.
In 2006, Andrew becomes part of the game day staff for the Freedom while also still writing for OurSports Central.
As time goes on, Andrew is finally getting a chance to do some broadcasting, in small dosages, working with both the radio voice of the Freedom Roger Redmon.
Though the relationships made working with the Freedom, Andrew is hired by Mike Anderson to work in the sports information department at Northern Kentucky University (https://nkunorse.com) upon enrolling into college. This gives Andrew the opportunity to call soccer games for NKU as a freshman.
This is also where Andrew begins to work with John Asalon calling NKU baseball games. Andrew starts doing middle innings for Norse games all the while being critiqued by “Johnny A.”
Andrew also recalls his first solo broadcast job was calling high school basketball games for his alma matter Bishop Brossart. Local legend Dave Schabell who founded the website bmustangs.com (http://bmustangs.com) gives Andrew a chance to call games for the Mustangs.
As a recent college graduate Andrew begins to work as the radio play-by-play announcer and later on the TV side for the NKU women’s basketball program. He credits head coach Dawn Plitzuweit (@CoachDawnP) and her assistant coach Lynn Plett (https://gomountainlions.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/lynn-plett/485) for being instrumental in his development during this time.
His professional baseball career is starting to get off the ground as well and he begins that journey as an intern for two seasons with the Lexington Legends (https://www.milb.com/lexington/). The Legends were at the time Class-A affiliate of the Houston Astros and Andrew is working under local broadcasting legend Keith Elkins.
Also, during this process Andrew begins to shadow Louisville Bats (https://www.milb.com/louisville/) lead play-by-play announcer Jim Kelch (@KelchJim). This spawned a mentorship that was very instrumental in Andrew’s development as a young up-an-coming broadcaster.
Andrew’s first full-time job in broadcasting was with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barrie RailRaiders (https://www.milb.com/scranton-wb/) in 2013. The RailRaiders are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. Andrew talks about the tough love he received from his boss John Sadak (@johnsadak).
Both Curtis Granderson and Derek Jeter spent a significant amount of time in Scranton doing injury-rehab assignments and both were very good to Andrew. He has some great stories about each one proving they were big stars but still were also nice to the people that were still working their way up the ladder.
After a brief stop in Bowling Green, Kentucky working for the Hot Rods (https://www.milb.com/bowling-green) of the Tampa Bay organization, Andrew moves on to his current location. For the last six years he has worked for the Indianapolis Indians (https://www.milb.com/indianapolis) in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. Andrew talks about working under the dean of International League broadcasters Howard Kellman (@HowardKellman).
We wrap up the conversation talking about Andrew having the call for NKU men’s basketball qualifying for its first ever appearance in the NCAA tournament by virtue of winning the Horizon League tournament.
You can follow Andrew Kappes on Twitter @KappesPxP (@KappesPxP)
You can follow Brady Laber on Twitter @BradyLaber1 (https://twitter.com/BradyLaber1) please use the hashtag #NobodysSafe
Check out the Nobody’s Safe website at nobodysssafe.fireside.fm (https://nobodysssafe.fireside.fm)
For more information on Stove Leg Media go the website StoveLeg.com (https://www.stoveleg.com) or send an email to [email protected]
Intro music for the podcast was provided by bensoud.com (https://www.bensound.com)

Like many baseball fans growing up in Northern Kentucky, Andrew was influenced by Marty Brenneman and Joe Nuxhall calling Cincinnati Reds games on the radio.

Andrew got his start working in baseball at the tender age of 14 in the summer of 2005 when he started to cover the Florence Freedom of the independent Frontier League for the OurSports Central website.

Andrew gives credit and thanks to Freedom manager at the time Jamie Keefe along with his staff especially pitching coach Chris Hook and bench coach John Christman for allowing him the opportunity to come into the coach’s office and learn about the game.

Brady helped mentor Andrew in the Freedom press box but not without some good-natured ribbing that sometimes might have bordered on hazing. Brady along with play-by-play announcer Jeff Johnson and press box workers Mitch Morrison, Aaron Zupka and Rob Ellington took Andrew under their wing thought the course of that summer and beyond.

In 2006, Andrew becomes part of the game day staff for the Freedom while also still writing for OurSports Central.

As time goes on, Andrew is finally getting a chance to do some broadcasting, in small dosages, working with both the radio voice of the Freedom Roger Redmon.

Though the relationships made working with the Freedom, Andrew is hired by Mike Anderson to work in the sports information department at Northern Kentucky University upon enrolling into college. This gives Andrew the opportunity to call soccer games for NKU as a freshman.

This is also where Andrew begins to work with John Asalon calling NKU baseball games. Andrew starts doing middle innings for Norse games all the while being critiqued by “Johnny A.”

Andrew also recalls his first solo broadcast job was calling high school basketball games for his alma matter Bishop Brossart. Local legend Dave Schabell who founded the website bmustangs.com gives Andrew a chance to call games for the Mustangs.

As a recent college graduate Andrew begins to work as the radio play-by-play announcer and later on the TV side for the NKU women’s basketball program. He credits head coach [Dawn Plitzuweit](@CoachDawnP) and her assistant coach Lynn Plett for being instrumental in his development during this time.

His professional baseball career is starting to get off the ground as well and he begins that journey as an intern for two seasons with the Lexington Legends. The Legends were at the time Class-A affiliate of the Houston Astros and Andrew is working under local broadcasting legend Keith Elkins.

Also, during this process Andrew begins to shadow Louisville Bats lead play-by-play announcer [Jim Kelch](@KelchJim). This spawned a mentorship that was very instrumental in Andrew’s development as a young up-an-coming broadcaster.

Andrew’s first full-time job in broadcasting was with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barrie RailRaiders in 2013. The RailRaiders are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. Andrew talks about the tough love he received from his boss [John Sadak](@johnsadak).

Both Curtis Granderson and Derek Jeter spent a significant amount of time in Scranton doing injury-rehab assignments and both were very good to Andrew. He has some great stories about each one proving they were big stars but still were also nice to the people that were still working their way up the ladder.

After a brief stop in Bowling Green, Kentucky working for the Hot Rods of the Tampa Bay organization, Andrew moves on to his current location. For the last six years he has worked for the Indianapolis Indians in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. Andrew talks about working under the dean of International League broadcasters [Howard Kellman](@HowardKellman).

We wrap up the conversation talking about Andrew having the call for NKU men’s basketball qualifying for its first ever appearance in the NCAA tournament by virtue of winning the Horizon League tournament.

You can follow Andrew Kappes on Twitter [@KappesPxP](@KappesPxP)

You can follow Brady Laber on Twitter @BradyLaber1 please use the hashtag #NobodysSafe

Check out the Nobody’s Safe website at nobodysssafe.fireside.fm

For more information on Stove Leg Media go the website StoveLeg.com or send an email to [email protected]

Intro music for the podcast was provided by bensoud.com