1st Annual Volcanoes Idol to be named

The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes baseball team is hosting a local singing contest, dubbed Volcanoes Idol.  The Volcanoes are looking for local talent to be part of the inaugural Volcanoes Idol Competition with auditions being held at Volcanoes Stadium on Saturday, May 10.  The competitors will sing A Capella for a panel of three judges.  The judges will narrow the contestants down to the top 32 singers.  Singers, who would like to perform should contact Jerry Howard at (503) 390-2225 ext. 3002 to schedule an audition time, on the 10th, from 11:00am to 3:00pm.

The top 32 contestants will advance to the next round of the competition that will be held at the Keizer Iris Festival's Family Tent on the afternoon of Sunday, May 18.  The judges will be looking for originality, voice projection and the ability to entertain when the field of contestants will be reduced to 16.

The competition will continue over the next several months as the final 16 contestants will perform during Volcanoes baseball games at Volcanoes Stadium this summer.  The fate of the singers, at this point of the competition, will be decided by those in attendance at each event as every guest that enters the Stadium will be given a ballot to vote for their favorite contestant.

The finale will be held on the entertainment deck at Volcanoes Stadium on Wednesday, September 3, 2008.  A prize package, valued at over $2,000, will be awarded to the winner.

Volcanoes Select New Radio Announcer

20 Year Radio Veteran Joins Team

Long time local sportscaster Mark Gilman will be calling Salem-Keizer Volcanoes baseball games beginning this Northwest League season.  The team has announced that Gilman will succeed Pat Lafferty, who retired after 11 seasons as the Volcanoes’ radio announcer.

“This is an exciting opportunity for me,” said Gilman.  “The Volcanoes are a fine sports operation, and they have established a rich tradition of winning that I am happy to become a part of.  Pat Lafferty is a class act who has provided local fans with lots of great memories, and I hope to be able to do the same for many years.”

The 47 year old Gilman has broadcast sports in the Salem area for the last twenty years.  His resume' includes over two decades of high school sports broadcasts, most recently at KBZY Radio (1490 AM).  He has also announced games at the small college level and for the Salem Stampede semi-pro basketball team.  Gilman is co-founder of Full Access Sports, a local sports website featuring articles, columns, and live streaming broadcast coverage of prep sports and Willamette University athletics.

“Mark is an entertaining, local grown announcer with an unbridled enthusiasm for sports,” said Volcanoes co-owner Jerry Walker.  “We got our man!"  noted Walker.  "We had nearly 200 resumes and tapes from around the country of individuals for this position, and Mark rose to the top.  He was our #1 choice.  We are delighted to fill this position with a local person who has strong ties to our community.  He is an excellent addition to our organization," concluded Walker.

A life long Salem area resident, Gilman has been married to his wife Theresa for 27 years, and has three daughters.  He is an English and video production instructor at North Salem High, where he has taught since 1998.

The Volcanoes begin their season June 15 at home with a pre-season game against the Corvallis Knights, a team of college all-stars. They open Northwest League play June 17 against Yakima at Volcanoes Stadium.  In a mult-year agreement announced last week, all Volcanoes games will be broadcast on KBZY Radio AM 1490. 

KBZY and Volcanoes Sign Radio Agreement

The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes and Salem’s First Choice, AM 1490 KBZY, have signed a new three year broadcasting agreement.  The agreement, which extends through the Volcanoes 2010 Season, ensures that all Volcanoes games, home and away, will be broadcast locally on Salem’s First Choice, AM 1490 KBZY.  In addition to the game broadcasts, the popular Volcanoes pre-game show, will continue to air preceding every Volcanoes game.  The Agreement also contains an additional two-year option that could extend the Agreement to five years through 2012.

“We’re very pleased with our new broadcast agreement with KBZY,” noted Volcanoes owner Jerry Walker.  “KBZY is the dominant station in this market.  Their staff is very experienced and their professional approach to radio offers Volcanoes fans and our sponsors the very best in sports broadcasting.  We are proud to associate with a such a fine station.”

KBZY’s owner, Roy Dittman said, “We’re excited to carry Volcanoes baseball games throughout the Willamette Valley.  They have done a terrific job in building their team, organization and facilities.  Their record on and off the field is impeccable and speaks for itself.  This is a great opportunity for us to add quality local programming and is an excellent complement to our other major sports affiliation with the Oregon State Beavers,” concluded Dittman.