By Rusty Nixon Correspondent
PLYMOUTH — A lifetime love of the game has brought some special recognition for a local broadcaster.
Tony Ross, of 1050 AM WTCA in Plymouth, has been honored by the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association with the 2009 Outstanding Baseball Media Award. The baseball coaches in the district chose Ross from a group of nominees.
“It’s pretty cool to be honored this way,” said Ross. “I’m really honored that it was the coaches who made the choice. To be honored by them really feels good.
“It really means something to have that kind of relationship with the coaches. They realize that the questions that you’re asking are trying to promote the game of baseball and promote their players. Really, after all is said and done, the games we play are all about the kids.”
Ross is the voice of all Plymouth sports for WTCA, following in the tradition of Rick Derf and Corky Lingle, but he admits a special place in his heart for baseball.

“I played four years of varsity baseball at Knox High School and I loved the game,” said Ross. “I knew I wanted to be a broadcaster the first time I heard Jack Brickhouse (Hall of Fame Cubs broadcaster). He sounded like he was having so much fun, and that’s when I first started to love baseball. It’s just a lot of fun.”
The long tradition of baseball is on the radio, but is it a game that lends itself to that medium?
“If you listen to (legendary Dodgers broadcaster) Vin Scully it is,” said Ross. “Really it’s much more difficult than football or basketball or hockey where it’s non-stop action. Sometimes not talking makes a good broadcast because you get to hear the fans yell, or the crack of a bat – the sounds of the game. The difficult part is because of all the time you have you really have to be prepared.”
The honor comes to a broadcaster who above all has prepared – especially knowing his audience.
“There is a tradition in Plymouth with baseball. There is an expectation,” he said. “Baseball is a big deal in Plymouth, and I try to make it a big deal when I do my broadcasts.”