Langer receives state sportscaster award

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- The Las Vegas 51s professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, announced today the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA) has named play-by-play broadcaster Russ Langer the 2007 Nevada Sportscaster of the Year. It marks the third time in the last five years that he has received this award in the state of Nevada (2003, 2005, 2007).

It also marks the fourth Las Vegas Stars/51s broadcaster to win the award. Langer joins Bob Blum, Ken Korach and Tim Neverett as past recipients.

The award marks the fourth time overall in his career that he has been honored. He won the same honor in 1999 in New Mexico, as the play-by-play voice of the PCL's Albuquerque Dukes. The awards are determined by a poll of state sportswriters and sportscasters.

"In an industry that's as humbling and competitive as sportscasting, this sort of recognition is especially satisfying," Langer said, who also serves as the Director of Broadcasting for the 51s. "My heartfelt thanks to the members of the NSSA."

The NSSA will host its 49th annual awards program on May 5, in Salisbury, North Carolina, where the organization's Hall of Fame is located. This year's national winners include Jim Nantz of CBS Sports for Sportscaster of the Year and Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe for Sportswriter of the Year.

Langer enters his 21st year in the business and the '08 season will mark his ninth season calling the play-by-play for the 51s. The 144-game season will once again be broadcast on FOX Sports Radio 920-AM and available on MiLB.com's live audio on the 51s website (www.LV51.com).

Langer's Major League Baseball broadcasting experience includes 30 games for the Montreal Expos during the 2003 and 2004 seasons, and nine Baltimore Orioles games in 2006. He has also broadcasted selected Los Angeles Dodger Spring Training games from Florida.

The 47-year-old reached the PCL in 1992 with the Phoenix Firebirds. He enjoyed a four-year stint with Albuquerque before moving to Las Vegas. Over his career, he has received numerous awards including: Minor League Broadcaster of the Year by the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues in 1993; broadcasted the 1995 Triple-A All-Star Game; Minor League Broadcaster of the Year by Minor League News.com in 2002.

The 51s, under second-year manager Lorenzo Bundy, will open the 2008 PCL season (26th overall in Las Vegas) on Thursday, April 3 against the Salt Lake Bees, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, at 7:05 p.m. at Cashman Field. Season tickets and mini-plan packages (10, 20, 33-game plans) are available by calling the 51s office at 798-7825 or log on to the team's website at www.LV51.com.

Official licensed team merchandise is available on the "Team Shop" section of the website.