Degler leaves R-Phils radio booth

READING, Pa. -- Longtime Reading Phillies radio broadcaster Steve Degler will leave the booth to join Service Electric Cable TV2 Sports television broadcasts for both the Double-A R-Phils and the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Chuck Domino, President of both teams, announced today. Also announced were new television deals for both clubs with Service Electric and that former R-Phil and Major Leaguer Ricky Bottalico will join Reading's TV broadcasts.

Degler had been the R-Phils primary radio voice since 1992 but also has done extensive TV work for the club, most recently on Service Electric broadcasts in 2008. He was the longest tenured broadcaster in the Eastern League. In his new role he'll handle analysis for all 76 televised IronPigs games and play-by-play for all 20 televised R-Phils games.

During recent baseball offseasons, Degler has broadcasted high school football and basketball for The Comcast Network. He has recently called college football, basketball and hockey for DeSales University, La Salle University, Niagara University, Lehigh University, Albright College and his alma mater at Kutzown University. Last year, he was part of the crew that covered the annual Big 33 game and Pennsylvania State High School Football Championships for PCN.

In 2008 Degler was nominated for a Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award for his work on the New Jersey High Tournament of Champions finals on The Comcast Network.

The 2009 season will be the R-Phils third on SECTV 2 Sports. Based in Allentown, PA, SECTV 2 Sports produces the games which will also be carried by network affiliates Service Electric Cablevision, Service Electric Company, Blue Ridge Cable TV-11, Blue Ridge Cable TV-13 and WYLN-35. Overall, R-Phils games will reach over one million homes.

Bottalico, who will be enshrined in the Reading Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009, will join the broadcasts in a yet to be determined role as his schedule permits. He spent all of 2008 handling color analysis on the IronPigs TV broadcasts. He also has TV experience as an analyst on Comcast SportsNet's "Phillies Post Game Live." Highlights from Bottalico's playing career are below.

Returning to the R-Phils TV booth for his third season to handle analysis is Tim Neiman. Neiman's insights are fueled by nearly 30 years of experience coaching at the collegiate level, plus scouting experience with the Pirates and White Sox. Neiman has been in his current position as the head coach at DeSales University since 1990 and owns a career record of 473-256-4 (.645) and several NCAA appearances including a trip to the 2003 Division III College World Series. Several of Neiman's players have been signed or drafted by professional teams.

"We are excited to have Steve Degler as a part of all SECTV games in both Lehigh Valley and Reading for the 2009 season," said Domino. "Steve's professionalism, familiarity with both markets and his knowledge of the Philadelphia Phillies as the radio broadcaster of the Reading Phillies for the past 17 years will serve the TV viewers well. We are also pleased that Ricky Bottalico, as he enters the Reading Baseball Hall of Fame this season, will be available on a limited basis to the TV broadcasts in both cities. Ricky established himself last season as an emerging talent in the booth and we welcome him back as his schedule allows."

The R-Phils expect to make an announcement on Degler's replacement in the radio booth very soon.