Lake Stevens senior Payne Patchett records play-by-play audio during a Vikings baseball game last month. The talented 18-year-old broadcaster recently landed a minor-league baseball radio job as the play-by-play voice of the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Lake Stevens senior Payne Patchett records play-by-play audio during a Vikings baseball game last month. The talented 18-year-old broadcaster recently landed a minor-league baseball radio job as the play-by-play voice of the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Living a dream: Lake Stevens senior to broadcast pro baseball

At just 18 years old, Payne Patchett will be the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes’ play-by-play radio voice.

This certainly isn’t your typical summer job for an 18-year-old.

Just three days after graduating from Lake Stevens High School next month, Payne Patchett is slated to make his professional debut behind the mic as a minor league baseball play-by-play radio broadcaster.

The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, the short-season Class A Northwest League affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, announced earlier this week that Patchett will be their radio voice for the 2019 season.

Patchett will call all of the Volcanoes’ games this summer — home and away — on the Keizer, Oregon-based KYKN 1430 AM radio station.

“He’s a talent far beyond his years — that’s for sure,” Salem-Keizer co-owner and general manager Jerry Walker said.

Patchett, a Lake Stevens senior who was featured in The Herald last month for his broadcasting talent, was a constant presence at Vikings varsity baseball games over the past eight seasons. He kept score and recorded play-by-play audio for nearly 200 contests, and along the way developed into a polished broadcaster whose skill far exceeds his age.

“This was basically what I’ve been practicing for ever since middle school,” said Patchett, whose ultimate goal is to become a Major League Baseball broadcaster. “This is what I’ve been wanting to do.

“I didn’t really expect this to come this early, but I’m happy that it is,” he added. “I am pretty fortunate that the team is giving me the opportunity this early.”

https://soundcloud.com/user-838483760/17-lake-stevens-senior-and-future-minor-league-broadcast-payne-patchett

Walker said it’s very possible Patchett is the youngest broadcaster in professional baseball.

“If there’s a younger one out there, I’m not aware of it,” Walker said.

And no matter what age, Walker said landing a job in the highly competitive baseball broadcasting industry is immensely challenging.

“The broadcasting industry in minor league baseball is very, very difficult to break into,” he said. “There’s literally hundreds of applicants, and that’s not an exaggeration. (At the MLB) winter meetings, there’s like several hundred kids — college graduates, young people — looking for employment in minor league baseball as a broadcaster, and the jobs are few and far between.

“Payne landed a job while he was still in high school, but that is such a rare exception.”

Patchett sent emails in March to all eight teams in the Northwest League — which includes the Everett AquaSox — inquiring about any broadcasting-related opportunities within their organizations. Walker said he received numerous other emails similar to Patchett’s, despite not even having a job posted.

“I’d say over the last six months, I probably received 50 applicants,” Walker said. “And I didn’t have anything posted. Had I posted a job opening, I would’ve had hundreds, literally, without exaggeration. There’s so many people in this industry that are looking for jobs.”

Walker said he was struck by Patchett’s announcing style after listening to several Lake Stevens baseball broadcast recordings he submitted.

“I liked the way he called the action,” Walker said. “I liked the way that he melded together a play-by-play and color commentary (at) the same time. He just had a good flow about him.”

Walker also said he liked the way Patchett balances enthusiasm and authenticity behind the mic.

“Most all the announcers have a style about them when there’s a home run or a terrific play, and sometimes it almost seems overdone,” Walker said. “With Payne, it just seemed really real. … He has a good way of bringing the fans into the game, painting a picture of what’s going on and expressing it in a way that doesn’t appear to be overdone, but certainly gets the message across (of) what just happened on the field.”

Walker, an Everett High School graduate, said Patchett’s relative proximity to the Salem-Keizer area also played a factor.

“We like to bring people in (from) somewhere close,” Walker said. “It makes a lot more sense than bringing people in from back east, (because) the orientation factor just takes so long.”

In addition, Walker said he was more than happy to provide an opportunity for a talented up-and-coming broadcaster like Patchett.

Walker did something similar in the mid-1990s when he gave current AquaSox play-by-play voice Pat Dillon his first job in baseball radio, back when the Salem-Keizer franchise was in Bellingham. Dillon, the longest-tenured broadcaster in the Northwest League, is entering his 23rd season as the AquaSox play-by-play announcer.

“The fact that I could give a kid a chance always means a lot,” Walker said. “… I was willing to overlook a lack of (professional) experience — as far as doing something at a higher level than high school — because I wanted to give (Patchett) a chance and I liked his style.”

Upon finding out he’d received the job, Patchett said he tried to remain calm and keep his excitement in check. His mother, however, was a different story.

“I was trying to be cool and calm with it,” Patchett said. “I tried not to think over my head. My mom, on the other hand, was freaking out.”

Patchett was a constant presence at Lake Stevens baseball games over the past eight seasons, keeping score and recording play-by-play audio for nearly 200 contests. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Patchett was a constant presence at Lake Stevens baseball games over the past eight seasons, keeping score and recording play-by-play audio for nearly 200 contests. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Patchett, who is scheduled to graduate June 11 from Lake Stevens, said he’s currently focused on preparing to move to the Salem-Keizer area for the summer. Similar to a high school graduate going off to college, it will be his first time living away from home.

“(It’s) basically like summer camp for the next three months,” said Patchett, who plans to attend Everett Community College this fall and get involved with the school’s newspaper.

The Volcanoes open their season June 14 in Keizer. The following night, Walker said Patchett will have an opportunity to interview former six-time MLB All-Star pitcher Vida Blue, who is scheduled to make a guest appearance. Blue played six seasons for San Francisco — the Volcanoes’ major league affiliate — in the 1970s and 1980s.

“(Payne) is a month away from talking to former big-league ballplayers, because we get a lot of coaches and (people) like that in (as guests),” Walker said. “We’ve just gotta make sure he’s well-grounded and doesn’t get overwhelmed by the magnitude of the opportunity. But I’m sure he’ll be fine. And I’m there every day, so I’ll be there to help counsel him through those moments.”

Just one week after the Volcanoes’ season opener, Patchett will have a Snohomish County homecoming.

Salem-Keizer’s first road trip of the season is a four-game series against the AquaSox on June 21-24 at Funko Field at Everett Memorial Stadium. It’s the Volcanoes’ lone scheduled trip to Everett this summer.

“It’s cool (that) it’s the first road series,” Patchett said. “I do feel like it’s going to help me a lot to get situated with the team, because I’m going back home basically.”

Walker said he anticipates there will be lots of interest in Patchett because of his age.

“People are going to take notice and say, ‘Wow, the kid’s right out of high school and he’s doing professional baseball,’” Walker said.

“We’re happy to have him,” he added, “and we’re looking forward to working with him.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Lake Stevens quarterback Kolton Matson scrambles during the Vikings’ loss to Class 3A No. 1-ranked Bellevue on Sept. 13, 2024 at Lake Stevens H.S. (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
Bellevue runs away from Lake Stevens in matchup of heavy weights.

Lake Stevens led at halftime, but the Wolverines’ running game took over late for a 31-21 final.

X
Prep girls soccer roundup for Thursday, Sept. 12

Glacier Peak, Arlington and Meadowdale all earned multi-goal shutouts.

Everett Community College volleyball coach Whitney Williams talks to her team during a break in a match. Williams, who enters her fourth full season, is currently at 55 wins and has 15 matches remaining in the regular season to set a new all-time record. Williams could surpass former coach Robyn Peckol-Filimaua who served between 2012-18 and compiled 56 wins. (Photo courtesy of EvCC Athletic Director Garet Studer)
New all-time winning milestones in Everett Community College’s future

Whitney Williams, Kieren Raney and Randy Smith are on track to set new records this season.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Aug. 31-Sept. 6

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Aug. 31-Sept. 6. Voting closes… Continue reading

The 2006 Jackson High School baseball team will be among those honored at the Snohomish County Sports Hall of Fame on Sept. 25. (Photo courtesy of the Snohomish County Sports Commission)
Snohomish County HOF will induct 2024 class on Sept. 25

Seven individuals and one team will be inducted as prep and college athletes are honored.

Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) tackles Broncos’ running back Jaleel McLaughlin (38) at Lumen Field on Sept. 8, 2024.
Seahawks’ Macdonald demands flying to ball, sure tackling

Expectations during practice drills paid off in season-opening victory over Denver.

Prep boys tennis roundup for Thursday, Sept. 12

Jackson, Monroe, Snohomish, Edmonds-Woodway and Mountlake Terrace all bageled their opponents.

Prep girls swim and dive roundup for Thursday, Sept. 12

Lake Stevens and Stanwood each earned wins.

Prep volleyball roundup for Thursday, Sept. 12

Lynnwood, Glacier Peak, Monroe and Cascade all earned wins.

Lake Stevens volleyball players celebrate after scoring a point in their season opener against Curtis High School in Lake Stevens, Wash., on Sept. 11, 2024. Curtis won all three sets: 25-19, 25-20 and 25-18. (Taras McCurdie / The Herald)
Lake Stevens volleyball loses season opener to Curtis

Curtis wins the battle of two Vikings teams with state-title aspirations.

Stanwood's Michael Mascotti relays the next play to his teammates during football practice on Monday, Aug. 29, 2022 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep football picks for Week 1

Local experts take a crack at picking the winners for the first week of games.

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen intercepts a pass against the Denver Broncos at Lumen Field on Sept. 8, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)
Seahawks stars Metcalf and Woolen change social media use

Both have seen the dark sides of anonymous critics online and have learned to ignore them.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.