Meet Ben Eaton

This week, we started Sedalia Bombers baseball coverage and brought back Kaleb Filis to do play-by-play and we have matched him with our new intern, Ben Eaton from the University of Central Missouri.  Let's get to know Benjamyn and welcome aboard. -- Doug

First off my name is Benjamyn Eaton, I am a student at The University of Central Missouri. My major is DMP (Digital Media Production.) I love sports, and have been around all sorts of sports my whole life.  Sports were apart of my family's everyday life. I have five brothers and sisters. My siblings, and myself were very competitive which led to a lot of  1 0n 1 or 2 on 2 action in basketball, baseball, football and soccer. We played everything: around the world, horse, we had races, quarter back competitions, catch, and anything you can probably think of. This lifestyle led me to developing a dream of becoming a sports commentator. When we finally came in the house from outside we would watch sports or play a sports video game. I loved the voices of all the different commentators calling each sporting event. Sports play-by-play started to become a passion. Sometimes I would mute the TV, and call the games myself. Other times we would be outside, and I would start commentating everything that would happen.
So when I eventually got the heart break of being told I wouldn't be a pro athlete I decided broadcasting was my path.

I graduated from Ray-Pec High School.  I attended Johnson County Community College in Overland Park Kansas. JCCC was where I got my first taste of actually calling sporting events. I took broadcasting classes, and called JCCC Cavalier and Lady Cavalier basketball, and some baseball. I also hosted a weekly show interviewing Cavalier players, and coaches.  I had the awesome opportunity to travel with the men's basketball team to the national tournament in Danville IL, and call their run for a national title which ended up falling short. After transferring from JCCC to UCM, Johnson County asked if  I could return to call the NJCAA DII Women's National Tournament, and I of course said yes. I was one of a few people who covered the whole tournament, and I was chosen to call the National Championship game. My time at JCCC was a huge step for me to become a broadcaster. I was an award recipient at JCCC from KAB (Kansas Association of Broadcasting) Student Awards for 1st place in undergraduate TV Sports Play-by-Play.

My next step was UCM where I was taught an array of broadcasting lessons. I did know one thing I was going to somehow get involved in the sports broadcasting field. I eventually got into the class Sports Broadcasting, and eventually Advanced Sports Broadcasting. The first sporting event that they were going to have me call was volleyball. Little did they know, I know a lot about volleyball. I was told they were shocked when I did a great job at calling the game. While at UCM I called volleyball, basketball, football, softball, & baseball. I also was made aware of an opportunity to work for KMOS TV Missouri PBS and became the host of their show SportsPage which covered all UCM athletics.

I now find myself at the end of my college experience, and one of my requirements is an internship. So I was extremely lucky to have caring professors who help inside and outside the classroom, because I was made aware of an internship here at Townsquare Media in Sedalia. Working with KSIS, KIX, & BOB FM has me extremely excited to learn outside of the classroom. I can not wait to learn from all of the staff here.

One thing I am looking forward to the most is calling Sedalia Bombers games! I have already got the opportunity to call the home opener (which by the way the Bombers won) it was an awesome time. Liberty Park/Dey Field is an absolute amazing place. I will talk more about my first experience calling the Bombers home opener in my next blog so stay tuned!!