Sweets’ Elia to move from PA to Play-by-Play

Sweets PA announcer Elia set to take on 2019 play-by-play duties

WALLA WALLA – The Walla Walla Sweets of the West Coast League have announced that longtime play-by-play commentator Roy Elia has been hired to be the baseball club’s lead broadcaster and media relations director.

Elia, 55, is currently calling Walla Walla High School boys and girls basketball for 1320 AM and 92.9 FM KGDC – a role he has held since the 2016-17 season. He has been the voice of DeSales High School football since 2016.

“Sports play-by-play has been an important part of my life,” Elia said. “I am very much looking forward to working with the organization and broadcasting the 10th season of Sweets baseball.”

The 1989 graduate of Central Washington University called Wa-Hi sports previously from 1989-2000. His first full-time opportunity at play-by-play occurred while attending CWU. Elia called Ellensburg High School football in 1988.

“Roy has been a leading voice in local play-by-play and has terrific on-air skills as well as experience writing about sports in our community,” Sweets general manager J.C. Biagi said. “Like many local sports fans, I’ve been listening to his broadcasts since my youth and have great memories that connect his voice to some significant local sports moments.”

Previous radio experience included a stint as color commentator for Wa-Hi and DeSales football games from 1983-86.

“He has an uncanny ability to build a meaningful rapport with his listeners and I love that some fans are already well-familiar with him,” Biagi said. “Roy can describe the momentous occasions on the field and render an authentic picture for those who aren’t able to attend on a given night. We couldn’t be happier that he agreed to do this.”

Roy Elia will head up Sweets media in addition to play-by-play

Elia was public address announcer for the Sweets the past two summers, and has handled those responsibilities for Northwest Athletic Conference, Walla Walla Community College and high school athletics, and local American Legion baseball.

He is a 1981 graduate of DeSales High School and received an Associate of Arts degree from WWCC in 1983.

The Sweets will continue to build on momentum gained from video broadcasts in 2018 and offer fans both audio and video options directly from their website wallawallasweets.com during the 2019 season.

By: Walla Walla Sweets

Date: January 8, 2019