As video markers go, this one has all the bells and whistles.
There are those who would say that it took a long time, jumping over obstacles and driving the discussion and debate in the City Council.
As other ballparks began to feature state-of-the-art video board technology that kept baseball fans tuned in to games and offered commercial opportunities, Williamsport’s Muncy Bank Park at Historic Bowman Field can finally claim which has a marker with all elements. the previous version didn’t have it.
“It makes the fan experience so much better” said Gabe Sinicropi, vice president and chief marketing officer of the Williamsport Crosscutters, the home team there and a member of the Major League Baseball Draft League.
The scoreboard, which cost about $700,000, closely resembles a large television set that is controlled in the press box by cinematographer Jay Hawkins, director of production.
Crosscutters camera operator Courtney Skelton shoots game action as the ‘Cutters play the Frederick Keys at Muncy Bank Ballpark on July 11, 2022. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Hawkins, who is the Cutters’ full-time production manager, manages the controls that oversee the seating and pitch.
He also said the Cutters also have a social media presence with Cutters on Deck.
The board, created by Daktronics, is a far cry from the older board, which was prone to breakage.
This has state of the art capabilities.
Cameras are on the field and in the stands, and the video board can broadcast live action, even as Sinicropi works the crowd between innings.
A Crosscutters pitcher throws out a Mahoning Valley Black Bears player during a late game recently at Muncy Bank Ballpark. The new scoreboard was installed at Bowman Field prior to the start of the 2022 season. This new scoreboard provides game fans with a lot of different information and video, both during the game and before the game, than what was available before to exist DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
The board gives fans a clear image of the player’s head at bat, with statistics and is capable of displaying advertisements and broadcasting TV channels.
The experience at the ballpark is now much richer with the addition of the new scoreboard screen, said team photographer Dave Kennedy. Pre-game interviews, video clips of past games add to the spectacle the ‘Cutters can provide their fans. A new pre-game show is called every day “The Leadoff”, which is hosted by Sinicropi, provides fans with a recap of previous games, in-game promotions for tonight and upcoming special events for the week at the stadium, Kennedy added. The addition of the display system isn’t simply a way to display the hits, runs, and misses of the game; adds a complete multimedia experience for any Muncy Bank Park attendee, Kennedy said.
The marker was paid for through a state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant that was pushed by state Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township.
The Cutters, as a team, contributed $100,000 to the cost of the video board believing it to be such a vital upgrade needed by fans and teams playing in the league.
These grants are through the Budget Office and are used for economic development and job creation purposes.
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