The only problem with Ryan Retone handling ground balls at shortstop for Nixa is it keeps him from handling the play-by-play duties of Eagles baseball games on the school’s streaming network.
Retone is well-renowned for his broadcasting abilities as the voice of Nixa boys basketball games the past three seasons. However, calling baseball games is at the heart of his aspiration of a broadcasting career.
“In my future, baseball is what I want to do,” Retone said. “For now and in college, though, I’ve got to play and then we’ll go from there.”
Retone, a State Fair signee, actually was at the mic for a baseball game earlier this month as part of the Rogersville/Hollister Tournament, which included Nixa serving as a host.
“I did the Borgia-Parkview game and had a blast,” he said. “We had just played Borgia and I told myself I wasn’t going to do it after we gave up seven runs to Borgia in the seventh inning. But then Jaret (Nelson) hit the walk-off homer (in the eighth).”
Retone’s roots as a Cardinals fan have influenced the announcers he’s listened to and idolized over the years.
“Dan McLaughlin, John Rooney on the radio and it might not make people happy, but my Mom will like that I say Joe Buck,” Retone said while listing some of his favorites. “I’m sad to see (Buck) go from baseball.”
