WILMINGTON – The crack of a wooden bat echoes across the field. Fans cheer as a player rounds third base. Children balance hot dogs and souvenir cups while keeping one eye on the action unfolding below.
For most people, summer collegiate baseball is experienced from the stands. For Adam Hill, it is experienced from a headset. Inside the press box overlooking Brooks Field at UNC Wilmington, a different kind of game is taking place. A half dozen young professionals sit inside. Each is responsible for a different piece of the production. One monitors the scoreboard. Another manages music and promotions. Others track statistics and game operations.
At the front of the room sits Hill, a recent University of Mount Olive graduate and sports communication major. With a headset on, a computer screen glowing in front of him, and pages of rosters and handwritten notes spread across the desk, he leans forward in his chair, ready for the next pitch.
As the play-by-play announcer and color commentator for the Cape Fear Ghost Crabs, Hill’s voice guides listeners through every inning, every hit, and every dramatic moment of the team’s inaugural season. It’s a role that feels both familiar and new.
During his time at UMO, Hill gained extensive broadcasting experience announcing baseball, basketball, lacrosse, and other Trojan athletic events. This summer’s internship is allowing him to apply those skills in a larger setting while sharpening the craft he hopes to turn into a career. “This is exactly what I want to do,” Hill said. “Being able to call games every day and learn from experienced professionals has been an incredible opportunity.”
That opportunity came through the Cape Fear Ghost Crabs, a new summer collegiate baseball team competing in Wilmington. For Hill, joining an organization during its first season has provided a unique behind-the-scenes perspective on building a sports franchise while developing his own broadcasting style.
“Being part of an inaugural season has been really exciting because everyone is learning and building something together,” Hill said. “You get to see all the work that goes into creating a successful organization, not just what happens on the field.”
Ghost Crabs General Manager Tom Lamont said Hill arrived with an advantage many aspiring broadcasters lack. “Adam came in with experience,” Lamont said. “The work he did at UMO gave him a head start. He sounds professional, he understands the flow of a broadcast, and he knows this is what he wants to do.”
While announcing may appear effortless to listeners, the preparation behind each broadcast is extensive. Hill studies player statistics, researches opposing teams, verifies player pronunciations, and prepares storylines before every game. During broadcasts, he must balance information and entertainment, delivering statistics while keeping listeners engaged.
“Preparation is everything,” Hill said. “The more work you put in before the game, the more comfortable you are when you’re on the microphone. It allows you to focus on telling the story of the game instead of searching for information.”
Lamont agreed. “It’s not enough to just know the facts,” he explained. “You have to make it interesting and create an experience for the audience.”
That challenge has become one of the most valuable parts of the internship. With games scheduled throughout the summer, Hill is learning the realities of sports broadcasting: long hours, constant preparation, and the need to produce fresh content night after night. “Every game is different,” Hill said. “You have to be ready to adapt because you never know what’s going to happen. That’s one of the things I enjoy most about broadcasting. No two nights are ever the same.”
The internship has also exposed Hill to the business side of sports. Beyond calling games, he has observed how organizations use promotions, community outreach, and fan engagement to build support and create memorable experiences for spectators. “It’s opened my eyes to how much goes into running a team,” Hill said. “Broadcasting is a big part of the fan experience, but there are so many people working behind the scenes to make game day successful.”
The internship represents the next step in a journey that began at UMO. The hands-on opportunities he received as a student allowed him to build confidence behind the microphone while developing the technical and communication skills required in sports media.
“UMO gave me opportunities from day one,” Hill said. “I was able to get real experience calling games and learn what it’s like to work in a live sports environment. That experience helped prepare me for opportunities like this.”
As another pitch is delivered and another inning unfolds, Hill’s focus remains fixed on the game in front of him. Fans hear the finished broadcast, but behind every call is a young broadcaster refining his craft and gaining experience with each game.
“I’m exactly where I want to be right now,” Hill said. “Every game, every broadcast, and every challenge is helping me become the broadcaster I hope to be in the future.”
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The university was founded by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. For more information, visit www.umo.edu.