Aleshire back with radio crew

Joe Aulisio of Canfield will handle the play-by-play duties.

YOUNGSTOWN — Christian Aleshire, a sports personality for WBBW-AM 1240 radio, will return to the Mahoning Valley Thunder radio broadcasting team for the 2008 season as the color analyst.

Aleshire, a graduate of Warren JFK High and Youngstown State, will be joined by Joe Aulisio, assistant sports director for WKBN-TV 27 and Fox 17/62. Aulisio will handle the play-by-play duties in his first year with the radio team. Mike Case of WFMJ Channel 21 was the play-by-play announcer in 2007.

WBBW, a member of the Cumulus Broadcast family, will broadcast all 16 of the Thunder’s regular-season games, beginning with the season opener Saturday at 7:05 p.m. against the Albany Conquest on Cortland Banks Field in the Chevrolet Centre.

WBBW also will broadcast playoff contests if the Thunder advances. Each game broadcast will include a 15-minute pre-game show and a 10-minute post-game show. Each game also will be simulcast through the internet at www.wbbw.com.

Aleshire, who earned a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications from Youngstown State University, called every Thunder game during the Thunder’s inaugural 2007 season in af2.

“I am very happy to be back with the Thunder. Last season was a great experience for me,” said Aleshire, who also will co-host the Mahoning Valley Thunder Coach’s Show, which will air each Monday night from 6 to 7 p.m. on WBBW.

“I enjoyed getting to know the players, coaches, and the rest of the Thunder family,” Aleshire said.

Aleshire has been a member of the Cumulus broadcast team since 2003, working for WBBW, Y-103 (WYFM-FM) and ROCK 104.

Aside from on air work, Aleshire also handles production and maintains the website for WBBW.

Aulisio, of Canfield, who first joined WKBN/Fox in May 2005, is a native of Elyria and a graduate of John Carroll University.

“This is an exciting opportunity for me,” Aulisio said. “I followed the Thunder closely in 2007 and was blown away by the excitement of the indoor game and the fan friendly atmosphere.

“I’m thankful to be a part of the Thunder organization and for the opportunity to work with Christian, who did such a great job last year.”

Aulisio is the sports reporter on the 17/62 telecasts weeknights at 10 and works as a sideline reporter for that stations’s high school and college football broadcast.

kovach@vindy.com