PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Emily Messina is the play-by-play voice for the Reading Fightin' Phils, the Phillies' Double-A affiliate. She is also one of a small, but growing number of women serving as the voice of a minor league baseball team.
Messina is in her second year at Reading, but this is her first season actually broadcasting games for the Fightin Phils, as last year's minor league campaign was wiped out by the pandemic.
She said when it comes to improving her craft, one key is listening back to her broadcasts. "You know, often times when you are talking, you don't even know what you are saying sometimes, so I listen back," she shared.
"My biggest thing that I'm working on right now is I say the word 'as' like other people say the word 'um' or 'like,' I use the word 'as.' I had no idea that I was doing that until I listened back to my tape and I was like, 'Oh my gosh, I say the word 'as' like every other second. I have to fix that.'"
Messina admitted she feels some pressure being one of the few women in minor league baseball broadcasting ever leads to feeling any extra pressure.
"I want to do a good job for myself and for the other women. I know I don't get as much leeway as some other people might. I probably won't get another opportunity if I mess up. So I know I have to make the most of every day, every game that I can," she said.
You can listen to the entire interview with Emily Messina, above, by checking out the latest episode of the KYW Newsradio original podcast, "1-on-1 with Matt Leon." For more, subscribe on the Audacy app or wherever you get your podcasts.
Follow Matt Leon on Twitter @MattLeon1060.