Cages, Cameras & Community: The ’26 Bill Howerton Media Day
By: Justin Bradley | SportzWire | March 1, 2026 | Photo courtesy Andrea Mecca
Before a single regular-season pitch is thrown at practice Monday, the Lackawanna League already had its opening act.
The ’26 Bill Howerton Media Day transformed the clubhouse at PNC Field into a full-scale preseason experience, equal parts energy, storytelling and community impact. From the moment teams walked through the doors, the tone was set.
Brian Jardine and Robby Judge of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders helped create a smooth-moving, athlete-centered agenda that felt more like spring training than media obligations. Players rotated through:
• Studio-style portraits - from classic team shots to handstands and teammates lifted on shoulders
• Rapid-fire interviews
• A live broadcast streamed from inside the conference room with SportzWire’s Nate Johns and Tony Sibilla
• An indoor Home Run Derby in the batting cages
• A clubhouse tour while additional local media made their rounds
Jake Bondy powered his way to the derby crown, earning a pair of Beats headphones donated by NET Credit Union, a proud SportzWire Media Day partner helping elevate the experience.
Journalism and media students from Mid Valley, North Pocono and Delaware Valley were engaged with the SportzWire crew throughout parts of the afternoon, assisting with interviews, production and coverage, gaining hands-on reps while covering the very athletes they share classrooms with.
The formal portion of the ’26 Bill Howerton Media Day served as a reminder of its deeper purpose. The event continues to honor Bill Howerton’s legacy while promoting local baseball and softball and advancing cancer awareness in the region in partnership with the American Cancer Society.
This year’s Exemplary Service Award was presented to Andrew Kettel for his leadership with Coaches vs. Cancer, an initiative that has raised more than $4 million locally during his time spearheading the effort.
Fun greeted the teams at the door.
Purpose closed the day.
And somewhere between glamour shots, live mics and swings in the cage, the 2026 season officially came to life.
Broadcast Replay:
https://sportzwire.mixlr.com/recordings/3052752
Free Downloads Available — Full Image Gallery (Borden Photography):
https://www.borden-photo.com/media-day-lackawanna-league-baseball-and-softball-1
Opening Day is Monday.
But the sound of spring already echoed off the cage walls inside the ’26 Bill Howerton Media Day and it sounded ready.
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