Texas State launches first Spanish-language baseball broadcast on KTSW
Elizabeth Hayek
March 20, 2026
Student-led production expands access and hands-on learning for SJMC
Texas State University’s first Spanish-language baseball broadcast brought together university leaders, parents and fans alongside Texas State students in a live, collaborative production. The School of Journalism and Mass Communication partnered with the Department of World Languages and Literatures, Texas State Athletics and Texas State Global to deliver the historic broadcast.
The university marked the milestone March 24 with its first Spanish-language broadcast of a Bobcat baseball game on KTSW 89.9 FM.
The broadcast aired during a home matchup against the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and streamed online, expanding access to Spanish-speaking audiences across the Bobcat community.
Journalism professor Eraldo “Dino” Chiecchi led the three-hour live broadcast, calling play-by-play for the entire game. He was joined by World Languages and Literatures professor Marcos García Barrero, who provided color commentary throughout the broadcast and led the first inning solo.
Students from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication rotated into the booth each inning, gaining hands-on experience in live sports broadcasting. Jessie Ramos Ramons, Lua Moreon, Gisselle Fuentes and Travis Ortiz each contributed color commentary twice during the game.
“This is so exciting and the timing is perfect,” Chiecchi said. “Texas State has a great baseball team, a proud group of fans, and now a growing base of listeners with our Spanish-language broadcast.”
The broadcast featured interviews with university leaders, fans and families. Texas State President Kelly Damphousse joined during the game and participated in a bilingual interview translated live on air.
Additional guests included Mary Brennan, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, Dr. Yasmine Beale-Rosano-Rivaya, chair of the Department of World Languages and Literatures, and Lauren Ibarra, director of regional and international partnerships.
Behind the scenes, student Kaden Bessant supported the broadcast by providing live statistics and game information.
The initiative was a collaboration between the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, the Department of World Languages and Literatures, Texas State Athletics and Texas State Global. Organizers said the effort created new opportunities for students while connecting with broader audiences.
KTSW students produced the broadcast from Bobcat Ballpark, continuing the station’s role as a student-run learning lab that prepares students for careers in media.
SJMC Director Judy Oskam praised the effort and highlighted the teamwork behind the production, noting the broadcast’s energy and professional quality.
The March 24 game is the first of two Spanish-language broadcasts planned this season. A second broadcast is scheduled for April 28 against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Organizers said the project reflects SJMC’s focus on experiential learning and signals future growth in multilingual sports coverage.