If you happen to tune into a Myrtle Beach Pelicans home game this year, you might catch a familiar voice.This season, Powell native Anthony Masterson is providing color and play-by-play commentary for the Pelicans — the Class A Advanced, minor league affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.

Masterson, who worked as a broadcast assistant with the Washington Nationals' single A affiliate last year, had connected with a fellow assistant in Myrtle Beach during his travels. When that man, Tyler Maun, landed the Pelicans' No. 1 broadcaster position this season, he invited Masterson to come on board as his assistant.

“I couldn't answer fast enough after seeing how well the Pelicans organization was run last year, and plus, I knew it wouldn't kill me to live by the beach for a summer,” said Masterson in a recent online message.

Technically, the 24-year-old's new job is a sideways move from Washington's Potomac Nationals, but he sees it as a drastic improvement.

“Potomac was in the same league in terms of the baseball being played, but the Pelicans organization is leaps and bounds ahead of the P-Nats in terms of ballpark, fan experience, promotions, and location. And that's only naming a few of the ways,” said Masterson.

Like last year, all of Masterson's broadcasts are streamed over the Internet to listeners. But unlike last year, the Pelicans' broadcasts are also heard over the airwaves via a local ESPN Radio affiliate — “so it's like I'm a real broadcaster!” Masterson says.

His job duties have also been trimmed a bit from last season, where he was called upon to help in nearly every front-office department.

“Yeah I still have to pull tarp (over the field) when it rains and everything, but my technical title is the Assistant Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations and it pretty much adheres to that title,” Masterson said.

Though he broadcasted a four-game Pelicans road trip by himself last week, Masterson generally broadcasts only home games with Maun alongside — providing color commentary in innings one through three, play-by-play in frames four through six, and back to color for the game's remainder.

When he's not on the air, Masterson puts together team stats and data for each game, helps assemble a team magazine for each of the Pelicans' homestands, and interviews a different player each day for the pregame radio show.

Masterson said he “couldn't have lucked into a better situation for this summer.”

The Pelicans' owner, Chuck Greenberg, is part of a group of investors who are in the process of purchasing the Texas Rangers, pending approval from Major Leauge Baseball officials. Masterson says former star NFL running backs, Jerome Bettis and Eddie George, part owners of the Pelicans, also make regular appearances at the ballpark.

As an added bonus, Masterson's pay — which last year was a paltry $500 a month — has improved.

“It's double what I was paid last year, so I figure if I can keep that streak going as my career progresses, I'll be making a pretty good living in just a few short years,” he said.

Tune in

If you'd like to catch Powell High School alum Anthony Masterson's baseball broadcasting, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans begin a six-game homestand tonight (Tuesday). They begin play at 5:05 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and at 4:05 p.m. on Sunday before hitting the road again. Masterson generally only broadcasts the team's home games. A live stream of the Pelicans' broadcasts is available for free through the team's website, www.myrtlebeachpelicans.com.