'Like old times': Broadcasters Todd Bell, Jim Clark reunite for OHSAA state baseball games

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CANTON -- They broadcast baseball games involving teams like the Albany-Colonie Yankees, London Tigers and New Britain Red Sox in the 1990s.

For the first time in three decades, Todd Bell and Jim Clark were side by side at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium on Friday. It felt like old times when the stadium was young and can't-miss prospects like Manny Ramirez made their way through it.

Clark and Bell broadcast both Division IV state semifinal baseball games for the OHSAA Radio Network. They were the radio broadcasters for Canton's Double-A Eastern League baseball team and remained with the team when it moved to Akron in 1997.

"I'm nervous. I'm nervous about it," Clark admitted before the first game between Mentor Lake Catholic and Chilicothe Unioto. " ... You want to be back together and you want it to look like it did then.

"I thought we were very good together. We had fun."

Bell has called games on the OHSAA Radio Network for 15 years. In addition to baseball, the network also carries football, boys and girls basketball and softball state tournament games.

The increase of OHSAA divisions meant the increase of state tournament games and the need for more announcers. The opportunity to work with his former partner at their old stadium made sense to Bell.

"My first request was I wanted to do a division that had semifinals at Munson," Bell said. "That's the first place where I called professional baseball in 1993. Then I said I would also like to be able to work with Jim as kind of a reunion.

"Him coaching me, teaching me and allowing me to grow and improve ... the years being able to do those games were priceless."

Bell and Clark were broadcast teammates in Akron through the 2001 season. Being apart 24 years never disrupted their on-air connection.

When a foul ball landing on the roof was heard during the Lake Catholic-Unioto game, Bell told listeners they are at an all-metal stadium.

"You heard some noises at this ballpark before," Clark quickly said.

Broadcasting has been a big part of Bell and Clark's lives since their original partnership ended in 2001.

Clark remains one of the broadcasters for the Akron RubberDucks. The 2025 season marks his 32nd year with the team. He also was the longtime voice of Walsh University athletics.

Bell was the Triple-A Columbus Clippers' lead announcer for four seasons. The 1988 Minerva High School graduate has also spent 17 years broadcasting Ohio Dominican University athletics.

Both had ambitions of becoming Major League Baseball announcers.

"Would I have loved to be a Major League broadcaster? Sure," Bell said. "That wasn't the path.

"I have called Ohio Dominican home for 17 years. I raised a son who just finished his junior year at Hilliard Darby High School. Now he has an opportunity to go to school at Ohio Dominican for free because I work there full time.

"The life portion of it just changed. The priority portion of it changed."

Life brought Bell and Clark back together for one weekend. The respect they have for each other will never change.

"He thought 'We have to do a game here one more time,'" Clark said. "I thought that was pretty neat. I was thrilled to say 'If you want me, oh yeah.'