Community Profile: ERic and Will BAll

by Bill Althaus

Eli Herbert, the sharp-shooting junior guard on the Grain Valley High School boys basketball team, appreciates all the hard work Eric Ball puts into preparation as the Eagles public address announcer.

With his charismatic and dynamic call: "Welcome to the City of the Grain!" Ball is a favorite among players, coaches and Eagles fans.

"Mr. Ball does a great job announcing our games," said Eli, who is averaging over 23 points a game, which leads the Eagles and is second in scoring in the  Kansas City metro area.

"But I have to admit, his son Will is my favorite PA announcer. You look over at the scorer's table and see Will and his dad, and see how excited Will is about the game, and it gets you even more excited. We all love it when Will calls out our names after we make a basket. Will inspires our entire team."

Will, 11, a student at Grain Valley South Middle School, joined his dad in the broadcast booth at 2024 home Eagles football games.

"I love announcing, and I love being with my dad," Will said. "My dad's my hero and Eli is my favorite athlete. During football, I get to call the touchdowns and first downs, which is really cool. But what I really like it calling, 'Basket by Eli Herbert!' I get so fired up when Eli scores, and all the guys score. I'm right there sitting by dad at the scorer's table and I have the best seat in the gym. And I have the best dad ever!"

Eric never dreamed about being a PA announcer while attending Fort Osage High School.

"I just stumbled into it - and I am so happy I did," Eric said.

"A teacher at Fort Osage, Corey Willich - who is now the principal at Park Hill South High School - took me under his wing. He talked to me about being a PA announcer and it sounded great to me. I never announced a game as a student at Fort Osage but I announced games two years when I was at Ruskin."

He fine tuned his craft at Ruskin, then developed his own persona at Grain Valley.

"I'm there to announce what's going on, while never stepping on what's happening in the game," Eric said. "The game is not about you. It's about the players. I take great care in making sure I announce all the players' names on both teams correctly. If Will was playing in a game, I'd want his name pronounced the right way.

"I've been able to meet and get to know a lot of coaches because I talk to them before games making sure I have the right pronunciation of their players' names. I've been doing this a long time, and I've met some great coaches."

And Ball readily admits that the recent football and basketball seasons have been extra special because of his new sidekick.

"Is there anything better than hanging out with your son while you watch football and basketball games?" Eric asked. "I'm having the time of my life, and Will is having a great time, too. He made a cameo appearance with me when he was in sixth grade, and now, he's a part of our team.

"And the players and coaches treat him like he is a part of their teams. The first time he met (football) Coach (David) Allie, Coach gave Will a fitted Eagles football cap. Then he gave Will a hug. We are so lucky to work with great coaches and teams and (activities director) Brandon Hart is the best."

Eric said the moments he cherishes come when he and Will get to celebrate milestone moments.

"Will calling 'TOUCHDOWN!' is so cool," Eric said. "And to be a part of special moments like Eli's 1,000th career point or Josh Kilpatrick's 1,000th point is amazing, just amazing."

There are moments Eric can't believe his good fortune, which has taken on new levels of excitement now that he shares the microphone with his son.

"If it all ended today," Eric said, "I will have had more good fortune, met more good people and witnessed more amazing games than most people I know. I feel like I'm part of the players lives, and I get to share it all with Will."

​Eric Ball, left, has been the Grain Valley High School public address announcer for football and basketball the past 17 years. This year, he is joined behind the microphone by his son, Will, who is a big fan of the Eagles. Photo credit: Bill Althaus
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