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Tornado football is back on KMED By GREG STILES Arbitron, the company that tracks who and how many people listen to the radio, delivered good news to Pete Belcastro late last year. From September through November, the No. 2 radio program in the Rogue Valley was Ashland High football on KCMX (880-AM). Only Rush Limbaugh outdid the Grizzlies, who earned their third Class 4A state championship last year. Needless to say, Belcastro -- the voice of the Grizzlies and the driving force behind Table Rock Communications that produces Ashland, North Medford and South Medford sportscasts -- was elated. "It's huge," says Belcastro, who first began producing Grizzly games eight years ago. The Grizzlies will be joined by North Medford and South Medford on Rogue Valley airways this fall, along with Oregon, Oregon State and Southern Oregon, the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders. Belcastro will be joined by Larry Berteau in the booth and Lurch Martin on the sideline. Black Tornado play-by-play returns to KMED (1440-AM) radio for the first time in two decades. KMED has long billed itself as Oregon's oldest radio station, hitting the airwaves in 1927. By the middle of the 20th Century, KMED was the home of Medford High broadcasts and dominated fall Friday nights with Tornado games. But retirements and a format change ended the relationship. A recent series of ownership changes at KMED, culminated by Clear Channel Communication's purchase, opened the door for the Tornado. "We think it's a great fit," says Belcastro. Bill Jacobs will remain the voice of the Tornado along with analysis by Kelly Rasmussen and Marc Bayliss. KMED also will air Oregon State games, beginning an hour before kickoff. Mike Parker is the Beavers' new announcer. South Medford will be heard on KTMT (580-AM) with Joe Brett describing the action. KTMT will also carry Southern Oregon Raiders games with pregame shows beginning an hour before kickoff. Belcastro and Brett will handle the play-by-play. KCMX will carry Oregon games, with Jerry Allen handling play-by-play, starting 30 minutes before kickoff. Eagle Point, heard on KOPE-FM last year, will not be on the air. Prep football fans traveling to Grants Pass can hear games on KAJO (1270-AM) with Chuck Benson at the microphone; in Roseburg on KQEN (1240-AM) with Brent Newton; and in Klamath Falls on KFLS (1450-AM) with Randy Adams. San Francisco 49ers contests remain on KTMT and Oakland Raiders games on KCMX. For Internet-savvy fans wishing to listen in, Ashland and SOU games will be available at www.trc.com FOOTBALL 99 Index Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.