ABCA Podcast

Next up on the ABCA Podcast is Advanced Baseball Academy owner and ABCA Travel Committee member, Luke Town. Town has been working with baseball and softball players for 33 years. Town is also an NFCA member. Town has been studying biomechanics since 2000. Advanced Baseball Academy trains baseball and softball players from ages 8 up through professional. They have over 400 athletes in their organization. Advanced Baseball Academy implements suicide and bully prevention training as soon as athletes join the organization. This is an impactful episode on how to introduce this type of training with your organization. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Joining us on this week’s ABCA Podcast is Thomas Jefferson High School, Alexandria Aces, EWBC and DC Girls Baseball coach, Jennifer Hammond. Hammond also works for the Washington Nationals on the game day entertainment side. Hammond spent 5 seasons at Falls Church High School serving as Associate Head Coach of the JV Baseball Team and Varsity Assistant Coach. In this episode we cover catching, in game tips, coaching journey and differences in coaching youth, high school and college players. This is our second installment of our monthly diversity spotlight episodes. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Next up on the ABCA Podcast is Cox High School head coach, Matt Ittner. Ittner is in his sixth season at the helm of the Cox baseball program. Ittner is a 2008 graduate of Cox High School, where he was a 3-year varsity letterman for the baseball team. Ittner played baseball at College of Albermarle and Virginia Wesleyan. Ittner spent time at Salem High School and JV head coach at Cox. The 2021 Cox baseball team won the 5A State Championship. Get your pad and pen ready because Coach Ittner has a wealth of information and resources on program building. In this episode we cover the Iron Falcon Challenge, player development, game tips, how to manage your staff and how Cox baseball uses their military area to develop team building. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

This week on the ABCA podcast we head back into the training world with Rockland Peak Performance owner, Nunzio Signore. Rockland Peak Performance is a high-performance indoor training facility located in north New Jersey. RPP trains professional and amateur baseball players. Signore is the author of Velocity Baseball Training and Pitchers Arm Care. Signore has written articles for the ABCA’s Inside Pitch Magazine and has spoken at many of the larger baseball clinics in the US. Signore also has served as an adjunct professor at St. Thomas Aquinas College, teaching theories and applications of strength and conditioning. In addition, he is a lecturer at Springfield College, SUNY Cortland, and Penn State. In this episode we cover VBT, remote training, long term athlete development and new & old training protocols. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Next up on the ABCA Podcast is Troy University head coach, Skylar Meade. Meade is heading into his second season as head coach of the Trojans. Meade led Troy to a 32-win season and an appearance in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament semifinals last year. Meade spent 14 years as an assistant coach with stops at South Carolina, Michigan State, Middle Tennessee State and Eastern Illinois. Meade played collegiately at Louisville and led the Cardinals to a CWS appearance his senior season in 07’. Meade is highly regarded in the baseball industry as an elite pitching coach and recruiter. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

I want to thank everyone for listening to the ABCA Podcast. This is my 200th episode since taking over. I am so thankful for everyone that listens in every week. I appreciate when people reach out about what is speaking to them with the episodes. As always, I hope I am asking the right questions for you all. The ABCA Podcast was nominated for the Sports Podcast Awards again this year. If you want to vote for us, head over to sportspodcastgroup.com and put a vote in for the ABCA Podcast. We are starting monthly minority spotlight episodes. Kicking us off is Georgetown University Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator, Julius McDougal. McDougal was an integral part of the Hoyas’ historic 2022 season breaking program records for wins, home runs, total bases and end of season RPI. McDougal has had success at every stop of the way helping turn around Eastern Kentucky with back to back 30 win seasons in 18’ & 19’. Prior to Eastern Kentucky, McDougal, was an assistant and head coach at Stillman College. He got his coaching start as an assistant at Kentucky State University in 14’. This is a great episode on developing a winning culture, player development and coaching hitters. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

This week’s ABCA Podcast guest is current professional baseball player, Nashville artist and Proud To Be In Baseball cofounder, Bryan Ruby. Ruby played high school baseball for his father in Pennsylvania and collegiately at Vassar College. Ruby is currently playing for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in Oregon. In the offseason he works in Nashville writing songs for country music. Heading into his senior season at Vassar, Ruby decided to come out to his coaches and teammates. Since then he has been an advocate for LGBTQ baseball players. Proud To Be In Baseball had a booth at the Nashville convention this year. Ruby has been coming to the ABCA convention with his father since he was a kid. This episode is an open and honest conversation about how inclusion can help the players that you coach. Ruby is a good example of how numbers on the field improve when players feel comfortable and seen. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

On this week’s ABCA Podcast we check in with Wake Forest Associate Head Coach, Bill Cilento. Cilento is in his 14th season with the Demon Deacons working primarily with hitters and infielders. He has a great track record of developing players with 65 drafts and 7 big leaguers. Wake Forest has had 19 hitters earn all-ACC honors the last five seasons, including National Player of the Year and first round pick Will Craig. Wake Forest has ranked in the top 50 nationally in home runs in six of the past seven seasons, also ranking among the nation’s leaders in batting average, doubles, walks, slugging and on-base percentage every season. The Deacs made the NCAA tournament in 2022 after posting the program’s seventh 40-win season. The 2022 team also broke school records for home runs, walks, RBIs, runs scored, runs per game and slugging percentage. Cilento played collegiately and coached at Siena. He also spent time coaching at New Orleans and Brown. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Staying on the MLB side with this week’s ABCA Podcast. We check in with Oakland A’s Major League pitching coach, Scott Emerson. Emerson grew up in Phoenix and was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 1990 out of Shadow Mountain High School and by the Baltimore Orioles in 1991 out of Scottsdale Community College. Emerson pitched in the minor leagues from 1992 to 1997. In 2000 Emerson joined the Pittsburgh Pirates Organization as Pitching Coach of their Gulf Coast League. Emerson joined the Athletics’ Organization in 2001. Emerson worked his way up through the minor leagues through 2014 and ended as the Athletics Minor League Pitching Coordinator. After the 2014 season Emerson was named the Athletics major league bullpen coach. Emerson was promoted to pitching coach on June 15, 2017. We cover all things pitching in this one. Emerson has a great perspective on how to blend the old with the new. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Next up on the ABCA Podcast is Houston Astros Assistant Director of Player Development and Minor League Coordinator, Jason Bell. Bell started his career path on the college side as the Director of Baseball Operations at Ohio University in 2015. From there Bell went on to be the pitching coach at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. In 2017 Bell was hired by the Houston Astros as the development coach for Quad Cities in 2017. In 2019 Bell was hired as the Astros fundamentals coordinator. That year the Astros led all 30 organizations with an overall fielding percentage of .975. With Major League pitchers and catchers reporting for Spring Training, we are jumping into a couple professional baseball episodes. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Best time of the year with every level of college baseball going now. Happy opening week of Div. I Baseball. Next up on the ABCA Podcast is our Div. I preview. We have an intelligent and entertaining line up of college baseball writers in this episode. New to this year’s Div. I preview is former college coach, Craig Cozart from Perfect Game. Then we hand it over to Teddy Cahill from Baseball America and we finish it off with D1Baseball’s Mike Rooney, Aaron Fitt & Kendall Rogers. As a life-long fan of College Baseball, this is always an exciting time of the year for me. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Next up on the ABCA Podcast is our NAIA, Junior College, Div. III and Div. II preview. Robby Gutierrez from NAIA Ball leads us off. After that we kick it over to Brian Sakowski from Perfect Game and Noah Sharp from the Juco Ball Blog to cover all things junior college baseball. Then we hand it over to Jordan Shusterman and Jake Mintz from Cespedes Family BBQ fame and the Podcast About Division III Baseball to talk all things Div III. Finally, we finish up with Wayne Cavadi, Wayne covers all things Div II for NCAA.com. This is the best time of the year with season’s already kicking off and season’s getting ready to start. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Our final January episode on the “Foundations for Optimal Living” is with Eleat Nutrition CEO and Owner, Angie Asche. Asche got her Bachelors of Science degrees in both Dietetics and Exercise Science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Asche went onto graduate school at Saint Louis University and earned her Registered Dietician title and a Masters of Science Degree in Nutrition & Physical Performance. Asche founded Eleat Nutrition in June 2014. She has worked with hundgreds of high school, college and professional athletes nationwide in MLB, NFL and NHL. We cover all things nutrition and supplements in this one to hopefully springboard you into a great season. This episode is sponsored by our friends at Rapsodo. The industry leader in baseball player development technology, has a special offer on their HITTING & PITCHING 2.0 units. Go to Rapsodo.com/rapsodo-savings and get up to a $1,000 off! Trusted by the best in baseball, Rapsodo is used by all 30 MLB teams, 100% of D1 Champions since 2010, and 100% of the Top 100 Prospects in this year’s MLB draft. Scott Brown, Vanderbilt’s pitching coach and associate head coach has this to say about Rapsodo, “everyone involved in teaching pitchers this day and age could benefit from owning Rapsodo and using it for immediate feedback to educate their pitchers.” Again, save up to $1,000 when you decide to train and build champions with Rapsodo. Visit Rapsodo.com/savings and take advantage of this great offer. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding win

The third Foundation for Optimal Living is exercise & movement. Today we check in with Texas Rangers Assistant Strength & Conditioning coach, Al Sandoval. Sandoval has over 15 years of experience working at the professional level with the Rangers, Angels and Rockies. Sandoval got his start in strength and conditioning working with the CSU-Pueblo baseball program. Sandoval is a certified & registered NSCA Strength and Conditioning Coach. Sandoval has been an integral part of the Professional Baseball Strength & Conditioning Coaches Society. You can dive into resources on their website at baseballstrength.org. I love his philosophy of strength and conditioning in professional baseball is to help athletes develop as much strength as possible then teach them to use that strength to put force into the ground in a quick, timely manner. This episode is sponsored by our friends at Rapsodo. The industry leader in baseball player development technology, has a special offer on their HITTING & PITCHING 2.0 units. Go to Rapsodo.com/rapsodo-savings and get up to a $1,000 off! Trusted by the best in baseball, Rapsodo is used by all 30 MLB teams, 100% of D1 Champions since 2010, and 100% of the Top 100 Prospects in this year’s MLB draft. Scott Brown, Vanderbilt’s pitching coach and associate head coach has this to say about Rapsodo, “everyone involved in teaching pitchers this day and age could benefit from owning Rapsodo and using it for immediate feedback to educate their pitchers.” Again, save up to $1,000 when you decide to train and build champions with Rapsodo. Visit Rapsodo.com/savings and take advantag

Continuing our Foundations for Optimal Living theme for this month on the ABCA Podcast is CEO and Founder of AIM7, Dr. Erik Korem. Erik played football at Texas A&M. He covered a lot of ground in the football world after graduating. He has traveled all over the world studying elite performance. He was in the NFL for 15 years as Sports Scientist and High-Performance Director. He was at William & Mary for 2 years as Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Performance. And he also participated in the Presidential Leadership Scholars Program. This Episode is a deep dive into Sleep and High Performance. You can directly link mental and physical health issues to lack of sleep. Conversely, you can also link high performance to quality sleep. This was also Dr. Korem’s first experience with the ABCA Convention, so we get his thoughts on how everything went. This episode is sponsored by our friends at Rapsodo. The industry leader in baseball player development technology, has a special offer on their HITTING & PITCHING 2.0 units. Go to Rapsodo.com/rapsodo-savings and get up to a $1,000 off! Trusted by the best in baseball, Rapsodo is used by all 30 MLB teams, 100% of D1 Champions since 2010, and 100% of the Top 100 Prospects in this year’s MLB draft. Scott Brown, Vanderbilt’s pitching coach and associate head coach has this to say about Rapsodo, “everyone involved in teaching pitchers this day and age could benefit from owning Rapsodo and using it for immediate feedback to educate their pitchers.” Again, save up to $1,000 when you decide to train and build champions with

Our goal every year with the January episodes has been to shine a light on the foundations of optimal living. Hopefully, these episodes give you some tips you can implement with yourself personally or with your team. Next up on the ABCA podcast is Major League Mindset’s, Brandon Guyer. Guyer was drafted and signed by the Chicago Cubs coming out of the University of Virginia in 2010. Guyer made his major league debut in 2011 with the Tampa Bay Rays. Guyer retired from baseball July 20’. Because peak performance helped Guyer so much as a player, getting into the profession was always in the back of his mind. Guyer had the opportunity to play for Joe Maddon and work with Ken Ravizza with the Tampa Bay Rays. Guyer lso sights Heads Up Baseball as helping him in high school. In this episode we cover peak performance, mental health and fail forward moments. This episode is sponsored by our friends at Rapsodo. The industry leader in baseball player development technology, has a special offer on their HITTING & PITCHING 2.0 units. Go to Rapsodo.com/rapsodo-savings and get up to a $1,000 off! Trusted by the best in baseball, Rapsodo is used by all 30 MLB teams, 100% of D1 Champions since 2010, and 100% of the Top 100 Prospects in this year’s MLB draft. Scott Brown, Vanderbilt’s pitching coach and associate head coach has this to say about Rapsodo, “everyone involved in teaching pitchers this day and age could benefit from owning Rapsodo and using it for immediate feedback to educate

The ABCA Convention and the City of Nashville have a long history together. If you talk to anyone who has been to the ABCA convention and you ask them a favorite convention story, Nashville will probably come up at some point. Today’s episode covers everything you need to know about the convention. Our goal every year is to make this a wonderful experience for our attendees, guests, sponsors and exbibitors. I hope you enjoy and we look forward to seeing everyone at the 79th ABCA convention on January 5th. Thanks again for your support and trust. This episode is sponsored by our friends at Rapsodo. The industry leader in baseball player development technology, has a special offer on their HITTING & PITCHING 2.0 units. Go to Rapsodo.com/rapsodo-savings and get up to a $1,000 off! Trusted by the best in baseball, Rapsodo is used by all 30 MLB teams, 100% of D1 Champions since 2010, and 100% of the Top 100 Prospects in this year’s MLB draft. Scott Brown, Vanderbilt’s pitching coach and associate head coach has this to say about Rapsodo, “everyone involved in teaching pitchers this day and age could benefit from owning Rapsodo and using it for immediate feedback to educate their pitchers.” Again, save up to $1,000 when you decide to train and build champions with Rapsodo. Visit Rapsodo.com/savings and take advantage of this great offer. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Finishing up our 2023 ABCA Hall of Fame inductee podcasts is Slippery Rock head coach, Jeff Messer. Messer is heading into his 38th season at Slippery Rock University. Messer enters the 2023 season as the all-time winningest coach in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference history and his 1072 career victories put him 12th in Div. II baseball. Messer has led Slippery Rock to 13 NCAA Regionals and 4 College World Series appearances. Messer has done a tremendous job building consistency in the program with only three losing seasons in 37 years with only one scholarship. Messer has been instrumental to the ABCA with his work as the Div. II Committee Chair and as a Board Member. This is a great way to kick off convention week. We will have our convention preview with the ABCA Staff coming up tomorrow. Thanks again to everyone that has made this a record year for the ABCA. This episode is sponsored by our friends at Rapsodo. The industry leader in baseball player development technology, has a special offer on their HITTING & PITCHING 2.0 units. Go to Rapsodo.com/rapsodo-savings and get up to a $1,000 off! Trusted by the best in baseball, Rapsodo is used by all 30 MLB teams, 100% of D1 Champions since 2010, and 100% of the Top 100 Prospects in this year’s MLB draft. Scott Brown, Vanderbilt’s pitching coach and associate head coach has this to say about Rapsodo, “everyone involved in teaching pitchers this day and age could benefit from owning Rapsodo and using it for immediate feedback to educate their pitchers.” Again, save up to $1,000 when you decide to train and build champions with Rapsodo.

Another titan in the game joins us this week on the ABCA Podcast with Jefferson High School head coach, John Lowery. Lowery is a well-deserved inductee in the 2023 Hall of Fame class. Lowery is heading into his 52nd season at Jefferson High School. Lowery has amassed 1392 wins, 12 West Virginia State Championships and 26 state tournament appearances. Lowery got an opportunity to coach all three of his sons in high school and all three went on to play college baseball. In this episode we discuss practice planning, holding players accountable, fundraising, history of West Virginia baseball players and we even had an opportunity to get some insight from his wife Vicky in this one. This episode is sponsored by our friends at Rapsodo. The industry leader in baseball player development technology, has a special offer on their HITTING & PITCHING 2.0 units. Go to Rapsodo.com/rapsodo-savings and get up to a $1,000 off! Trusted by the best in baseball, Rapsodo is used by all 30 MLB teams, 100% of D1 Champions since 2010, and 100% of the Top 100 Prospects in this year’s MLB draft. Scott Brown, Vanderbilt’s pitching coach and associate head coach has this to say about Rapsodo, “everyone involved in teaching pitchers this day and age could benefit from owning Rapsodo and using it for immediate feedback to educate their pitchers.” Again, save up to $1,000 when you decide to train and build champions with Rapsodo. Visit Rapsodo.com/savings and take advantage of this great offer. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding winds

Next up on the ABCA Podcast is 2023 Hall of Fame inductee, Jerry Dawson. Dawson spent 37 seasons at Chaparral High School winning 773 games and 8 State Championships. Chaparral High School produced 7 big leaguers including Ike Davis, Paul Konerko and Brian Bannister. Dawson left Chaparral as the all-time winningest coach in the State of Arizona. In 2004 Dawson was honored with the ABCA/Diamond Sports National High School Coach of the Year Award. Dawson moved on to be the pitching coach at Yavapaii in 2010 and is currently the pitching coach at Scottsdale Community College. Dawson took his blueprint of developing players to Yavapaii. In Dawson’s 12 years at Yavapaii, they produced big leaguers Kenny Giles, Chance Adams and Jojo Romero. In this episode you will have an opportunity to see why Coach Dawson is still coaching at a high level. We get right into pitching development and player relationships. You will get an inside look at how important it is for coaches to develop a relationship with their players. This episode is sponsored by our friends at Rapsodo. The industry leader in baseball player development technology, has a special offer on their HITTING & PITCHING 2.0 units. Go to Rapsodo.com/rapsodo-savings and get up to a $1,000 off! Trusted by the best in baseball, Rapsodo is used by all 30 MLB teams, 100% of D1 Champions since 2010, and 100% of the Top 100 Prospects in this year’s MLB draft. Scott Brown, Vanderbilt’s pitching coach and associate head coach has this to say about Rapsodo, “everyone involved in teaching pitchers this day and age could benefit from owning Rapsodo and using it for immediate feedback to educate their pitchers.” Again, save up to $1,000 when you decide to train and build champions with Rapsodo. Visit Rapsodo.com/savings and take advantage of this great offer. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Joining us on the ABCA Podcast is 2023 Hall of Fame inductee, Dave Demarest. Demarest spent 34 seasons as head coach at La Quinta High School and is still the winningest coach in Orange County with 753 wins. He led La Quinta to 15 consecutive league championships from 1993-2007 and 3 CIF Championships. La Quinta has a great history of producing MLB players. Demarest coached future big leaguers Gerald Laird, Brandon Laird, Bobby Crosby, Ian Kennedy, Cole Garner, Jeff Heathcott and Ian Stewart. Demarest retired his position from teaching and head coach at La Quinta in 2007 but has stayed active coaching since. Demarest continues to give back to the game helping college, high school and youth teams in Southern California. This episode is sponsored by our friends at Rapsodo. The industry leader in baseball player development technology, has a special offer on their HITTING & PITCHING 2.0 units. Go to Rapsodo.com/rapsodo-savings and get up to a $1,000 off! Trusted by the best in baseball, Rapsodo is used by all 30 MLB teams, 100% of D1 Champions since 2010, and 100% of the Top 100 Prospects in this year’s MLB draft. Scott Brown, Vanderbilt’s pitching coach and associate head coach has this to say about Rapsodo, “everyone involved in teaching pitchers this day and age could benefit from owning Rapsodo and using it for immediate feedback to educate their pitchers.” Again, save up to $1,000 when you decide to train and build champions with Rapsodo. Visit Rapsodo.com/savings and take advantage of this great offer. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

With Covid pushing our 2020 ABCA convention to a virtual, we felt like it would be beneficial to interview our Hall of Fame inductees for that year. We have continued that tradition since. At the Hall of Fame banquet, our inductees only get 3 to 5 minutes to talk so these podcasts allow them to tell their stories and get a few more thank-you’s in before the ABCA convention. These have been some of my favorite interviews the last 3 years. I encourage you to go back and listen to past Hall of Fame interviews if you haven’t. I hope to see all of you at this year’s ABCA convention in Nashville. It truly is a celebration of the coaching community. We continue our 2023 ABCA Hall of Fame inductee podcasts with former Dublin Coffman and current Dublin Jerome head coach, Tim Saunders. Saunders will be our fir

Next up on the ABCA podcast is our 2023 Dave Keiltiz Ethics in Coaching Award winner, Ball State head coach, Rich Maloney. Maloney has been a Div. I head coach for 27 seasons with stops at Ball State twice and Michigan. In 2022 he eclipsed the 900-win mark ranking him 16th among active Div. I coaches. Maloney is the winningest baseball coach in Ball State history. In his 10 seasons at Michigan, Maloney led the Wolverines to 3 straight Big Ten Championships and 4 straight NCAA regional appearances from 2005-2008. In his 17 seasons at Ball State, the Cardinals have 5 MAC Regular Season and 6 MAC West Division Titles. Maloney has been known for player development over the course of his career. He has coached 65 draft picks including 6 first rounders. Maloney is a Western Michigan alum, playing for the legendary Fred Decker. Maloney played 6 seasons of professional baseball before starting his coaching career with Coach Decker at Western Michigan. Maloney was the 2018 ABCA President, served 6 years as the ABCA Div. I Chair and is on our Board of Directors. This episode is sponsored by our friends at Rapsodo. The industry leader in baseball player development technology, has a special offer on their HITTING & PITCHING 2.0 units. Go to Rapsodo.com/savings and get up to a $1,000 off! Trusted by the best in baseball, Rapsodo is used by all 30 MLB teams, 100% of D1 Champions since 2010, and 100% of the Top 100 Prospects in this year’s MLB

We are honoring our 2023 award winners heading into the Nashville convention. Next up on the ABCA podcast is former Horizon High School head coach, Eric Kibler. Coach Kibler is being honored with the Dave Keilitz Ethics Award and also going into the ABCA Hall of Fame this year. In 1980, Kibler started the baseball program at Horizon High School. Kibler shaped the landscape of high school and youth baseball in the State of Arizona and nationally with a 2007 National Championship, 6 5A State Championships, 3 State Runner-ups, 7 National Invitational Championships and 881 career wins which is the most wins in Arizona history. Kibler has an illustrious career in the baseball industry. Over the last 4 decades he has racked up many honors including being inducted into the Arizona Baseball Coaches and the National High School Hall of Fame. He has been an integral part of USA Baseball and is a member of the ABCA Youth Committee. This episode is sponsored by our friends at Rapsodo. The industry leader in baseball player development technology, has a special offer on their HITTING & PITCHING 2.0 units. Go to Rapsodo.com/savings and get up to a $1,000 off! Trusted by the best in baseball, Rapsodo is used by all 30 MLB teams, 100% of D1 Champions since 2010, and 100% of the Top 100 Prospects in this year’s MLB draft. Scott Brown, Vanderbilt’s pitching coach and associate head coach has this to say about Rapsodo, “everyone involved in teaching pitchers this day and age could benefit from owning Rapsodo and using it for immediate feedback to educate their pitcher

This week on the ABCA podcast we sit down with ABCA Div. II Assistant Coach of the Year, Bob Mitcheltree. The 2022 season marked Mitcheltree’s 20th year overall as an assistant coach on Jeff Messer’s Slippery Rock staff. Slippery Rock had one of their most successful seasons going 33-18 and competed in the NCAA tournament. Mitcheltree has also been an assistant for Wilmington High School’s football program for over 40 years. He has helped the Greyhounds to state championships and several state runner-up honors as well as a multitude of WPIAL and District 10 titles. His goal is to make it 50 years coaching baseball and football. Mitcheltree played collegiately at Youngstown State University and he has scouted professionally for the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets and San Diego Padres. His success has already been recognized with inductions into the Lawrence County Sports Hall of Fame in 2004 and the North County Baseball League Hall of Fame in 2011. This episode is sponsored by our friends at Rapsodo. Rapsodo, the industry leader in baseball player development technology, has a special offer on their HITTING & PITCHING 2.0 units. Go to Rapsodo.com/savings and get up to a $1,000 off! Trusted by the best in baseball, Rapsodo is used by all 30 MLB teams, 100% of D1 Champions since 2010, and 100% of the Top 100 Prospects in this year’s MLB draft. Scott Brown, Vanderbilt’s pitching coach and associate head coach has this to say about Rapsodo, “everyone involved in teach

We have a special edition of the ABCA Podcast this week on the road with Texas A&M Associate Head Coach, Nate Yeskie, during the Aggies pre-game. This is a must listen with one of the best pitching & baseball minds in the game. Yeskie led the Aggies to the 2022 College World Series in his first season in College Station. This was back to back trips for Yeskie in Omaha with Arizona competing in the 2021 College World Series. Yeskie is no stranger to Omaha as Oregon State’s pitching coach for 11 seasons and a 2018 National Championship. Yeskie is one of the premiere coaches we have in the game, so I am excited for everyone to listen in to this pre-game conversation. This episode is sponsored by our friends at Rapsodo. Rapsodo, the industry leader in baseball player development technology, has a special offer on their HITTING & PITCHING 2.0 units. Go to Rapsodo.com/savings and get up to a $1,000 off! Trusted by the best in baseball, Rapsodo is used by all 30 MLB teams, 100% of D1 Champions since 2010, and 100% of the Top 100 Prospects in this year’s MLB draft. Scott Brown, Vanderbilt’s pitching coach and associate head coach has this to say about Rapsodo, “everyone involved in teaching pitchers this day and age could benefit from owning Rapsodo and using it for immediate feedback to educate their pitchers.” Again, save up to $1,000 when you decide to train and build champions with Rapsodo. Visit Rapsodo.com/savings and take advantage of this great offer. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall pa

Next up on the ABCA Podcast is NAIA Assistant Coach of the Year, Matt Saliba. The Webber International University recruiting coordinator guided the Warriors program to a 43-22 record and their first appearance at the NAIA World Series. Saliba is a Florida native attending Winter Haven High School where he was Polk County Player of the Year his senior season, playing for his Father. Saliba attended Daytona State College for two seasons, Valdosta State for a year and transferred back home to Webber for his senior season. Saliba led Webber to their first regional bid in school history and was named ABCA/Rawlings NAIA gold glove second baseman his senior season. After his playing career, former Webber head coach and current AD, Brad Niethammer, asked Saliba to join his staff as student-assistant. Saliba has worked his way up and now wears many hats as recruiting coordinator & head JV coach. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

This week on the podcast is ABCA Div. III High School Assistant Coach of the Year, Tonganoxie’s Brad Shelton. Shelton has 20+ years of experience as a coach and special education teacher. Tonganoxie High School had their best season in school history with a 20-4 record and losing to McPherson in the Kansas High School State Championship. In this episode we discuss what has kept Coach Shelton going in the special education & coaching field all these years, challenges & positives of being at a small school, traits of successful programs and what he has learned along the way coaching basketball & baseball. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Next up on the ABCA podcast is Div. III Assistant Coach of the Year, Baldwin-Wallace’s Tom DeAngelis. Baldwin-Wallace had a phenomenal season going 32-11 and ended the year at the Div. III College World Series in Cedar Rapids, IA. DeAngelis finished his playing career at Seton Hill in 2011. He got his coaching start at Seton Hill and has been an assistant at Baldwin-Wallace since 2015. Success has followed Coach DeAngelis at every stop along the way. Offense and player development has been a staple of the Baldwin-Wallace program. In this episode we do a deep dive into all things that go into assisting student-athlete development. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Keeping with the USA Baseball theme, this week’s ABCA Podcast is with 15U National Team manager and Centre College head coach, Drew Briese. Briese led the 15U National team to a World Cup Championship. Team USA had a great tournament going 8-1 and beating Cuba in back to back games to win the championship. Briese brings a unique perspective coaching the 15u team coming from the college side. He has worked with USA Baseball since 2013 so he has a great understanding of the process of developing high school players into World Champions. Briese has been the head coach at his alma matre, Centre College since 2016. He was also on Jan Weisberg’s staff at Birmingham Southern, building them into a perennial Div. III powerhouse. This is another great episode on player development and building championship players. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Next up on the ABCA Podcast is 12U National Team Manager, Orange Lutheran associate head coach and Coastal Empire Baseball owner, RJ Farrell. Coach Farrell had an exciting summer leading the USA team to a World Cup Championship. Team USA had a great tournament going 8-0. He has been a part of multiple championship teams with USA Baseball. Coach Farrell is also a part of one of the best high school programs in the country at Orange Lutheran. In this episode we cover the 12U National Team championship run, the process for selecting the national team, how he and Eric Borba develop a championship culture at Orange Lutheran, and all things player development. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Joining us next on the ABCA Podcast is Stow-Munroe head coach and Ohio Longhorns GM, Aaron Debord. Debord is another great example of someone who is positively affecting every level of baseball in their community. He has his footprint on youth, travel and high school baseball in Northeast Ohio. Debord has been the GM of the Ohio Longhorns since 2008 and head baseball coach at Stow-Munroe since 2015. He has worked his way up from every level of high school baseball coaching at Woodridge, Nordonia and Akron-Firestone high schools previously. This episode is on how to positively affect the baseball community in your area. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Next up on the ABCA Podcast is Casteel High School head coach, Matt Denny. Casteel High School opened in 2016 and is on the Southeast side of Phoenix, AZ. Denny took over the Casteel program in the Spring of 2020. Denny was named the 2021 5A Co-Coach and Region Coach of the Year in his first full season with the Casteel program. Prior to Casteel, Denny was at Mountain Pointe. We had a chance to watch Coach Denny work with his players at the Chandler-Gilbert Barnstormers last February. He took us through their batting practice routine which was extremely competitive and transfers over to the game. Coach Denny gives us actionable tips on student-athlete development and program building in this episode. We also get an inside look at Arizona’s unique high school baseball calendar. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Joining us this week for the ABCA Podcast is Div. I Assistant Coach of the Year, Karl Nonemaker. The Auburn recruiting coordinator and the Tigers had a great season finishing up in Omaha at the College World Series. Auburn was consistent all year with a 43-22 overall and 16-13 SEC record. Nonemaker is in charge of the infielders and assists with the hitters. They were strong on both sides with a .446 slugging percentage and .981 fielding percentage. Nonemaker’s has had two stints with the Auburn program. He has also had stops at Monmouth and Old Dominion. He was a four year starter for Vanderbilt University and played 2 seasons in the Phillies organization. This episode is all about life as a Div. I assistant and player development so get your pad and pen ready. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Heading back into the training world on this week’s ABCA Podcast with Amplified Movement’s, Tracy Hayes. Tracy now works with 25 MLB teams on her mobility series. Tracy has a diverse background with a number of certifications and studied Neurolinguistics Programming, as well as Cognitive and Neurosciences studies at Northwestern University. She originally got her start in professional baseball teaching yoga to the Kansas City Royals in spring training. The Covid 20’ spring, she started offering online classes to all professional baseball players after spring training got shut down. She has more than 15 years of experience in working with professional athletes in functional movement and balance. In this episode we discuss betting on yourself, kinematic sequencing, how the best coaches now are more generalists and holistic training methods. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Heading back into the training world on this week’s ABCA Podcast with Amplified Movement’s, Tracy Hayes. Tracy now works with 25 MLB teams on her mobility series. Tracy has a diverse background with a number of certifications and studied Neurolinguistics Programming, as well as Cognitive and Neurosciences studies at Northwestern University. She originally got her start in professional baseball teaching yoga to the Kansas City Royals in spring training. The Covid 20’ spring, she started offering online classes to all professional baseball players after spring training got shut down. She has more than 15 years of experience in working with professional athletes in functional movement and balance. In this episode we discuss betting on yourself, kinematic sequencing, how the best coaches now are more generalists and holistic training methods. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Rounding out our ABCA/ATEC college coaching award winners, we sit down with Central Arizona head coach, Anthony Gilich. Gilich was honored with the NJCAA Div. I Coach of the Year Award. Gilich is heading into his 8th season as head coach and 15thoverall at Central Arizona. Gilich guided the 2022 Central Arizona squad to the NJCAA Div. I National Championship with a 59-13 record, which is best in school history. This was Central Arizona’s 4th national championship and the second for Coach Gilich. His 2019 squad was also national champions. Pitching and defense have always been a staple of the Central Arizona program and this year was no different with a 3.32 team ERA and .972 fielding percentage. The pitching staff had 11.79 k’s per 9 innings. In this episode Coach Gilich gives us great advice on how to get your players to be ready to go each and every day. Get your pad and pen ready because Coach Gilich has some great mottos that you will want to implement with your team or organization. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

This week on the ABCA Podcast we check in with current Yale head coach and former Eastern Connecticut State head coach, Brian Hamm. Eastern Connecticut took home the 2022 Div. III National Championship. Hamm was honored with the ABCA/ATEC Coach of the Year Award and the College Baseball Foundation’s Skip Bertman Award. Eastern Connecticut has been a Div. III powerhouse but this is their first national championship in 20 years. Eastern Connecticut tied for second most ever wins in a Div. III season with 49 and also finished the season with a school record 23 wins in a row. The Warriors had a formidable offense with a .336 batting average and scoring almost 10 runs per game. They were stout on the defensive side as well with a 2.91 era and .973 fielding percentage. Before coming to Eastern, Hamm coached at Amherst for 13 years. Amherst had their most successful stint in school history during that time. While at Amherst, Hamm started the baseball analytics team which has a half-dozen former members working for MLB teams. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Next up on the ABCA Podcast is Div. II National Champion North Greenville head coach, Landon Powell. Powell was honored with the ABCA/ATEC Coach of the year award. Powell and the North Greenville program brought home their first national championship this year. The year before Coach Powell took over the program they were 8-35. North Greenville now has 4 regional appearances in a row. North Greenville had a complete squad this year with a .331 batting average and 3.59 era. They were a handful for their opponents stealing 145 bases and scoring almost 10 runs per game. Powell had a tremendous playing career as a 4 year starter at South Carolina and as a journeyman catcher in the big leagues. In this episode we discuss how he has built the program, player development, how he is blending his faith into the program and his work with Donors on the Diamond charity. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Next up on the ABCA Podcast is Division I National Champion Ole Miss head coach, Mike Bianco. This continues our series of ABCA Coaches that were National Champions this year. Bianco was honored with the ABCA/ATEC Coach of the year award. Bianco just finished his 22nd season at Ole Miss and is the longest tenured coach in the SEC. In 22 seasons leading the program, Bianco has led Ole Miss to 18 postseason, 8 Super Regional and 2 College World Series appearances. Bianco is one of the best we have in the game and has had some tremendous mentors in Jim Wells and Skip Bertman. Bianco has had a busy summer going straight from winning a National Championship to managing the USA College National Team. If you want to dive back into the archives, Coach Bianco and his sons were on the podcast with me for the Father and Son series. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

This week on the ABCA Podcast we check in with ABCA/ATEC Pacific Association Regional Coach of the Year, Riverside CC head coach, Rudy Arguelles. Riverside CC is now in elite company having won their 5th CCCAA championship. Arguelles has been a part of all 5 championships as either a player, assistant or head coach. This year’s state championship moves Riverside into 3rd place and one win away from 2ndplace for California state championships. I had a chance to meet Coach Arguelles in Folsom, CA in May. I was extremely impressed with how he and the Riverside program carried themselves. Riverside plays with a team first mentality on both sides of the baseball. They had a .420 team on base percentage and 88 hit by pitches. Their pitching staff had over 8 strikeouts per 9 innings and they fielded .970. This is a heartfelt listen from two people who are passionate about the game of baseball. We are kindred spirits because we both wear are emotions on our sleeves. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

This week on the ABCA Podcast we check in with another ABCA/ATEC National Coach of the Year award recipient with Herkimer’s Jason Rathbun. Herkimer won this year’s NJCAA Div. III National Championship with a 41-7 record. Herkimer made their 7th world series appearance this year. The Generals had three ABCA/Rawlings All-American’s in Greg Farone, Ryan Packard, and Dakota Britt. Rathbun took over the program in 2005 and the impact was immediate, breaking the school record for wins in his first season. Rathbun has a unique path in that he started out in the military. His family has had 5 generations of military personnel. We got a chance to catch up with Coach Rathbun while he is with the reigning Cape League Champion Brewster Whitecaps this Summer. This is an entertaining listen, and we get on a deep dive on accountability. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Next up on the ABCA Podcast is NAIA National Champion Southeastern University head coach, Adrian Dinkel. Dinkel was honored with the ABCA/ATEC NAIA Coach of the Year Award. Southeastern broke the school record for wins with a 59-4 record. The Fire had big time numbers on offense and pitching with a .360 team batting average and a 3.25 team era. Gary Lora, Robb Adams, Brian Fuentes and Abdel Guadalupe were named to the ABCA/Rawlings All America team. This was Southeastern’s second national championship, they also took home the crown in 2018. Dinkel has also had stops at Bethany, Clarendon College and Sterling. Success has followed Coach Dinkel at every stop on his coaching journey. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Next up on the ABCA Podcast is Div. II NJCAA National Champion Pearl River College head coach, Michael Avalon. This kicks off our series of ABCA/ ATEC championship coaches. Avalon was honored with the ABCA/ATEC NJCAA Div. II Coach of the Year Award. Pearl River was 45-11, winning 11 of their last 12 games and advanced to Enid after winning the extremely competitive Region 23 tournament. Pearl River had gaudy offensive numbers this year with a .336 team batting average and 85 home runs. Pearl River outfielder, Tate Parker, was honored with the ABCA/Rawlings NJCAA Div. II Player of the Year Award. Parker ended the season with 90 hits, 19 home runs and 65 rbi. I had a chance to sit down with Coach Avalon in Enid, OK during the World Series. This pressbox conversation took us in a bunch of different directions and I appreciate Coach Avalon’s willingness to take time out of his schedule in Enid. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

The final on location episode takes us to Cedar Rapids, IA for the Div. III National Championship. We had a chance to sit down with American’s Ross Natoli, Marietta’s Brian Brewer, Trinity’s Tim Scannell, Eastern Connecticut State’s Brian Hamm, Salisbury’s Troy Brohawn, Baldwin Wallaces’ Brian Harrison, and American Rivers Commissioner Dan Hammes. Congrats to Brian Hamm and the Eastern Connecticut State program for bringing home this year’s championship. Once again, thanks to all the coaches who took time to sit down with me. It is an extremely hectic time for coaches and can’t thank them enough for carving out time out of their busy schedules. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Two more weeks of on location episodes. This week we head to Enid, OK for the NJCAA Divi. II Championship. Enid does a phenomenal job of hosting this tournament. It is truly a mini-Omaha. The NJCAA and the town of Enid provide a phenomenal student-athlete experience. In this episode we will hear from Murray State’s Sam Bjorling, Lansing’s Steven Cutter, Heartland’s Chris Razo and Enid Sports Director Bill Mayberry. Pearl River’s Michael Avalon and I also sat down but went so long, he will have his own podcast coming up in the next couple of weeks. Congrats to Pearl River for taking home this year’s Championship. Once again, thanks to all the coaches who took time to sit down with me. It is an extremely hectic time for coaches and can’t thank them enough for carving out time out of their busy schedules. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

The next 3 weeks podcasts will be on location episodes. This week we got a chance to sit down with coaches at the California junior college championship in Folsom, CA. In this episode we will hear from Palomar’s Ben Adams, Ohlone’s Mike Curran, Riverside’s Rudy Arguelles, Folsom Lake’s Rich Gregory and CCCBCA President Chris Pedretti. This is a great time of the year with college championships going on. I appreciate coaches being willing to sit down in a hectic time for them getting their teams ready to compete for a championship. I am always impressed with the high level of baseball I see all over the country at every level of baseball. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Our next guest on the ABCA podcast is Gaston College head coach and athletic director, Shohn Doty. Doty has 33 years of coaching experience and 18 at the Division I level. Doty has had stops at Arkansas, Indiana State, Old Dominion, UNC-Wilmington, and UNC-Charlotte. Gaston College had a 41-9 record this season but since they are a new NJCAA team, they were not eligible for the postseason. Doty was recently named the NJCAA Region 10 Coach of the Year. In this episode we discuss starting the program at Gaston, being around some of the best coaches in the game, what his journey has taught him, and coaching elite players like Justin Verlander. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

With this being our 300th ABCA Podcast episode, we wanted to have on the “Godfather of Baseball Podcasting”, Jack Warren. Warren runs the Top Coach Podcast and is owner of Cornbelt Sports. The Top Coach Podcast is the original baseball podcast. Warren showed everyone what was possible in baseball podcasting. Warren does a great job with his guests, and it is always an enjoyable listen. In this episode we discuss podcasting & interviewing tips, what he has learned from his guests, traits of the most successful coaches, growth mindset, tips that he is giving young coaches he is mentoring, and what both of us have learned through this whole process. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Next up on the ABCA podcast is USA Women’s National Team Manager, Veronica Alvarez. Alvarez has been instrumental in putting the USA Women’s team on the map internationally. Alvarez played softball collegiately at Villanova. After college Alvarez had an opportunity to go to Spain and compete. From 2008 to 2015, Alvarez played with the USA Women’s Baseball squad winning gold medal in the Pan American Games in 2015. Her managerial debut was in 2019 and she was honored with the Rod Dedeaux Coach of the Year award. In this episode we discuss her path in baseball, her work with the Oakland Athletics as a catching instructor, the MLB Trailblazer Series and the similarities to coaching baseball & her work as a firefighter-paramedic. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

This is an important time of the year for athletes with Spring season’s ending and Summer ball getting ready to start. In this week’s ABCA Podcast we sit down with PSP3 Owner & Director of Sports Performance, Nathan Hemphill. Hemphill did his undergraduate work at Missouri State and worked with the St. Louis Cardinals rookie ball and double A affiliates. Hemphill did his graduate work at Seattle University. After getting his Master’s he headed to UC-Davis. Hemphill is running 3 training facilities in the Kansas City area. He gave a phenomenal talk at our Royals Youth Academy Barnstormers this past Fall. You can watch his video on the ABCA website or on the My ABCA app. In this episode we dive into summer training protocols, recommendations for the calendar year, the holistic approach to training athletes and finding your purpose in life. You are going to want to have your pad and pen ready for this one. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.