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This week on the ABCA Podcast we are joined by ABCA/ATEC NJCAA Div. II Coach of the Year, Pearl River head coach and athletic director, Michael Avalon. Since taking over the Wildcats' baseball program in 2016, Avalon has transformed Pearl River into one of the premier junior college baseball programs in the country, consistently competing for conference championships, regional titles, and national championships. Avalon led Pearl River to its second NJCAA Division II National Championship in five seasons, adding to the program's first national title in 2022. The championship followed an incredible 2025 campaign in which the Wildcats won a program-record 53 games and finished as national runners-up. Pearl River has become a model of consistency, with multiple conference championships, Region 23 titles, and NJCAA World Series appearances, while consistently ranking among the top programs in the country. Pearl River has helped more than 100 players continue their baseball careers at four-year institutions, while emphasizing academic achievement, personal growth, accountability, and the development of young men. One of the foundations of his program is a philosophy built around four simple words: Success, Organization, Attitude, and Pride—or S.O.A.P. It's a philosophy passed down from his father that has become a defining part of Pearl River baseball and the culture Coach Avalon has established. In 2025, Avalon took on another major leadership role when he was named athletic director at Pearl River, giving him the opportunity to extend that same championship mindset across the entire athletic department. And in 2026, Pearl River made history by becoming the first NJCAA Division II institution to win baseball and softball national championships in the same season—an incredible accomplishment that speaks to the culture and expectations throughout the athletic department. This episode is brought to you by Rapsodo Baseball. Great coaching starts with knowing what to work on next. Rapsodo gives coaches the objective data, video, and instant feedback they need to make every rep more purposeful. With 20+ hitting and pitching data points, Live-on-Live capabilities, Seam Orientation, Scripted Sessions, and more, Rapsodo’s PRO 2.0 and PRO 3.0 units help coaches dial in on player development for their athletes with pro-level data and ball-tracking technology. From establishing baselines to validating adjustments and tracking progress, Rapsodo takes the guesswork out of development. Measure what matters. Train with purpose. Learn more by emailing [email protected] or visit their website: Rapsodo.com/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. Download & Subscribe to the Podcast: https://abca.castos.com https://www.abca.org/podcast Online: https://www.abca.org ABCA Member Benefits: https://www.abca.org/benefits Become a Member: https://www.abca.org/apply X/Twitter: https://x.com/abca1945 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abca1945 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABCA1945 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/abca1945

Next up on the ABCA Podcast is ABCA/ATEC NCAA Div. I Coach of the Year, Oklahoma University head coach, Skip Johnson. Johnson is coming off a historic 2026 season in which he led the Sooners to their third National Championship in program history and their first since 1994. Oklahoma put together an incredible postseason run, going 11-2 in the NCAA Tournament and becoming the first team in tournament history to defeat nine national seeds on its way to winning it all. The Sooners finished the season with a 43-23 record, capturing the national title with a 13-2 victory over North Carolina in the College World Series championship game. Since taking over the Oklahoma program in 2018, Johnson has established the Sooners as a consistent national contender, leading the program to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, conference championships, and two trips to the College World Series championship finals, including a national runner-up finish in 2022. Johnson spent 10 seasons at the University of Texas working alongside legendary head coach Augie Garrido, helping the Longhorns reach three College World Series while establishing himself as one of the top pitching coaches in the country. Prior to Texas, he spent 13 seasons as the head coach at Navarro College, where he accumulated 450 wins, nine conference championships, and four regional titles. This episode is brought to you by Rapsodo Baseball. Great coaching starts with knowing what to work on next. Rapsodo gives coaches the objective data, video, and instant feedback they need to make every rep more purposeful. With 20+ hitting and pitching data points, Live-on-Live capabilities, Seam Orientation, Scripted Sessions, and more, Rapsodo’s PRO 2.0 and PRO 3.0 units help coaches dial in on player development for their athletes with pro-level data and ball-tracking technology. From establishing baselines to validating adjustments and tracking progress, Rapsodo takes the guesswork out of development. Measure what matters. Train with purpose. Learn more by emailing [email protected] or visit their website: Rapsodo.com/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. Download & Subscribe to the Podcast: https://abca.castos.com https://www.abca.org/podcast Online: https://www.abca.org ABCA Member Benefits: https://www.abca.org/benefits Become a Member: https://www.abca.org/apply X/Twitter: https://x.com/abca1945 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abca1945 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABCA1945 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/abca1945

We’re joined on the ABCA Podcast by Tennessee Wesleyan head baseball coach Billy Berry, 2026 ABCA/ATEC NAIA Coach of the Year following a championship season that added another chapter to the Bulldogs’ storied tradition. Berry led Tennessee Wesleyan to a 49-15 record and a 6-1 run at the 69th Avista NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho, where the Bulldogs capped off the season with a dominant 21-3 victory over No. 1 seed Taylor University. That victory delivered Tennessee Wesleyan its third NAIA National Championship and set a World Series championship-game record for largest margin of victory. And the numbers behind this team were just as impressive. The Bulldogs led the NAIA with 735 hits and 170 doubles, ranked fifth nationally with a .349 team batting average, and finished fourth in the country with 538 RBIs. On the mound, Tennessee Wesleyan posted a 4.40 team ERA, led by Justin Jackson, who won 13 games, posted a 2.82 ERA, and led the nation with 108.1 innings pitched. Over nearly two decades leading the Bulldogs, Berry has built Tennessee Wesleyan into one of the premier programs in NAIA baseball. He enters this season with more than 900 career victories at Tennessee Wesleyan, multiple national championships, numerous conference championships, and a résumé that includes previous ABCA/NAIA Coach of the Year honors in 2012 and 2019. Today, we’ll talk about that incredible 2026 championship run, what makes Tennessee Wesleyan baseball so successful year after year, the evolution of recruiting and player development, the lessons that come from nearly two decades in the dugout, and what it takes to build a program that can sustain excellence across generations of players. This episode is brought to you by Rapsodo Baseball. Great coaching starts with knowing what to work on next. Rapsodo gives coaches the objective data, video, and instant feedback they need to make every rep more purposeful. With 20+ hitting and pitching data points, Live-on-Live capabilities, Seam Orientation, Scripted Sessions, and more, Rapsodo’s PRO 2.0 and PRO 3.0 units help coaches dial in on player development for their athletes with pro-level data and ball-tracking technology. From establishing baselines to validating adjustments and tracking progress, Rapsodo takes the guesswork out of development. Measure what matters. Train with purpose. Learn more by emailing [email protected] or visit their website: Rapsodo.com/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. Download & Subscribe to the Podcast: https://abca.castos.com https://www.abca.org/podcast Online: https://www.abca.org ABCA Member Benefits: https://www.abca.org/benefits Become a Member: https://www.abca.org/apply X/Twitter: https://x.com/abca1945 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abca1945 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABCA1945 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/abca1945

Ryan Whiteley, head baseball coach at Carl Albert (OK) High School is the 2026 ABCA/ATEC High School Div. II Coach of the Year. Whiteley has built his career around developing players, building relationships, and creating a culture where winning becomes a byproduct of doing things the right way. In 2026, Whiteley led Carl Albert to the Oklahoma Class 5A State Championship, adding another championship chapter to one of the state’s premier high school baseball programs. This was the Titans 4th State Championship since 2021. A Lawton, Oklahoma, native and Lawton Eisenhower graduate, Whiteley played his college baseball at Hutchinson Community College before finishing his playing career at Cameron University. Whiteley then began his coaching career in his hometown before taking his first head-coaching position at Cache High School. In 2017, Whtieley arrived at Carl Albert as an assistant baseball and football coach. He spent four years learning under longtime Titans head coach Tim LaValley, along with fellow assistant Tony Borum, before taking over the program. Today, we’re going to talk about that journey—the lessons he’s learned along the way, what makes the Carl Albert baseball and football culture so special, developing young athletes and building a championship program. This episode is brought to you by Rapsodo Baseball. Great coaching starts with knowing what to work on next. Rapsodo gives coaches the objective data, video, and instant feedback they need to make every rep more purposeful. With 20+ hitting and pitching data points, Live-on-Live capabilities, Seam Orientation, Scripted Sessions, and more, Rapsodo’s PRO 2.0 and PRO 3.0 units help coaches dial in on player development for their athletes with pro-level data and ball-tracking technology. From establishing baselines to validating adjustments and tracking progress, Rapsodo takes the guesswork out of development. Measure what matters. Train with purpose. Learn more by emailing [email protected] or visit their website: Rapsodo.com/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. Download & Subscribe to the Podcast: https://abca.castos.com https://www.abca.org/podcast Online: https://www.abca.org ABCA Member Benefits: https://www.abca.org/benefits Become a Member: https://www.abca.org/apply X/Twitter: https://x.com/abca1945 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abca1945 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABCA1945 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/abca1945

Chris Sheehan is the 2026 ABCA/Soldier Sports High School Div. III Assistant Coach of the Year and a longtime member of the Bishop Hendricken High School baseball program in Rhode Island. In 2026 the Hawks won their third straight State Championship and 25th overall for the program. A Warwick native and Bishop Hendricken graduate, Sheehan was a standout pitcher for the Hawks before continuing his playing career at the University of Rhode Island. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury brought his playing days to an early end—but that setback ultimately helped shape the path he would take as a coach and educator. A Kinesiology major at URI and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Sheehan has developed a player-development philosophy that goes beyond simply throwing more strikes or adding velocity. Sheehan focuses on helping pitchers understand how to prepare their bodies for optimal performance, durability, and the demands of a baseball season. Sheehan has spent the last decade coaching varsity baseball while also taking on significant leadership roles within Bishop Hendricken as Dean of Strategic Leadership and Grade 8, Athletic Director and now Assistant Principal. Today, we’re going to dive into pitching development, movement prep, strength & conditioning and tips on keeping athletes healthy. This episode is brought to you by Rapsodo Baseball. Great coaching starts with knowing what to work on next. Rapsodo gives coaches the objective data, video, and instant feedback they need to make every rep more purposeful. With 20+ hitting and pitching data points, Live-on-Live capabilities, Seam Orientation, Scripted Sessions, and more, Rapsodo’s PRO 2.0 and PRO 3.0 units help coaches dial in on player development for their athletes with pro-level data and ball-tracking technology. From establishing baselines to validating adjustments and tracking progress, Rapsodo takes the guesswork out of development. Measure what matters. Train with purpose. Learn more by emailing [email protected] or visit their website: Rapsodo.com/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. Download & Subscribe to the Podcast: https://abca.castos.com https://www.abca.org/podcast Online: https://www.abca.org ABCA Member Benefits: https://www.abca.org/benefits Become a Member: https://www.abca.org/apply X/Twitter: https://x.com/abca1945 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abca1945 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABCA1945 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/abca1945

2026 ABCA/Soldier Sports NCAA Div. II Assistant Coach of the Year, Jenzen Torres, enters his 14th season on the Cal Poly Pomona coaching staff and his sixth as Associate Head Coach. He wears a lot of hats for the Broncos, serving as the pitching coach, catching coach, and recruiting coordinator—and the results speak for themselves. During his time on staff, the Broncos have compiled nearly 400 wins, while Torres has recruited and coached multiple All-Americans and helped develop 18 players who have gone on to play professional baseball, including 15 who were drafted out of Cal Poly Pomona. And on the pitching side, since 2020, the Broncos have consistently ranked among the top programs in the CCAA in categories including ERA, strikeouts, fewest walks allowed, and WHIP. But long before he was developing pitchers and building recruiting classes, Torres was one of the most accomplished players in program history. A four-year starter at Cal Poly Pomona from 2009 through 2012, he was a three-time All-West Region selection and remains the program’s all-time home run leader, launching 34 home runs in 199 career games. Torres also ranks second all-time in RBIs and finished his career as a .300 hitter. After his playing career, Torres spent time in professional baseball before quickly transitioning into coaching—and has since had the opportunity to coach some of the game's top talent, including a championship summer with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox in the Cape Cod League. This episode is brought to you by Rapsodo Baseball. Great coaching starts with knowing what to work on next. Rapsodo gives coaches the objective data, video, and instant feedback they need to make every rep more purposeful. With 20+ hitting and pitching data points, Live-on-Live capabilities, Seam Orientation, Scripted Sessions, and more, Rapsodo’s PRO 2.0 and PRO 3.0 units help coaches dial in on player development for their athletes with pro-level data and ball-tracking technology. From establishing baselines to validating adjustments and tracking progress, Rapsodo takes the guesswork out of development. Measure what matters. Train with purpose. Learn more by emailing [email protected] or visit their website: Rapsodo.com/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. Download & Subscribe to the Podcast: https://abca.castos.com https://www.abca.org/podcast Online: https://www.abca.org ABCA Member Benefits: https://www.abca.org/benefits Become a Member: https://www.abca.org/apply X/Twitter: https://x.com/abca1945 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abca1945 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABCA1945 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/abca1945

2026 ABCA/Soldier Sports NCAA Div. I Assistant Coach of the Year, Scott Jackson, is one of the most respected assistant coaches and recruiters in college baseball—and someone who has spent more than two decades helping build winning programs and develop players at the highest level. Jackson has been a key part of some of the most successful stretches in both North Carolina and Liberty baseball history, taking the 2026 Tar Heels team to the CWS Championship Series. During his first stint in Chapel Hill, Jackson helped the Tar Heels go 345-156, make three College World Series appearances, reach six straight NCAA Regionals, and win the 2013 ACC Championship. Jackson was also instrumental in building those Carolina rosters, helping recruit eight first-round MLB Draft picks and more than 40 players who went on to be selected in the draft. His recruiting classes were consistently among the nation's best, including the No. 1-ranked class in 2014 and another top-ranked class in 2016. Then, Jackson took over as head coach at Liberty, where he went 246-181 over eight seasons. He led the Flames to five 30-win seasons, three NCAA Regional appearances, a program-record 43 wins in 2019, and Liberty's first ASUN Championship. Along the way, 15 of his players were selected in the MLB Draft and 16 went on to play professionally. Jackson’s coaching journey stops included Campbell, Barton, Wofford, UNC Wilmington, Liberty, and even the Wilmington Sharks of the Coastal Plain League, where he earned Coach of the Year honors. So today, we're going to talk about what it takes to recruit at an elite level, develop players for professional baseball, build championship programs, and ultimately create a culture that consistently produces winning baseball. This episode is brought to you by Rapsodo Baseball. Great coaching starts with knowing what to work on next. Rapsodo gives coaches the objective data, video, and instant feedback they need to make every rep more purposeful. With 20+ hitting and pitching data points, Live-on-Live capabilities, Seam Orientation, Scripted Sessions, and more, Rapsodo’s PRO 2.0 and PRO 3.0 units help coaches dial in on player development for their athletes with pro-level data and ball-tracking technology. From establishing baselines to validating adjustments and tracking progress, Rapsodo takes the guesswork out of development. Measure what matters. Train with purpose. Learn more by emailing [email protected] or visit their website: Rapsodo.com/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. Download & Subscribe to the Podcast: https://abca.castos.com https://www.abca.org/podcast Online: https://www.abca.org ABCA Member Benefits: https://www.abca.org/benefits Become a Member: https://www.abca.org/apply X/Twitter: https://x.com/abca1945 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abca1945 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABCA1945 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/abca1945

Today’s guest on the ABCA Podcast is ABCA/Soldier Sports High School Div. I Assistant Coach of the Year, Kobe Wixon. Today’s guest is someone who understands that coaching is about far more than what happens between the lines. Wixon led Arizona College Prep to their first ever Arizona 5A State Championship this Spring. Wixon is an award-winning baseball coach, pitching coordinator, educator, and youth pastor based in Arizona. His coaching journey has included stops at the high school, junior high, and collegiate levels, including Arizona Christian University and Westwood High School. But what really sets Wixon apart is the way he approaches player development. He’s passionate about pitching, mental skills, team culture, leadership, and communication—but at the center of all of it is a simple philosophy: people first, always. Relationships matter more than anything else. Wixon is also deeply invested in developing young people away from the baseball field. After earning his degree in education from Northern Arizona University, he worked as a teacher and has served as a youth pastor in the Tempe area, using both ministry and coaching as avenues to help develop the next generation of leaders. He’s also an author and contributor, writing about pitching, mental skills, culture, and the lessons that baseball can teach us about life. You can read his article “No Such Thing as “Little Things” in the July/August 2025 edition of Inside Pitch Magazine. So today, we’re going to talk about pitching development, building a winning culture, the mental side of the game, leadership, relationships, and what it really means to coach the person—not just the player. 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. Download & Subscribe to the Podcast: https://abca.castos.com https://www.abca.org/podcast Online: https://www.abca.org ABCA Member Benefits: https://www.abca.org/benefits Become a Member: https://www.abca.org/apply X/Twitter: https://x.com/abca1945 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abca1945 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABCA1945 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/abca1945

Today’s guest on the ABCA Podcast is ABCA/Soldier Sports Pacific Association Assistant Coach of the Year, George Carralejo. Carralejo led Santa Ana College to the 3C2A Championship with a 44-7 record overall. Santa Ana had to beat Palomar in a double header on the last day of the championship. Carralejo has spent more than 20 years in the healthcare industry and 16 years coaching athletes at the collegiate, high school, and youth levels. Carralejo’s built sales teams, developed strategies for healthcare organizations, founded an eight-figure healthcare consulting company, and served as a chief strategist for multiple clinical diagnostics startups. Carralejo’s also earned national recognition throughout his corporate career, from Presidents Club honors to national awards as both a Regional Director and National Sales Director. Since 2009, Carralejo’s coached baseball at virtually every level, including serving as the pitching coach for a CIF Champion and a California State JUCO Champion. Along the way, his teams have won five league championships, 44 of his pitchers have earned Division I or Division II scholarships, 23 have received All-Conference recognition, eight former players have reached Major League Baseball, and an incredible 31 MLB Draft picks have played for him. Carralejo is a former Division I player at Cal State Fullerton, he was part of the 1999 Titans team that reached the College World Series, won two Big West Conference Championships, and was also part of a Cape Cod League championship team. In this episode you will get resources on organizational leadership and how to build successful teams in baseball and business. 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. Download & Subscribe to the Podcast: https://abca.castos.com https://www.abca.org/podcast Online: https://www.abca.org ABCA Member Benefits: https://www.abca.org/benefits Become a Member: https://www.abca.org/apply X/Twitter: https://x.com/abca1945 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abca1945 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABCA1945 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/abca1945

ABCA/Soldier Sports NAIA Assistant Coach of the Year, Justin Barber, is someone who has built his coaching career around developing pitchers and building championship-caliber pitching staffs. Barber finished his ninth season on staff at Taylor University, where he serves as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator. And over that span, his pitching staffs have consistently ranked among the best in the NAIA. This past season Barber led Taylor University to a 56-7 record, finishing ranked 2nd in the country and played in the NAIA World Series Championship game. The Trojans pitching staff had a 4.73 era and held opponents to a .253 batting average. In 2025, Taylor put together the best regular season in program history at a 41-8 record and finished with a program-record 47 wins, climbed to No. 9 nationally, and captured its third straight Crossroads League regular-season championship and second consecutive tournament title. Barber’s pitching staff was a huge part of that success, ranking second nationally in WHIP, third in opponents’ batting average, and fourth in both ERA and strikeouts per nine innings. The staff also produced the Crossroads League Pitcher of the Year, three first-team all-league selections, an NAIA All-American, and an MLB draft pick. Barber’s track record goes well beyond his time at Taylor. Before arriving in Upland, he spent eight years with the Indiana Chargers, helping more than 90 players reach the collegiate level and working with four pitchers who eventually reached professional baseball, including three MLB draft picks. Barber started his coaching career as a high school varsity head coach and also worked as a pitching and hitting instructor at Great Lakes Baseball Academy. In this episode, we’re going to talk pitching development, recruiting, player development, and what it takes to consistently build a pitching staff that can compete at the highest levels of college 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. Download & Subscribe to the Podcast: https://abca.castos.com https://www.abca.org/podcast Online: https://www.abca.org ABCA Member Benefits: https://www.abca.org/benefits Become a Member: https://www.abca.org/apply X/Twitter: https://x.com/abca1945 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abca1945 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABCA1945 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/abca1945

This week on the ABCA Podcast is ABCA/Soldier Sports NJCAA Assistant Coach of the Year Montgomery (MD) College, John Silk. Silk finished his 21st season with the Raptors this Spring leading them to 36 wins, 91 home runs and 505 runs scored. Silk and head coach, Dan Rascher, both came to Montgomery in 2006 and in that time the MC Raptors have had 45 All Americans, 9 Rawlings “Gold Glove” Winners, 9 NJCAA Div. III World Series Appearances and 1 NJCAA Div. II World Series Appearance. Prior to coming to Montgomery, Silk was a head high school coach in the DC Metro area and coached in the college summer leagues. In this episode we cover all aspects of coaching hitters and outfielders. 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. Download & Subscribe to the Podcast: https://abca.castos.com https://www.abca.org/podcast Online: https://www.abca.org ABCA Member Benefits: https://www.abca.org/benefits Become a Member: https://www.abca.org/apply X/Twitter: https://x.com/abca1945 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abca1945 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABCA1945 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/abca1945

Next up on the ABCA Podcast is ABCA/Soldier Sports NCAA Div. III Assistant Coach of the Year Denison University’s, Ryne Romick. Romick finished his 11th season on the Denison University coaching staff in 2026 and his sixth as Associate Head Coach. Romick led Denison to a 51-3 record, their first National Championship and a 3.14 team ERA coaching the pitchers. In 2025, Denison put together a remarkable 41-7 season, won its fifth straight NCAC regular-season championship and sixth straight conference tournament title, and made program history by advancing to the NCAA Division III World Series for the first time. Along the way, Romick helped develop a pitching staff that produced multiple All-Americans and conference award winners. That success didn't happen overnight. Romick has built an impressive coaching résumé that includes stops at Denison, the University of Dayton, and Ohio University. At Dayton, he helped the Flyers produce their best ERA, walks, and batting-average-against numbers since 2011, while his first stint at Denison included back-to-back NCAC West Division titles. Before becoming a coach, Romick was a standout pitcher at the University of Akron, where he earned Pitcher of the Year honors as a senior after posting a 3.45 ERA and a .208 opponent batting average. Romick later earned his bachelor's degree in biology from Akron and a master's in education from Ohio Valley. And now, after years of coaching, developing arms, and competing at a high level, Romick brings a unique perspective on pitching development, player development, leadership, and what it takes to build a consistently successful college baseball program. 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. Download & Subscribe to the Podcast: https://abca.castos.com https://www.abca.org/podcast Online: https://www.abca.org ABCA Member Benefits: https://www.abca.org/benefits Become a Member: https://www.abca.org/apply X/Twitter: https://x.com/abca1945 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abca1945 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABCA1945 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/abca1945

Today’s guest is someone who has spent more than 15 years immersed in the game of baseball—not just playing it, but teaching it, coaching it, studying it, and helping shape the next generation of players. Tyler Goodro has worked with thousands of youth, high school, and collegiate athletes as a player development instructor, coach, catching specialist, and scout. His baseball journey has taken him from Creighton Prep, where he was a two-time First Team All-Nebraska selection and helped lead his team to a state championship at historic Rosenblatt Stadium, to college baseball at Arkansas, Butler Community College, and the University of Cincinnati. As a catcher, Goodro helped Butler reach the NJCAA World Series and earned All-Tournament Honorable Mention honors after hitting an incredible .461. Goodro later signed as a non-drafted free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers and went on to spend five seasons playing professional baseball, gaining firsthand experience alongside and behind the plate with players and coaches who reached the highest levels of the game. But Goodro's impact on baseball goes well beyond his playing career. He's served as an Area Associate Scout for both the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies, evaluating talent across Nebraska and Iowa. He's coached at the high school, college, and professional levels, including stops with Creighton Prep, Elkhorn South, the Lincoln Saltdogs, and the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Goodro's also the founder of Goodro Catching, a certified Rapsodo and OnBaseU instructor, and a student of modern player development technologies including TrackMan, K-Vest, FlightScope, and Edgertronic. Goodro has presented at ABCA Barnstormers Clinics, participated in ABCA Catching Hot Stove panels, and has been featured by The Athletic for his expertise in the art of catching. So today, we're going to dive into the world of catching, player development, scouting, recruiting, and what it really takes to develop players from the youth level all the way to professional baseball. And also his current work with the 6Tool app. 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. Download & Subscribe to the Podcast: https://abca.castos.com https://www.abca.org/podcast Online: https://www.abca.org ABCA Member Benefits: https://www.abca.org/benefits Become a Member: https://www.abca.org/apply X/Twitter: https://x.com/abca1945 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abca1945 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABCA1945 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/abca1945

Next up on the ABCA Podcast are Krista Ross and Joe Pennucci. Ross is Senior Manager of Athletic Programs & Partnerships at NMDP (formerly Be The Match) who provides leadership and strategic direction for the nationally recognized NMDP Get in the Game® program. Ross was Co-founder of the Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation and spent 12 years as ATBMF's Executive Director. Ross has spent 16 years leveraging the power of sports to drive life-saving impact and leads the only athletics-based blood stem cell donor recruitment program of its kind in the United States. Ross has helped grow Get in the Game into one of NMDP's most impactful donor recruitment initiatives. Through partnerships with coaches, student-athletes, and athletic departments nationwide, the program has connected hundreds of thousands of young adults and has resulted in more than 2,100 donations, helping save lives for patients battling blood cancers and blood disorders. Pennucci has been the head coach at East Tennessee State University since 2017 after a successful stint as recruiting coordinator at Stony Brook. Pennucci joins us to give his insights on the donation and treatment process with his Father. 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. Download & Subscribe to the Podcast: https://abca.castos.com https://www.abca.org/podcast Online: https://www.abca.org ABCA Member Benefits: https://www.abca.org/benefits Become a Member: https://www.abca.org/apply X/Twitter: https://x.com/abca1945 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abca1945 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABCA1945 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/abca1945

This week’s ABCA Podcast was recorded on location from Eastlake, Ohio, at the NCAA Division III World Series. We are handing hosting duties off to Jim Koerner, Assistant Executive Director-Coaching Development, who was covering the event. To capture as many conversations as possible, we’re splitting our coverage into two episodes. In Part II, we sit down with: Troy Brohawn – Salisbury University, Craig Rainey – Adrian College and Mike Deegan – Denison University. These coaches share their thoughts on competing on the biggest stage in Division III baseball. A special congratulations to ABCA Member Mike Deegan and Denison University on capturing their first NCAA Division III National Championship. 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. Download & Subscribe to the Podcast: https://abca.castos.com https://www.abca.org/podcast Online: https://www.abca.org ABCA Member Benefits: https://www.abca.org/benefits Become a Member: https://www.abca.org/apply X/Twitter: https://x.com/abca1945 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abca1945 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABCA1945 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/abca1945