Advertise on podcast: New England Baseball Journal’s The Base Path

In this episode, new Central Connecticut State University baseball coach Pat Hall discusses his transition into his job, recruiting strategies, the use of the transfer portal, and his vision for the program. He shares insights on player development, recruiting in New England, and adapting coaching styles.

In this episode, CJ Parsons, founder of Parsons Sports Performance, shares insights on athlete development, injury prevention, and the recruiting process in baseball. He discusses how a holistic approach to training and strategic guidance can help young athletes. (Parsons Sports Performance: http://parsonssports.net/)

Host Dan Guttenplan sits down with Team Massachusetts head coach Bill O'Connell and pitching coach Steve Healy to break down the team’s historic run at the three-year-old national tournament in Omaha. The coaches share the inside story behind their shift in pitching philosophy, the unexpected benefits of carrying a shorter roster, and what it’s really like for players to dive into the vibrant "Baseball Mecca" atmosphere of the College World Series remnants.    Key Takeaways:   The 16-Player Advantage: After falling from an 18-man roster to 16 due to an injury and an absence, Team Massachusetts found their "magic formula." The smaller roster allowed the exact same nine starters to stay in a consistent rhythm, getting four to five at-bats every single game.  Pounding the Zone: Shifting away from past years of chasing high-velocity arms that run up deep pitch counts, the coaching staff intentionally selected elite strike throwers. The strategy paid off massively: the staff led the tournament with only 13 runs allowed over four games, averaging a staggering 1.7 walks per game.  The Omaha Experience: From staying in North Carolina's former College World Series hotel to riding scooters around the city, the tournament offers a professional-grade atmosphere. Players also received major perks, including customized gear in the Stinger Sports "Stinger Room" and free cleats from Square.  Coaching Chemistry: Merging four high school head coaches into one staff succeeded through a strict delegation of duties. While Bill handled the offense, Steve Healy and Chris Costello acted as defensive coordinators, pulling all-night scouting reports to give their pitchers a distinct edge.

Dan and Pat review late-season Massachusetts high school baseball, projecting likely tournament tiers from MIAA power rankings. They discuss BC High as the clear Division 1 frontrunner, with teams like St. John’s Shrewsbury, Taunton, Franklin, Natick and others chasing; Natick’s 14-3 season, senior depth, and pitching highlights are noted. A major focus is Bishop Feehan’s Brody Bumilia, whose starts draw huge crowds and 15–25 radar guns; Pat describes his elite velocity, pitch mix, mass scout exit after he was pulled, and his first earned runs of the season after previously allowing only two unearned. They cover Braintree’s late skid, Division 2 contenders like St. Mary’s and Walpole and debate the returning Super 8 format and margin-of-victory impact, with Hamilton-Wenham’s 18-0 profile cited. They also preview Player of the Year finalist candidates and end with a minor-league team name trivia game.   Topics 00:44 D1 landscape and BC High 02:15 Natick rising contender 03:39 Brody Bumilia scouting circus 07:22 What 100 mph looks like 09:07 Bumilia season arc and draft buzz 13:26 Top 10 and St Johns Shrewsbury 16:19 Taunton surge vs Franklin slump 19:29 Braintree outlook and Brooks injury 20:44 Braintree Slump Watch 22:09 Division 2 Contenders 22:23 St Mary's Title Push 23:45 Super 8 Format Debate 27:20 Player of the Year Names 29:41 Three Up Three Down Trivia 33:52 Minor League Branding Chat 34:49 Podcast Wrap Up

ISL champion coach Brendan Morrissey recounts leading Milton Academy to the ISL title as the No. 6 seed, surviving a 7–6 opener vs. Roxbury Latin that ended with bases loaded and a freshman reliever escaping, then riding hot bats and dominant pitching to consecutive shutouts in the semifinal (9–0 after an eight-run first) and final, including a combined no-hitter as Jameson Gray peaked at the right time. Morrissey contrasts ISL and MIAA playoffs, explains building pitchers up slowly so they’re fresh in June, discusses velocity and injury concerns, outlines Milton Academy admissions-driven recruiting, and shares a measured approach to college placement. A “Three Up, Three Down” segment covers athlete-fan interactions, momentum, and underrated/overrated stats.   Topics 01:17 Roxbury Latin Thriller 02:49 Freshman Closes It 03:38 Home Field Advantage 04:33 Will Pierce Breakout 05:59 Championship Mindset 06:49 No Hitter And Dogpile 09:13 MIAA Vs ISL Coaching 10:51 Peaking For Playoffs 12:32 Jump To Milton Academy 13:47 Velocity And Recruiting 14:04 Velocity And Arm Health 14:53 In Game Pitcher Management 15:25 Milton Recruiting Reality 16:43 College Paths Beyond D1 18:35 Travel Ball And Honest Guidance 19:45 Fans Versus Players Debate 22:56 Momentum And Snowball Innings 25:27 Overrated And Underrated Stats 28:27 New Defensive Odds Metrics 29:25 Podcast Wrap And Thanks

Dan and Pat recap early-season New England prep baseball, discussing the latest prep coaches poll and teams and players standing out. Dexter ranks No. 1 behind deep Division I-level pitching; Austin Prep started hot before losing to Cheshire Academy; Canterbury and Choate Rosemary Hall remain unbeaten; and the ISL features strong starts from Belmont Hill, Nobles, and surprise 3–0 St. Mark’s. They note coaching transitions at Cheshire (following an underage drinking incident on a Florida trip) and Phillips Andover, plus early struggles from preseason No. 1 Avon Old Farms and non-league losses for Deerfield. Worcester Academy’s Tallon Roseboro and other standout players are highlighted. The episode ends with a “Three Up, Three Down” 1986 Red Sox–Mets trivia contest.   Topics 00:42 Early Season Standouts 00:51 Dexter Loaded Roster 02:02 Undefeated Contenders 03:47 Cheshire Coaching Shakeup 06:08 Andover Transition Stability 07:04 Avon Old Farms Slide 09:45 Deerfield Strategy Explained 11:23 Worcester Transfer Impact 12:39 St Marks Surprise Start 15:42 Belmont Hill Walkoff Win 17:14 Nobles Pitching Returns 17:32 ISL Contenders Breakdown 18:39 Tier Rankings and Bubble Teams 19:49 Standout Prep Players 22:07 Red Sox 86 Trivia Setup 22:58 Red Sox Player Clues 25:24 Mets Legends and Seinfeld Hint 28:01 Tiebreaker and Sign Off

Dan Guttenplan and Pat Donnelly review the first two weeks of the MIAA baseball season, noting public schools Taunton, Franklin and Braintree atop the power rankings and discussing factors behind sustained success like coaching, culture, feeder systems and player development. They cover Catholic Conference parity and how strength of schedule might affect MIAA seeding, highlight standout performances., and the rise of teams like Winchester and Natick. The show closes with “Three Up, Three Down” on memorable MLB strikeouts, infield plays and outfield throws. Topics 00:40 Podcast Intro and Agenda 01:11 Public Schools Lead Rankings 03:20 Hockomock Program Culture 05:47 Catholic Conference Gauntlet 09:56 Walpole No-Hitters 11:28 Super 8 Baseball Talk 13:30 Lincoln-Sudbury Power Bats 15:14 Plymouth North Consistency 18:17 Freshman Breakout Ethan Edmonds 20:46 Middlesex League Early Standouts 26:02 Lefty Throwing 100 27:22 NIL Changes Draft Choice 28:01 Early Season Game Impressions 29:58 Teams And Players To Watch 31:18 Weekly Coverage Schedule 33:18 "Three Up, Three Down" 33:37 Greatest Strikeouts Ever 36:53 Best Infield Plays 40:19 Most Memorable Outfield Throws 44:16 Final Wrap And Thanks

Dan welcomes Bridgewater-Raynham head coach Cam Fox, also an assistant coach for Team Massachusetts, to discuss the start of the MIAA high school season, evaluating players in short indoor tryouts, and building a three-team program (freshman, JV, varsity). Fox emphasizes selecting coachable, hustle-oriented players who can be valuable anywhere, then placing them where they’ll get development and playing time, using scrimmages to refine decisions. He describes structured, efficient practices focused on doing simple things well—baserunning, pitching in the zone, and fundamentals—while balancing spring schedule challenges like weather and school events. Fox reflects on learning under longtime mentor Bill O’Connell at Braintree and the Super Eight experience, supports its return, and previews Team Massachusetts’ Omaha tournament with a win-first mindset. The episode’s “Three Up, Three Down” covers World Baseball Classic interest, favorite New England baseball venues, and MLB rule changes.   Topics 00:51 Settling In At BR 02:11 Tryout Tips For Players 04:35 Evaluating Indoors Fast 07:06 Practice Planning Efficiency 08:48 Leaving Braintree For BR 12:15 Team Massachusetts Omaha 14:14 Travel Ball Versus Legion 16:39 Recruiting Then And Now 18:48 Building BR Philosophy 19:09 Simple Baseball Standards 20:22 Aggressive Baserunning Drills 21:41 Super Eight Memories 22:58 Bring Back Super Eight 23:55 Three Up Three Down 24:24 WBC Reactions 27:07 Best New England Parks 29:26 Rule Changes Debate 33:22 Wrap Up And Thanks

Dan Guttenplan interviews Kevin Barnaby, Groton School head baseball coach and Nor’easters Tewksbury program director. Barnaby explains that tryouts are less about results and more about earning coaches’ trust through controllables like showing up early, hustling, being coachable, communicating, asking appropriate questions, and dressing in neutral or school colors rather than other travel gear. He describes Groton’s fast, chaotic evaluation drills to test reactions to adversity, and outlines the team’s optional five-day Vero Beach trip featuring multiple practices, scrimmages and workouts. Barnaby discusses his public-school playing background, Groton’s academic draw and global student body, minimal overlap between Groton and Nor’easters, his shift toward administrative duties, and a college-placement approach prioritizing academic, financial and social fit amid transfer-portal dynamics. Topics 01:17 Tryout Tips: Trust Intangibles 02:56 Dress the Part at Tryouts 03:42 Earning Coaches' Trust 04:22 Chaotic Tryout Evaluations 06:31 Vero Beach Spring Trip 08:28 In-Season Development Plan 09:29 Coach Barnaby Background 10:21 Why Choose Groton? 11:38 Groton vs. Nor’easters Balance 12:51 Running Nor’easters Program 14:01 College Recruiting Guidance 16:00 When Recruiting Happens 17:34 Success Stories: Stewart Allen 18:41 Staying Connected After Graduation 20:28 ISL Pitching Depth and Rivalries 22:26 Keeping Underclassmen Engaged 24:25 Sponsor Break: Netting Pros 25:15 "Three Up, Three Down" 25:38 Ted Talk Coaching Philosophy 28:40 Who to Watch in MLB 2026 30:37 Weirdest Things Seen in Baseball 34:09 Podcast Wrap and Thanks

Dan Guttenplan interviews Belmont Hill head baseball coach David Cunningham, who is entering his fourth season. Cunningham discusses preseason anxiety, returning players and using early March tryouts and scrimmages to build toward an ISL title after reaching last year’s championship game. He explains Belmont Hill’s intentional choice to stay north instead of taking spring trips, relying on indoor cages, turf fields and local scrimmages, and he describes his mentorship under legendary coach Mike Grant and his own emphasis on the mental side of the game. They cover the hectic ISL schedule, recruiting for Belmont Hill (including reclassifying), collaborating with club coaches and camps for college placement, ISL parity and the tournament format, and the value of multisport athletes. A “Three Up, Three Down” segment debates cold-weather baseball, Hall of Fame standards, and loudest stadium memories. Topics 01:10 Preseason Mindset 02:25 Motivation After Finals 03:43 Staying North For Prep 04:51 Indoor Turf Workarounds 06:05 Coach Mike Grant Legacy 07:56 Mental Game Coaching 09:46 In-Season Weekly Grind 11:18 Recruiting For Prep 13:29 College Recruiting Help 15:48 ISL Parity and Prep 18:24 Thoughts On ISL Tournament 20:10 Standing Out In ISL 20:56 Belmont Hill Values 21:38 Baseball Culture and Support 22:01 Boarding Limits Explained 22:39 Why Multi-Sport Matters 24:39 Recruiting Where to Watch 26:01 Video and Evaluation Tips 27:20 "Three Up, Three Down" 28:04 Is Baseball Too Cold? 30:52 Hall of Fame Standards 34:18 Loudest Stadium Memories 37:55 Final Thanks and Wrap

Dan Guttenplan interviews Central Connecticut State coach Charlie Hickey, the longest-tenured Division 1 coach in New England, about how college baseball has changed with the transfer portal, NIL, and accelerated recruiting. Hickey discusses CCSU’s late February start, training indoors during winter, and the challenges of recruiting in the Northeast. He shares what he looks for in players, balancing freshman development with experienced transfers, and replacing key pitching innings. They cover fall practice benefits, conference title expectations, and the difficulty mid-majors face in NCAA regionals vs. SEC/ACC depth. Hickey also critiques showcase velocity culture and injury risk. “Three Up, Three Down” explores fandom, clutch hitters and baseball’s golden age. Topics 01:00 30-Plus Years in College Baseball: What’s Changed (Portal, NIL, Longevity) 02:28 Opening Day Prep in New England: Snow, Travel and Gym Workouts 04:16 Recruiting in the Northeast: Finding the Right Fit 05:33 Showcases vs. Real Baseball: Traits Coaches Still Value 07:54 Transfer Portal Strategy: Balancing Older Transfers and Freshmen 09:59 Where to Evaluate Players: High School Coaches, Visits and Practices 11:35 Recruiting Timeline and Identifying Undervalued Prospects 13:30 What a D-1 Year Really Looks Like: Fall Ball, Winter Build-Up, Early Starts 17:43 Sustained Success at CCSU: Conference Titles, Scheduling and Replacing Stars 20:15 Can Mid-Majors Compete in Regionals in the NIL Era? 22:24 Velocity Obsession and Arm Injuries: Mixed Messages in Modern Pitching 25:53 Three Up, Three Down: Why We Root for Teams 29:20 Game 7 Pinch-Hit Draft: Who Gets the Clutch Base Hit? 31:15 The Golden Age of Baseball (and Can We Get It Back?) 35:16 Wrap-Up, Thanks, and Where to Subscribe

Dan Guttenplan speaks with Andrew Dickson, the coach at Choate Rosemary Hall, about his successful efforts to build a competitive baseball program in the Founders League. Coach Dickson shares insights into his priorities when he first took over the program, including increasing the number of college-bound players and establishing a strong team culture. They discuss the recruitment process, the impact of the transfer portal on college baseball, and the importance of player development. Additionally, Dickson talks about his experiences and mentors from his previous coaching roles and how these have influenced his coaching style.  Topics 00:40 Building a Competitive Program at Choate Rosemary Hall 03:03 Recruitment Strategies and Challenges 08:14 Establishing a Winning Culture 09:15 Personality Assessments in Coaching 12:06 Mentors and Influences in Coaching 14:03 Sustaining Success and Future Goals 25:04 "Three Up, Three Down": Fun Baseball Questions 30:31 Conclusion and Farewell

Dan welcomes assistant coaches James Simboli and Dylan Sanchez from the Salisbury School coaching staff. They discuss the legacy of their late coach Kevin Huber, who recently passed away. The conversation covers Kevin’s impact on players, his coaching style, and reminiscences from both coaches’ experiences. They also talk about how the team will move forward while honoring Kevin’s memory and the values he instilled in the program. The episode highlights the importance of togetherness and the continued support needed to uphold the program's foundation.   GoFundMe page for Kevin Huber: https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-coach-kevin-john-huber   Topics 00:20 Remembering Coach Kevin Huber 00:47 Memorial Service Reflections 01:53 Personal Stories and Impressions 03:23 Coaching Style and Impact 12:51 Interactions with Assistant Coaches 15:42 Continuing the Legacy 18:02 Looking Ahead to the Season 24:02 Final Thoughts and How to Help

Dan Guttenplan interviews Pat Moriarty, head coach of the Deerfield Academy baseball team. Moriarty discusses his journey from coaching at Springfield Cathedral to Deerfield, where he turned a struggling program into a championship contender. The conversation covers recruiting strategies, building a strong team culture, and the importance of player development both on and off the field. Moriarty also reflects on the mental and physical preparation required for youth baseball players and shares his personal experiences with coaching his son's youth baseball teams. The episode concludes with insights into Deerfield's outlook for the upcoming season. Topics 01:12 Pat Moriarty's Coaching Journey 03:27 Building a Winning Program at Deerfield 05:57 Recruiting Strategies and Challenges 16:40 Player Development and Training 26:51 "Three Up, Three Down" Segment 34:40 Conclusion and Farewell

Dan Guttenplan sits down with Marc Deschenes, the new owner of the Lowell Spinners, a Futures Collegiate Baseball League team. Mark shares his journey from nearly missing out on baseball in Lowell to reviving the Spinners with a focus on community engagement and player development. He discusses the strategic assembly of the new ownership group, which includes notable baseball figures like Johnny Damon and Jonathan Papelbon. Mark also delves into his professional baseball career, touching on his experiences with the Cleveland Indians and his transition into business with Pison Technologies, a company that develops wearable cognitive training tools. The episode wraps up with a fun segment of baseball trivia and memorable moments. Topics 00:40 Background of the Lowell Spinners 01:33 Formation of the New Ownership Group 03:03 Building the Team and Community Engagement 04:36 Roster Development and Recruitment 08:49 Promotions and Fan Experience 14:31 Professional Baseball Journey 21:19 Career Decisions and Transition from Baseball 22:22 Introduction to Pison Technologies 23:44 How Pison Technologies Enhances Baseball Performance 26:56 Three Up, Three Down: Baseball Memories and Trivia 37:04 Conclusion and Podcast Wrap-Up