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Charles Mays (Southeastern Softball Wire) interviews Michelle LaCourse in Chattanooga about the Scenic City League’s new identity (now Scenic City League, not Scenic City Collegiate League) and plans for summer 2027. LaCourse explains why she returned to help lead the league with partner Tommy Santiago, emphasizing Chattanooga’s community support and the league’s commitment to growth. They discuss expanding from four teams to five or six, keeping the successful portal day while focusing on four weeks of game film and development, improving the viewing/streaming experience for families and coaches, adding community outreach and youth attendance, and the value of quality reps across roughly 25 games in 30 days. LaCourse clarifies the league is not a “portal shop,” notes positive coach feedback, highlights coach Joe Guthrie’s impact, and directs interested players to apply at sceniccityleague.com. 00:00 Welcome and Updates 01:19 Why Michelle Returned 03:11 League Vision and Expansion 06:19 Chattanooga Draw for Players 11:04 Player Stories and Testimonials 13:50 Coffee With Goats Break 14:50 The 30 Day Grind 17:37 Portal Myths and Reality 22:41 Coach Feedback and Promotion 26:27 Coaching Staff Spotlight 28:49 How to Apply and Next Steps 34:16 Closing Thoughts and Wrap Up

Charles Mays of Southeastern Softball Wire interviews Bekah Duck, a pitcher from Maryville, Tennessee, entering her first season at Marshall University under Coach Morgan Zerkle. Duck explains that Marshall’s coaching staff and team dynamic sold her on the program after spending two years at Pitt, and she credits Tennessee Mojo travel ball for much of her recruiting and development while high school ball prepared her for a college-style season routine. She discusses the influence of watching Zerkle compete at a high level, the similarities between Huntington, West Virginia and East Tennessee, and early chemistry with teammates including former Mojo teammate Sydni Burko. Duck outlines goals for fall ball focused on communication, building a mound routine, and improving mental consistency, describes her style as a spin-and-movement pitcher featuring a curveball and rise ball, explains “tunneling,” and shares interests in reading, nature, faith, and future plans in health science and possibly med or PT school. 00:00 Meet Bekah Duck 01:09 Why Marshall 01:59 Travel Ball Roots 04:28 Life With Tennessee Mojo 05:37 Coach Zerkle Impact 08:08 Huntington Feels Like Home 09:30 Team Culture and Chemistry 10:47 Pitching Growth Mindset 12:11 Off Field Reset and Faith 15:46 Life After Softball 18:03 Softball Boom Era 23:53 Fundamentals Win Games 25:30 Two Way and Slapping 30:19 Fall Goals and Pitch Style 32:29 Tunneling Explained 35:33 Wrap Up and Maryville

Charles Mays sat down with Keke Jordan, a class of 2028 catcher/corner from Boyd Buchanan School in Chattanooga, Tenn. They talked about Jordan's mindset on and off the field, what makes Boyd Buchanan a good school, who she looks up to in the game, and more.

Charles interviews Grayson Radcliffe about her new role as an assistant coach at Duke Softball, reflecting on a packed AUSL crowd in Durham and the sport’s rapid growth in North Carolina’s Triangle. Grayson discusses why softball draws so many young fans, emphasizing the “see her, be her” effect and expanded collegiate and professional opportunities. She explains what brought her from NC State to Duke, including staying close to family and the chance to learn from head coach Marissa Young, whom she praises for character, personal investment, and winning culture. Grayson also highlights the influence of coach Shonda Stanton on her coaching philosophy, compares college and pro/AU environments, shares that she’s currently focused on coaching rather than playing, and outlines goals at Duke: winning the ACC, developing confident athletes, and elevating defense and aggressive, smart base running. 00:00 Welcome and Game Night 00:41 Durham Crowd Energy 01:41 Triangle Softball Boom 03:27 Why Youth Loves Softball 05:15 Why She Chose Duke 06:16 Inside Duke Program Culture 07:54 Learning From Coach Young 10:09 Coach Stanton Influence 13:15 College vs Pro Softball 15:32 Playing Career Next Steps 16:58 Softball Growth and Respect 21:47 Goals for First Duke Season 24:05 Defense and Baserunning Edge 26:23 Poker Chips Baserunning Mindset 29:39 Wrap Up and Thanks Keep up with softball coverage across the region at southeasternsoftball.com. Also, follow Southeastern Softball Wire across all social platforms.

Haley Meinen stopped by to chat with Charles Mays of Southeastern Softball Wire. They dove into the AUSL and the excitement of the season. They also spoke on the sustainability of the league and the smart pace of building. Meinen went into detail about Danielle Lawrie and her new book titled "After the Last Pitch". Tune in to see what else was discussed here. You can find Haley Meinen across social platforms by searching Haley Meinen or Haley Meinen - Pitching & Hitting. Find Southeastern Softball Wire across all social media platforms: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southeasternsoftballwire X (Twitter): https://x.com/SoutheasternSB Threads: https://www.threads.com/@southeasternsbwire?hl=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southeasternsbwire/

Charles Mays (Southeastern Softball Wire) interviews Appalachian State head coach Whitney Jones about the Mountaineers’ pitching outlook heading toward fall ball and the February season. Jones reviews 2026, noting a strong start and competitive games vs. Tennessee, but a conference stretch that didn’t meet expectations and highlighted the need to limit free passes and close games. She discusses freshman Cam Fisher’s year, including challenges with inconsistent illegal-pitch calls and offseason mechanical work, plus the risk-reward of her up-spin, strikeout profile. Jones previews the rebuilt staff with transfer Abby Huhn (different down-ball look) and incoming freshmen Avery Ramey and “Slim” Emily King, and explains the fit of new pitching coach Jessica Dreswick (from Tulsa). They also cover catcher depth with Leah Gore and transfer Alexa Brunetti, App State’s fall schedule (Charlotte, Duke, Clemson, and others), and pride in alum Makayla McClain's AUSL opportunity. 00:00 Intro and Pitching Focus 00:51 Reviewing 2026 Staff 03:17 Sun Belt Grind 05:21 Cam Fisher Year One 06:56 Illegal Pitch Explained 08:10 New Arms and Abby Huhn 09:26 Riseball Risk Reward 10:50 Freshman Avery Ramey 12:41 Meet Slim Emily King 14:33 Should Pitchers Hit 16:32 New Pitching Coach Hire 19:12 Cutting Down Free Passes 20:39 Building a Deeper Staff 22:20 Catcher Plans and Brunetti 24:16 Why Boone Appeals 25:29 Fall Ball Schedule 27:47 McClain in the AUSL 30:18 Wrap Up and Thanks

Charles Mays of Southeastern Softball Wire interviews Malloree Harr of Boyd Buchanan School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, about her standout season as an eighth-grader competing at the high school level. Harr discusses the work ethic and influence of her mother, a former UTC player, her transition from middle school to high school, and the strong team culture at Boyd Buchanan, including her pitching-catcher bond with Keke Jordan. She reflects on handling pressure during the state championship run, contrasts that with her Team USA experience, and shares goals to grow in confidence and leadership. Mays highlights her two-way production (20–4 pitching with 123 strikeouts; .485 average with 12 home runs) and accolades including Chattanooga Times Best of Preps and TSWA Division II-A All-State. Harr also talks about camp feedback, academics, and prioritizing pitching in future college choices.

On June 29, Charles Mays of Southeastern Softball Wire interviews Carolina Blaze GM Dana Sorensen in Oklahoma City as the Blaze begin a series vs. the Spark. Sorensen assesses the team about 11 games into the season, noting missed late chances but strong offensive metrics, lineup depth, and major contributions from rookies Karlyn Pickens, Reese Atwood, and Dakota Kennedy. She attributes their smooth pro transition to SEC competition and recent Women’s College World Series experience, and highlights Atwood’s clutch hitting and leadership handling the pitching staff. Sorensen discusses pitching development from Jala Wright and Emma Lemley, the challenges of a 16-day, nine-game road trip, schedule preferences, and infield defense led by Alyssa Brito and Ana Gold. The episode previews Pickens vs. Maya Johnson on ESPN2 at 7:00 PM ET. 00:00 Interview Kickoff 00:50 Season Start Review 02:03 Rookies Making Impact 04:04 Why SEC Prepares Pros 06:53 Reese Atwood Clutch Bat 08:46 Pitching Staff Finding Groove 12:07 Surviving The Road Trip 14:29 Schedule Format Thoughts 16:55 Infield Defense Spotlight 19:41 Jenna Laird And Bench Depth 22:10 Managing Playing Time Matchups 24:12 Bullpen Catching And ESPN Preview 27:20 Final Thanks And Sign Off

Charles Mays interviews NC State’s Coach Lindsay Leftwich, now associate head coach of the Carolina Blaze in the AUSL, as the season opens with first pitch Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET on CBS Sports Network versus the Portland Cascade, followed by a Wednesday game at 8:00 PM ET on ESPN. Leftwich discusses transitioning from college to the pro ranks, the athletes’ eagerness to learn, and what she can bring back to the Wolfpack. She highlights the Blaze’s roster versatility, key players like Aleshia Ocasio, Kayla Kowalik, Reese Atwood, Jenna Laird, and Devyn Netz, and a deep, varied pitching staff including Karlyn Pickens (scheduled to start Wednesday), Keiilani Ricketts, Jala Wright, and Emma Lemley. They also discuss growing investment, TV deals, and how the league is building a sustainable professional future for softball.

Charles Mays sat down with Jerzie Nutile of the Florida Breeze. They discussed the upcoming Professional Softball League season, Karlyn Pickens, and softball in general. Nutile is also a coach in the Florida Gulf Coast League.

The Southeastern Softball Wire Podcast is here, and so is Charles Mays. After a spring spent covering Vanderbilt baseball at 247Sports, Charles returns with a rebrand from Fastpitch Wire to the Southeastern Softball Wire, focusing on the footprint across region at all levels. Joining him from Chattanooga is Michelle LaCourse, who breaks down everything coming this summer in the Scenic City Collegiate League. Michelle shares her experience broadcasting Tennessee and UTC softball, calling the SoCon Tournament alongside Jill Jelnick, and the chaos of championship week at the TSSAA State Tournament in Murfreesboro. The conversation digs into the transfer portal landscape ahead of the June 8 opening, with Michelle offering candid thoughts on inflated expectations, why mid-major players should weigh every visit, and the value of putting physical evidence in front of coaches at Portal Day on June 19 at LFO High School. Last summer, every one of the league's 20-plus portal athletes found a new home. Michelle also unveils new layers for 2026: a partnership with Inner Grit for player workouts, a welcome jamboree on June 11, and the debut of the Chattanooga Chill, with league athletes lacing up in exhibition games against the Atlanta Smoke on June 18-20 at Northeast Alabama Community College and again July 13-14 in the Kennesaw area. Plus, why Chattanooga is a softball destination worth choosing over Florida or California, the Lookouts' new ballpark, and the bigger message at the heart of the league: come get your spark back and play loose again. Contact Michelle directly at [email protected] or Coach Tommy at [email protected]. League overview at americancollegiateleague.com.

Fastpitch Wire Softball's Charles Mays sits down with Troy Trojans head softball coach Eric Newell to talk about the first 23 games of the season, the Sun Belt Conference outlook, and what makes this roster tick. Coach Newell discusses the loss of Kyye Ricks to injury, Megan Loftis stepping into the starting role, Makaley Boswell's monster season at the plate, and the pitching development of Ella Cunningham and Abby Lovell under pitching coach Elizabeth Hightower. He also gets real about the transfer portal's impact on Troy's culture, the parity across college softball, and why the Sun Belt shouldn't be slept on. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:45 First 23 Games: What Coach Newell Likes About This Team 1:45 Stolen Bases, Doubles & Offensive Identity 2:30 Kyye Ricks Injury & Megan Loftis Stepping Up 4:15 Makaley Boswell's Breakout Season 6:00 Sun Belt Preseason Snubs & Motivation 7:45 Non-Conference Takeaways Heading into League Play 8:30 Sun Belt Conference Depth & Parity 11:00 Pitching Staff: Ella Cunningham, Abby Lovell & Coach Hightower's Impact 13:00 Transfer Portal: How It Built Troy's Culture 16:00 Parity Across College Softball This Season 19:00 South Alabama Rivalry Series Preview 20:30 Closing Thoughts & App State Future Matchup

Charles Mays recaps Tennessee softball’s SEC-opening series sweep of No. 17 LSU at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium, highlighting the Lady Vols’ 23-0 start, calm “keep it simple” mindset, and two comeback wins after trailing 4-0 on consecutive days. He features comments from Emma Clarke on visualization and breathing techniques and from Karen Weekly on managing the pitching staff without ace Karlyn Pickens, including uncharacteristic walks and home runs allowed when pitches miss over the plate. Mays praises Tennessee’s dugout communication and clutch hitting, spotlighting Gabby Leach’s 6-for-10 weekend with three homers and six RBIs, including a three-run walk-off after LSU’s pitcher threw 157 pitches. He notes early-season RPI/strength-of-schedule context, urges patience with LSU, and previews Tennessee’s midweek games before a trip to Mississippi State.

Charles Mays (Mays Sports Media) interviews Coach Joe Guthrie of the Northeast Alabama Community College Mustang Softball program as the team opens the season 10–0. Guthrie discusses the value of scheduling elite JUCO competition, including a three-game series win over McLennan and wins over Georgia Highlands and Central Alabama, and explains how creating a Division I-style atmosphere (including three-umpire crews) helps prepare teams for postseason play despite financial limitations across programs. He credits assistant coach/athletic director Jimmy Kolaitis for the Mustangs’ offensive production and describes the team’s development through fall games against JUCOs and Division I opponents. Guthrie highlights key players and their early-season performances: freshman Marti McCluskey’s versatility, work ethic, and power; freshman Austin McNeece’s high-contact approach; sophomore Chloe Hatch’s athleticism and impact as a leadoff threat; freshman pitcher Addie Edwards’ elite ability and growth with a dominant changeup; and pitcher Skylar Branch’s continued winning track record and improved pitch mix. He also discusses transfers like Emmorie Burke (from UAB) and Francesca Lump (from Memphis), describing them as humble, motivated “bouncebacks” who add experience and leadership. Guthrie emphasizes recruiting for character and team culture, sharing an example of both teams eating together after a close McClennan game and praising sportsmanship on both sides. The episode closes with a preview of upcoming games against Central Alabama and Walters State, and Mays and Guthrie discuss Mays’ expanding coverage beyond softball and the changing landscape of college athletics.

Join Charles Mays from Mays Sports Media and Ricky Bumgardner Jr. as they sit down with Coach Donnie Danklefson from Trine University, the defending NCAA Division III softball national champions. In this episode, Coach D shares insights into his team's remarkable success, recruiting strategies, and the importance of character and culture in building a winning program. The conversation covers the nuances of Division III athletics, the role of community and family, and practical advice for aspiring college athletes. Whether you're an athlete, coach, or sports enthusiast, this episode offers valuable lessons on leadership, perseverance, and the true meaning of teamwork. Don't miss this in-depth look into the world of college softball and what it takes to build a championship team.