(VIDEO EPISODE on YT) Heather and GibGab welcome Dr. Chrissy Semler, licensed therapist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant, to the 88 Stitches Podcast to discuss the mental game! This episode is a must listen for athletes, parents and coaches of all ages and levels!!

Dr. Semler traveled all the way from Massachusetts to 88 (on Long Island, NY) to host numerous mental performance workshops over a two-day period. While visiting, Heather and GibGab sat down with Chrissy to ~pull back the net~ on what athletes go through in today’s day and age. Chrissy’s expertise and personal anecdotes prove the importance of the athlete’s mentality, on and off the field. The three ladies address topics such as perfectionism, coaching styles, and trophy chasing. Dr. Semler also shares strategies to help athletes succeed under pressure and build more confidence in their sport. Her goal is to help train an athlete’s mind with the same intention and intensity that they train their bodies with. 

Give a listen to our most thought provoking and insightful episode yet!

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(VIDEO EPISODE) This week, GibGab reconnects with her Bentley University Graduate Assistant, Madi Shaw. This is their first time seeing each other since March 13th, 2020, aka the day the world ended (#ThanksCovid). So much time has flown by, but these two gal pals just couldn’t stop talking! This jammed pack episode is filled with all the deets to Madi’s softball story. After a short-lived cheerleading career (yep, we’ve all been there), Madi started playing baseball in her early ages. From there, she worked her way into travel softball, ultimately playing under Dave Lotti as a member of his famed Rhode Island Thunder Gold team.

She went on to receive a full ride scholarship to play softball for Fordham University, where she was a breakout sensation! The power-lefty, utility player finished her D1 collegiate career within the top-three of all three triple slash categories: 2nd in both on-base percentage (.449) and slugging percentage (.646) and 3rd in career batting average (.342). She also finished 3rd all-time in career RBIs with 157, 4th in home runs with 39, and 7th in walks with 89. This episode includes a discussion about all her successes, and the memories she made along the way, including from Madi’s experiences at A10s and NCAA tournaments. 

*QABS = Quality at bats 

~~~

I had so much fun filming this episode! It felt awesome to celebrate Madi’s softball story!!

~ gibgab <3

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(VIDEO EPISODE, View on YouTube) Sharing unique softball stories sits at the core of 88’s podcast, and this week’s episode does just that. GibGab sits down with her past teammate and good friend, Amanda Considine, sharing how they met nearly 10 years ago, all thanks to travel softball!! 

Amanda was a highly competitive and very talented softball player, whose playing career ended when she graduated high school. She reflects on her recruiting days, and reveals why she didn’t advanced playing at the collegiate level. Once in college, Amanda learned how to navigate new environments, new friendships and new adventures in order to discover who ‘Amanda’ was outside the diamond. Did she make the right decision? Could her college experience been better if she chose to play? Listen in to find out :)

*N.A.R.P. = Non-athletic regular person

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(VIDEO EPISODE, View on YouTube) As winter training wraps up, Stitchballers’ school ball season will be here sooner than they know it! Heather and GibGab sit down and weigh in on this transition period in NY’s softball schedule.

Their candid conversation explores multiple themes critical to a player’s development: 

Give this episode a listen, especially if you’re a pitcher or catcher, as you begin school ball!

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(VIDEO EPISODE) This week, GibGab sits down with our speedster-slapper extraordinaire, Krista King!! Krista played at Adelphi University, where she was a member of two DII Women’s College World Series Teams. They discuss many pivotal moments in her softball career. From twice injuring her shoulder in high school and completing the PT that came with it, to learning what it meant to be a true teammate when she didn’t get the playing time she’d hoped. She also shares two major player development moments: learning how to become an elite slapper and transitioning from infielder to outfielder when she entered college. Listen in to hear her softball story and laugh along with them as they reminisce on old times. 

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(VIDEO EPISODE) Here by popular demand, GibGab sits down with the one, the only, Bob Cozzetto for this week’s 88 Stitches episode! Bob has close to 40 years of softball coaching experience (40 years!!), so you know we just had to take a walk down memory lane. Did you know Bob accidentally started his coaching career? It’s such a fun story! You’ll also learn how Bob’s coaching career transformed over the years, how he experience coaching burn out, and what revitalized him to turn it all around. Oh, and not to mention, a few fun guests join in on the conversation at the very end :)

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(VIDEO EPISODE) Hitting is one of the most challenging aspects to our sport, but does it need to be as complicated as we make it? What if there's a way to simplify your hitting swing and approach in the batter's box? Ding, ding, ding... You have come to the right place :)

Tune in this week to listen to Coach Caz and GibGab talk all things hitting! Coach Caz shares his methodologies when teaching a softball swing, how to become a more selective batter, and his '2-strike' approach.

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(VIDEO EPISODE) This week, GibGab sits down for a solo episode to chat directly with the Stitchballers! It's currently winter training season for most northeastern softball teams, and GibGab dives into the mental approach one should take in their trainings. She shares a few stories from both her childhood and college softball experience that has shaped her work ethic and skillsets. She also challenges the Stitchballers three different times, providing tips and guidance on how to get the most out of their trainings :)

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(VIDEO PODCAST) You've heard her name time and time again, now you're meeting her! Francesca Casalino joins GibGab this week to talk all things softball. This sister duo has plenty of laughs as they walk down memory lane, recalling all of Francesca's glory years. From her high school experience being the lone senior on the team, carrying them to become county champions, to her undergraduate division 1 softball career at Yale University, they dive into all the details. She even shares awesome stories from her collegiate recruiting years.

*Disclaimer: GibGab had technical difficulties when filming with Francesca, so this episode will cut short mid-conversation, towards the very end of their Yale conversation. But good news! You'll only miss the last 10 minutes of their convo :) Francesca will certainly be on the podcast again in no time!*

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(VIDEO EPISODE) GibGab and Coach Caz are back again with another episode, chatting about their TikTok sensation, Team Nitro! The father-daughter duo take a walk down memory lane, sharing how their softball organization, Team Nitro LI Fastpitch, began almost 18 years ago. They share fun, behind the scene facts about starting the org and reminisce on how far it has grown. Coach Caz also shares stories seeing their sister team, the Lady Gators, during his recent visit down to Florida.

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