Behind The Dish

I sit down live with Director of Scouting Toby Bicknell to break down amateur baseball scouting, the keys to getting the right kind of attention on and off the field. The life of a recruiting coordinator and much more

https://www.prepbaseballreport.com/texas

Thanks to support of D-BAT Sports for making this podcast possible

www.dbat.net

www.dbatsports.com

Mark Cooke is passionate about the game! A player, Coach and founder of Firecracker baseball in 2007. Based in the Providence RI area Firecracker is a showcase and tournament

www.firecrackerbaseball.com

Graduated from Bishop Feehan in 1997 on a team that went 20-2 his senior year and won the EAC Conference. Mark was a pitcher during that time, and continued on at Salve Regina University playing 4 years and during his senior year won the Conference Championship and competed in the NCAA Division III Tournament.

After playing, he went into coaching at different levels, through the Pawtucket RBI Program, bringing his teams to the World Championships in 2001, 2002 and 2004. Mark has also been affiliated with American Legion baseball in Cumberland, RI and High School baseball at the Wheeler School in Providence, RI and at Bishop Feehan HS in Attleboro, MA.

He was named the Head Coach of the Coastal team for the prestigious Bay State Games in Massachusetts in 2014. He has coached over 45 players that have moved onto the collegiate level and 4 players that have played professionally in his 13 years of coaching.

Also during his time at the Boys & Girls Club in Pawtucket, he helped run various baseball tournaments with Pawtucket RBI and MLB through the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program, along with various basketball tournaments, including their annual March Madness tournamrnt that included over 80 teams annually.

Thanks to our sponsor!

www.dbatsports.com

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D-BAT was founded in 1998 was considered at the time by many to be the premier baseball and softball training facility in the country.

Our main goal was to provide a quality teaching environment with professional instruction to enhance the baseball and softball experience for players at all levels and help them reach their goals.

In setting forth on the journey to accomplish this vision, D-BAT opened its original location in a small facility in North Dallas with 6 employees – D-BAT believed that the best way to teach the game was by getting into the details of baseball and softball with each and every player and instructing them as individuals. D-BAT has as a core belief that every player plays a different game and should be taught to maximize his or her talents to suit his or her game. We also wanted to create a new type of baseball academy where there are multiple ways for a player to improve beyond the typical baseball training facility. D-BAT Academies feature an exceptionally well-lit, indoor climate-controlled facility,with an environment that invites parents to be a part of their ballplayer’s development along with a top notch pro shop to provide all your equipment needs.

D-BAT began franchising operations in 2008 and today is the Largest network of training facilities in the country. Our current staff is over 300 strong and we are still considered the premier facility in the country. This is due in large part to the innovative way that D-BAT has connected the player and parent with coaches and facilities to better the game.

With over 17 years of successfully fulfilling the original vision, D-BAT is now moving to expanding its prestigious academies to reach even more players and enhance the baseball and softball experience for players at all levels. We never stop innovating and enhancing our methods to make players better.

From developmental youth camps and private lessons… to the latest equipment and hottest apparel, D-BAT is your premier baseball and softball training center.

It was great to have 16 year TCU head coach Jim Schlossnagle on the show. He takes us back to his volunteer assistant days to his first paid job at Clemson, what its meant to lead TCU for both him and his family, the true meaning of what it is to be called "Coach", insight into developing into the best player you can be, and how to teach the game. The journey continues as he mentors both players and coaches around the country.

Thanks to TCU Baseball - https://gofrogs.com/index.aspx?path=baseball

@TCUSchloss

Appreciate our sponsors for making this possible www.dbatsports.com www.dbat.net

Long time host of Cincinnati Reds pre-game and postgame coverage, former Kentucky Wildcat Receiver, and color analyst on the UK Radio network Jeff Piecoro joins the show. Passionate about all things sports.

Follow Jeff

Twitter @JeffPiecoro

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John Piper visits with 3rd basemen and shortstop turned catcher Jose Trevino. He is currently with the New York Yankees making his 1st all-star appearance in 2022

The Texas Rangers are high on this prospect and a great example of what hard work, a great attitude, and talent can do for you. 2x gold glove winner and 4x all-star selection in the minor leagues. Holds a Texas HS record with 25 HRs in one season.

Order a copy of our new book "Bottom of the 9th"

https://www.johnpiper.me/Store/books/item/bottom-of-the-ninth/

Thanks for tuning in and keep enjoying the great game of baseball!

Sincerely,

John Piper

Special guest Ning traveled over from China to spend some time perfecting his business plan and we had a chance to catch up with him in Dallas. An amazing story of going from a Chinese sports journalist to developing the 1st of over 400 RISE academies that teach young Chinese how to speak English and now a successful developer of soccer academies working with Real Madrid , basketball academies and moving into baseball with D-BAT Sports. His plan to have 100 academies within 5 years.

Special thanks for to our sponsors:

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www.armyof9.com

Coach Keith Madison (@KeithMadison32) former head coach University of Kentucky for 25 years shares his humble beginnings in western KY. He landed the head coaching job at Kentucky at the ripe age of 26 and retired at 51. He was not done yet.... He is the publisher of Inside Pitch Magazine https://insidepitchonline.com/, ABCA Board Chairman https://www.abca.org/ and baseball missionary at SCORE International. A ministry that has reached over 75,000 kids in the Dominican Republic see how you can get involved here http://coachkeithmadison.com/

Special thanks to our sponsor www.dbatsports.com and www.dbat.net for all your baseball and softball team needs and the largest indoor training facility network in the United States.

Coach Barry Russell shares some stories from his 22 years as Head Coach in west Texas. Current President of http://www.thsbca.com/ Texas HS Baseball Coaches Association. How Alex Bregman showed up at Midland High after winning the world series to hit baseballs and so much more. You can connect with Coach Russell on twitter @zacheryfield A great teacher , coach and mentor to many young men!

I sit down live in the D-BAT headquarters with Cade Griffis to hear how the business was started and where its headed. D-BAT is the largest indoor baseball and softball training organization in the United States.

www.dbatsports.com www.dbat.net www.armyof9.com

Coach Mitch Thompson lays out a simple formula for success to get to the next level. This is a must listen for any coach, player, or parent involved in the game.

Among the most highly respected coaches and recruiters in college baseball, Mitch Thompson is in his fifth year as head coach at McLennan Community College. His coaching career spans three decades and includes 23 years coaching at the NCAA Division 1 level including 22 years in the Big 12 and Southeastern Conferences.

Thompson was named MCC head coach prior to the 2014 season and immediately began rebuilding the program to prominence. In four seasons under Thompson’s leadership, the Highlanders have amassed a 170-72 record, including an 87-41 conference mark, and have made four consecutive postseason appearances for the first time since the 1990s.

The Highlanders finished 32-27 in Thompson’s initial season and earned a Region V bid for the first time in four years. MCC finished the season as the Region V Tournament runner-up after posting a 17-15 mark in the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference (NTJCAC).

In 2015, Thompson guided MCC to its first Region V championship and JUCO World Series appearance in 32 years with a 41-20 overall record. The Highlanders were 19-11 in conference play. Thompson was rewarded for his efforts by being named Region V Coach of the Year as well as Waco Tribune-Herald Sportsman of the Year.

Thompson’s 2015 squad posted a .327 team batting average and averaged more than seven runs per game. The season included a pair of six-game winning streaks and a stretch in which MCC won 24 of 31 games. At the JUCO World Series, the Highlanders won three straight elimination games before falling to Northwest Florida State College in the national championship game. MCC showed great toughness down the stretch going 9-3 in the postseason and winning six elimination games on their way to the national runner-up finish.

The Highlanders’ success continued in 2016, going 45-12 overall and 25-7 in conference play to claim the NTJCAC title and earn Thompson the Coach of the Year honor. MCC won 13 of its final 14 regular-season games, including a nine-game winning streak. The Highlanders finished the season ranked # 11 in the nation and again were potent at the plate notching a .342 team batting average with 80 home runs and averaging 8.9 runs per game. Thompson’s squad was nearly unbeatable at home, going 24-3 at Bosque River Ballpark.

2017 was an incredible season for the Highlanders. The team was ranked 16th in the NJCAA Division I Preseason Poll and climbed the poll throughout the season, spending a week at No. 1. The Highlanders recorded a 26-6 conference mark, including going undefeated in April, to claim a second consecutive conference championship, McLennan’s first back to back conference titles in over 20 years. Thompson was once again named the Coach of the Year. Success continued in the postseason as well. The squad went 6-1 in the Region V Tournament to claim another regional title and secure a return trip to the JUCO World Series. The Highlanders went 1-2 in Grand Junction, finishing in fifth place and ending the season with an overall record of 52-13. The team’s 52 wins was the second most of any Division 1 team in the country.

Through Thompson’s four seasons at MCC, 21 players have earned all-conference honors, and 53 student-athletes have advanced to play with four-year programs, including 42 with Division I programs and 16 with Power 5 conference schools. Eleven of Thompson’s players have been drafted in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, and a 12th signed as a free agent.

Thompson’s MCC squads also have excelled in the classroom as the program has posted a cumulative team GPA of at least 3.0 in eight consecutive semesters. His teams earned NJCAA All-Academic Team Honorable Mention honors in 2015 (3.13 GPA), 2016 (3.19 GPA), and 2017 (3.41 GPA) 40 players have earned NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Awards. The 2017 teams 3.41 GPA was the third best GPA in the nation.

Prior to being named McLennan head coach, Thompson spent one season as the South Texas area scouting supervisor for the Kansas City Royals organization. During that year, Thompson drafted the 1st-, 3rd-, 9th-, 13th- and 20th-round picks for Kansas City. The Royals spent nearly $3 million signing his players.

Thompson is no stranger to baseball in Central Texas, having spent nearly two decades on staff at Baylor University (1995-2012) where he was the Bears’ hitting instructor and primary recruiter. He guided Baylor to the most prolific period of offensive production in program history as numerous program records were established during his tenure. Thompson was promoted to assistant head coach prior to the 2009 season.

In his 18 seasons at Baylor, Thompson helped lead the Bears to three Big 12 Conference titles, 12 NCAA Regional appearances, three Super Regional appearances and the 2005 College World Series. Those teams included four Big 12 Players of the Year, as well as 1999 consensus National Player of the Year and Golden Spikes Award winner Jason Jennings.

Thompson recruited all but one player who signed with Baylor during his tenure on the Bears’ staff, 72 of which were drafted by or signed free agent contracts with Major League organizations. This list includes several high-round draft picks, most notably first-round selections Kip Wells (Chicago White Sox, 1998), Jennings (Colorado Rockies, 1999), Chad Hawkins (Texas Rangers, 2000), David Murphy (Boston Red Sox, 2003), Mark McCormick (St. Louis Cardinals, 2005) and Aaron Miller (Los Angeles Dodgers, 2009), as well as 2001 Johnny Bench Award winner and Red Sox second-round pick Kelly Shoppach.

Nine players Thompson recruited who signed with Baylor eventually played in the Major Leagues. His recruiting classes were ranked among the nation’s 25 best six times, including a No. 1 ranking in 2005 that led to Thompson being named the 2006 Baseball America/American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) National Assistant Coach of the Year.

Thompson began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for legendary coach Ron Polk at Mississippi State for the 1990 season. The 1990 Bulldogs were 50-21 and reached the College World Series after upsetting second-ranked Florida State in the NCAA South II Regional. Thompson spent the 1991 season at Radford (Virginia) University before returning to Mississippi State for the 1992 and 1993 seasons as assistant coach and director of baseball operations.

In 1994, Thompson was an assistant coach at Auburn University, helping the Tigers garner 44 wins and a College World Series appearance. He worked with catchers and outfielders and was the team’s defensive coordinator.

Thompson is a 1988 honors graduate of Fort Hays State in Kansas where he twice earned academic all-conference honors in baseball and served as team captain as a senior. He began his collegiate career at Cloud County Community College before spending a year at Bacone College before transferring to Fort Hays State. Thompson toured Europe in the summer of 1987 with Athletes in Action, the athletic ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. He earned a master’s degree in physical education from Mississippi State in 1991.

In 1998, Thompson produced an instructional video titled “Contact Hitting and Plate Coverage” with Championship Books and Videos. The following year, he and Championship Books and Videos co-produced a six-video series designed to help youth league baseball coaches.

Thompson and his wife, Amber, have two daughters, Mary Conley and Caroline.