In this episode of the D3P Division III Baseball Podcast we interview Keith Bateman, 21-year head coach at Augsburg in Minneapolis—and cover his path through baseball to head coach, the 2024 season, his recruiting strategy, the DIII coaching commitment, a 2025 season preview, and why the MIAC playoff structure needs to be changed.

00:00:00-Head Coach Intro

00:08:03-Keith's Path Through Baseball

00:12:13-Getting to Augsburg

00:15:38-Augsburg as a School

00:19:30-Recapping the 2024 Season

00:25:01-2025 Season Preview

00:31:35-Recruting Strategy

00:39:34-Recruiting Deal-Breakers

00:47:10-Taking a Visit to Augsburg

00:50:32-The DIII Coaching Commitment

01:03:47-Lightning Round

01:30:39-Changing the MIAC Playoff Structure

In this episode of the D3P Division III Baseball Podcast we talk Velocity and Pitching Development with Aidan Wojciehowski—Certified Driveline Foundations of Pitching Instructor, Certified USA Weightlifting Strength Coach, and Associate Head Coach at Loras College. During our conversation we cover developing velo versus control, choosing an arm development program, Summer training versus playing, making big jumps, top lifts and exercises for pitchers, training the mental side, building permanent velo versus tinkering, and the current arm issue pandemic.

00:00:00-About Coach Woj

00:06:29-Player Development as a Career

00:11:58-Knowing You're a Fit for a Velo Program

00:15:10-Developing Velo Versus Control

00:19:58-The Velo Starting Point

00:22:07-Summer Plans: Training or Playing?

00:28:00-The Key to Making Big Jumps

00:40:14-Working Velo Training into Your D3 Routine

00:43:53-Top Lifts for Pitchers

00:47:04-Training the Mental Side of Velo

00:51:36-The Difference Between Velo Programs

00:56:29-Staying Current in Pitching Development

01:01:32-Building Permanent Velo Versus Tinkering

01:11:58-The Arm Issue Pandemic

In this episode of the D3P Division III Baseball Podcast we interview Brian Raabe, 13-year head coach at Bethel in Minnesota—and cover his professional playing career, his path to Head Coach, the unique Bethel culture, coach Raabe's intense coaching style, making the NCAA tourney, the challenges of building a winning program, and the emergence of D3 and MIAC baseball.

00:00:00-Coach Introduction

00:06:01-The Rise of D3 and MIAC Baseball

00:14:24-Coach Raabe's Playing Career

00:20:42-Getting to Bethel

00:23:49-Reviewing the Past Season

00:30:08-Matthew Carlsen and John Solfest

00:40:00-Looking Ahead to 2025

00:48:48-The Unique Bethel Culture

00:54:05-Coach Raabe's Coaching Style

01:00:04-Making the NCAA Tourney

01:04:08-Lightning Round

01:08:15-Winning the MIAC vs. Making the NCAAs

01:20:00-Coaching with Intensity

01:26:39-The Lack of At Large Bids in the MIAC

In this episode of the D3P Division III Baseball Podcast we interview one of the best two-way players in the Nation Sam Lavin—a D3Baseball.com All-American, a Rawlings All-American, and the 2024 MIAC Player of the Year. In this interview we cover Sam's path through baseball, challenges in developing a two-way skill set, the value of collegiate Summer leagues, making the jump to D1 baseball, and his favorite memories of playing in Division III.

00:00:00-Sam's College Career Stat Line

00:08:17-The Path Through Baseball

00:12:02-Being a Student and Player at St. Olaf

00:16:28-Sam's Day-to-Day Routine

00:22:42-Working Out as a Two-Way Player

00:27:28-Collegiate Summer League

00:32:21-Developing a Two-Way Mindset

00:37:27-Making the Jump to D1 Baseball

00:44:28-Lightning Round and MIAC Farewell

In this episode of the D3P Division III Baseball Podcast we interview Matt McDonald, 30-year head coach at St. Olaf Minnesota—and cover the recent and upcoming seasons, this year's All Conference selections, MIAC Player of the Year Sam Lavin, off-season recruiting strategies, the lack of at-large bids in the MIAC, loving the job after 30 years, and his journey to Head Coach.00:00:00-Coach Intro

00:06:05-The Path to Head Coach

00:12:48-Loving the Job

00:16:05-About St. Olaf as a School

00:21:01-Recapping the Season

00:30:19-All Conference Selections and Awards

00:38:52- MIAC Player of the Year Sam Lavin

00:44:55-Optimism for the Upcoming Season

00:51:15-Off-Season Recruiting Strategies

00:57:54-Getting on the St. Olaf Radar

01:05:15-Lack of At-Large Bids in the MIAC

01:10:27-Head Coach Lightning Round

01:33:14-In Memory of Doug Johnson and Ryan Bowles

In this episode of the D3P Division III Baseball Podcast we interview Anthony Renz, first-year head coach at Concordia Moorhead—and cover recruiting philosophies, culture expectations, the Cobber baseball program past and present, the recent and upcoming seasons, the wealth of talent in the Upper Midwest region, and his journey to Head Coach.

00:00:00-Coach Renz and the Cobber Program

00:08:30-Becoming the Head Coach

00:17:13-About the School and the Area

00:26:35-Breaking Down this Past Season

00:30:21-Upcoming Season Preview

00:36:41-Recruiting Priorities and Strategies

00:51:13-Getting on the Cobber Radar

00:57:49-Scheduling a Visit

01:02:23-Lightning Round

In this episode of the D3P Division III Baseball Podcast we interview Seth Betts, NCAA record-holding infielder and Head of Player Development at St. Scholastica—and cover becoming an elite player, building a foundation for success, mental strength, the importance of athleticism, handling burnout, avoiding instructional overload, building confidence, the arm issue pandemic, and his journey from player to Player Development professional.

00:00:00-Seth's Journey

00:09:33-Becoming an Elite Player

00:14:56-Studying Player Development

00:20:22-Handling Player Burnout

00:30:02-Foundations for Player Success

00:38:42-Mental Strength and Baseball IQ

00:40:35-Formal Instruction vs. Building Athleticism

00:50:14-College vs. High School Development

00:53:19-One Instructor or Multiple Voices?

00:57:23-Avoiding Instructional Overload

01:01:48-The Importance of Confidence

01:06:46-The Arm Issue Pandemic

In this episode of the D3P Division III Baseball Podcast we interview Nick Winecke, former player and 17-year Head Coach at Saint Mary's—and cover coaching philosophies, culture expectations, recruiting tactics, baseball's mental game, the Saint Mary's program past and present, the recent and upcoming seasons, and his journey from player to Head Coach.

00:00:00-Introduction

00:05:02-Nick's Path to Coaching

00:15:50-About Saint Mary's

00:25:54-2024 Season Recap

00:33:30-Looking Ahead to 2025

00:36:35-Culture Expectations

00:48:31-Off-Season Recruiting Strategies

00:52:34-Coaching Philosophies

01:03:47-Getting on the St. Mary's Radar

01:11:19-Lightening Round Questions

In this episode of the D3P Division III Baseball Podcast we cover what it's like to play D3 baseball in the upper Midwest—the schedule, the weather, travel, challenges with playing in cold weather, the cost of attendance, the style of baseball, development opportunities and more.

00:00:00-The Growth of D3 in the Upper Midwest

00:06:56-The Schedule

00:13:30-The Weather

00:20:05-The Travel

00:25:07-Playing in Cold Weather

00:31:02-Cost of Attendance

00:36:11-Style of Play

00:42:13-Development Opportunities

In this episode of the D3P Division III Baseball Podcast we sit down live in studio with Brooks Repking, Head Coach of St. Scholastica—and cover the recent and upcoming seasons, player development, roster changes, recruiting strategies, tryout camps, the St. Scholastica program past and present, and his journey to Head Coach.

00:00:00-Introduction

00:02:43-The Journey to St. Scholastica

00:15:26-About the School and Program

00:25:09-Player Development

00:33:20-2025 Season Preview

00:47:09-Off Season Recruiting

01:05:47-Upcoming Camps Tryouts and Visits

01:17:24-Lightning Round