In this episode of the D3P Division III Baseball Podcast we break down eight ways Travel and Club Baseball can help players get to the next level, and eight things to watch out for with Travel and Club programs. Topics of discussion include getting reps, escaping daddy ball, access to instruction, working out in the off-season, playing national competition, costs and fees, lack of a development focus, judging talent, parent politics, gaining exposure to college coaches (or not) and more.

00:00:00-Introduction

00:05:10-Goals of This Episode

00:10:43-The Good Things

00:11:08-Getting More Reps

00:15:29-Escaping Daddy Ball

00:18:49-Access to Instruction

00:20:37-A Variety of Voices

00:23:32-Off Season Reps

00:26:24-Exposure to National Competition

00:31:08-New Faces and Friend Groups

00:33:38-A Great Family Experience

00:36:13-Summary of Good Things

00:38:02-The Not So Good Things

00:40:14-High Costs and Fees

00:44:10-A Culture of Winning Versus Development

00:47:52-The Travel Portion of Travel Ball

00:50:35-Evaluating and Judging Talent

00:55:24-Parent Politics

01:02:05-Cookie Cutter Instruction

01:04:12-Giving Up Other Experiences

01:06:56-Over Selling the College Exposure Angle

01:14:38-Bonus Items!

01:18:08-Wrapping It Up

In this episode of the D3P Division III Baseball Podcast we interview 2024 DIII National Champion and 2024 National DIII Baseball Coach of the Year Pete Egbert, Head Coach of Misericordia. During this interview we cover Coach Egbert's path to coaching, his 17 years at Misericordia, his team's run to the 2024 CWS Championship, developing as a coach, the Misericordia brand of baseball, turning around a program, peaking when it matters, and his most important trait for success.

00:00:00-Introduction

00:04:45-About Coach Egbert

00:09:40-Coach Egbert's Path Through Sports

00:12:26-Arriving at Misericordia

00:16:11-About Misericordia University

00:19:51-The Misericordia Coaching Staff

00:23:58-Looking Ahead to 2025

00:29:18-Recapping the Run to the Finals

00:37:57-The World Series Final vs. UW Whitewater

00:46:00-National Player of the Year Connor Maryniak

00:52:30-Developing as a Coach

00:55:16-Not Playing in College

00:58:07-The Misericordia Brand of Baseball

01:03:12-Turning Around a Program

01:05:37-Peaking at the End of the Season

01:08:43-Learning from the 2023 CWS Run

01:11:06-Lightning Round

01:16:16-The Most Important Trait for Success

In this episode of the D3P Division III Baseball Podcast we unveil the 2025 Preseason Top 25 with Jim Dixon, Managing Editor of D3baseball.com. In addition to fully breaking down the preseason rankings, we talk with Jim about the history of D3baseball.com, his 30-year background as a DIII baseball writer, and Jim's take on a number of DIII baseball-related issues—including the rapidly increasing quality of play, recommended rule changes, and key differences between good teams and great teams.

00:00:00-Introduction

00:03:59-Meet Jim Dixon

00:08:14-Becoming a Sports Writer

00:10:47-About D3baseball.com

00:12:27-Key DIII Announcement Dates

00:15:43-The Top 25 Selection Process

00:17:37-Breaking Down 25 thru 11

00:23:43-The Preseason Top 10

00:36:04-Others Receiving Votes

00:39:52-The Increasing Quality of DIII Play

00:44:13-The Culture of DIII Baseball

00:46:52-The Value of Coaching

00:50:27-DIII Versus DII and DI Baseball

00:52:19-Rule and Policy Changes

In this episode of the D3P Division III Baseball Podcast we interview coaching legend and DIII Hall of Fame inductee Bob Babb, current Head Coach of Johns Hopkins. During this interview we cover Coach Babb's path to coaching, his 45 years at Johns Hopkins, maintaining excellence over nearly five decades, the decision to retire, his best piece of coaching advice, the pending legacy he's leaving for DIII baseball, and what it will feel like to walk off the field for the very last time.

00:00:00-Introduction

00:10:47-Growing Up with Baseball

00:13:51-The Path to Coaching

00:15:28-Getting to Johns Hopkins

00:19:00-The Johns Hopkins Student Experience

00:20:30-The Johns Hopkins Coaching Staff

00:27:42-Recapping the 2024 Season

00:35:23-Looking Ahead to 2025

00:37:51-Recruiting at Johns Hopkins

00:43:01-Changing as a Coach Over the Years

00:52:2-7Staying Passionate Over 45 Seasons

00:54:07-Coach Babb's On-Air Retirement Announcement

00:55:30-The Search for a Replacement

00:58:29-The Decision to Retire

01:00:14-Walking Away from the Game

01:05:31-The Keys to Long-Term Success

01:10:32-Lightning Round

01:21:14-Favorite Piece of Coaching Advice

01:22:45-Best Johns Hopkins Team Ever

01:24:52-Shoutout to Gilly Babb

In this episode of the D3P Division III Baseball Podcast we interview two-time NCAA World Series Champion and current Head Coach of University of Wisconsin Whitewater John Vodenlich. During this interview we cover Coach Vodenlich's experience as a DIII player, his path to coaching and to UW Whitewater, his coaching and development approach, building and maintaining a nation-leading program, the impact of baseball internationally, and his best pieces of coaching advice.

00:00:00-Introduction

00:09:39-Growing Up with Sports

00:13:50-Playing at UW Whitewater

00:15:39-A Unique Path to Coaching

00:19:01-Arriving at UW Whitewater

00:23:31-Leaving for Another Opportunity

00:27:02-The UW Whitewater Coaching Staff

00:30:02-Recapping 2024 as the National Runner-Up

00:36:11-The 2024 DIII College World Series

00:43:44-The CWS Championship Game

00:46:58-All Conference Players

00:55:50-Eliminating Birmingham Southern

01:02:56-The Return of Baseball to UW River Falls

01:06:58-Building Sustainable Greatness

01:09:57-Learning from Losses

01:13:36-The International Impact of Baseball

01:18:41-Lightning Round

01:24:40-Recruiting, Development, Culture and Mental Training

01:27:26-Best Piece of Coaching Advice

01:31:46-Maintaining a High Level of Performance

In this episode of the D3P Division III Baseball Podcast we interview Steve Bartlein, first-year head coach at University of Wisconsin River Falls—a program that has been reinstated after being shut down for financial reasons over 22 years ago. During this interview we cover Coach Bartlein's experience as a DIII player, his path to coaching and to River Falls, the process of rebuilding a program from the ground up, recruiting as a new program, his coaching staff, and his measures of success going forward.

00:00:00-Introduction

00:10:42-Coach's Path Through Baseball

00:14:21-Playing in College

00:16:44-A Passion for Education

00:19:52-Leaving Teaching for Coaching

00:22:20-Finding the River Falls Job

00:25:11-The Interview Process

00:28:44-Finding a Place to Start

00:33:38-Excitement in the Program

00:36:32-The New Coaching Staff

00:41:52-Pulling the First Roster Together

00:49:27-Starting with a Blank Slate

00:55:58-Lightning Round

00:56:45-New Uniform Kits

01:01:28-Favorite Piece of Coaching Advice

01:03:13-Winning That First Game

01:04:28-Five Year Vision for the Program

In this episode of the D3P Division III Baseball Podcast we interview Colton DeRocher—former outfielder for Central College (2022-2024), two-time All Region selection, home run record holder, and congenital amputee. During this interview we cover Colton's path through sports and baseball, his jump to the NCAA, his workout routine, the importance of family, his mental approach to the game and life, his involvement with the Louisville Slugger Warriors, and life after DIII baseball.

00:00:00-Introduction

00:11:36-Being a Congenital Amputee

00:13:15-Growing Up an Athlete

00:18:03-Early Baseball Career

00:31:37-Making the Jump to College

00:27:47-Playing at Central College

00:29:21-A Day in the Life of a College Player

00:34:12-Working Out and Development

00:42:24-The Importance of Family

00:47:23-Unlocking Home Run Power

00:50:43-The Mental Approach

00:52:16-The Louisville Slugger Warriors and "Big Brother" Parker Hanson

00:56:54-Meeting Jim Abbott

01:00:27-Life After Baseball

01:07:58-Lightning Round

01:19:41-Favorite Baseball Glove

In this episode of the D3P Division III Baseball Podcast we interview Casey Klunder, second-year head coach at Wartburg—and cover his path through baseball, the Wartburg coaching staff, results of this past season, his all conference players, 15 years as a Special Education teacher, making the jump from High School to NCAA coaching, and his favorite piece of coaching advice.
00:00:00-Introduction
00:11:02-Coach Klunder's Path Through Baseball
00:19:40-Transitioning From High School to the NCAA
00:27:39-The Wartburg Coaching Staff
00:34:28-Recapping this Past Season
00:38:18-The ARC Playoffs
00:43:30-All Conference Selections
00:52:56-Recruiting Information and Strategies
00:59:02-Managing HS Versus College Players
01:05:56-Moving from Central to Wartburg
01:08:17-How Teaching Influences Coaching Perspective
01:11:03-Lightning Round
01:21:58-Favorite Piece of Coaching Advice

In this episode of the D3P Division III Baseball Podcast we break down the recently announced and most important rule changes in college baseball for the upcoming 2025 season—including rule changes related to pitching, hitting, speed of play, sportsmanship, cheating and electronic communications. During this podcast we also clarify a number of existing rules including the Step-Off Rule, the Force Play Slide Rule (FPSR) and the Plate Obstruction rule—and take a deep-dive into bat testing, illegal bat modification, and the rare art of throwing inside.

00:00:00-Introduction

00:05:05-The College Baseball Rule-Making Process

00:12:14-New Rules Affecting Pitchers

00:22:40-New Rules Affecting Hitters

00:33:21-What is Bat Testing?

00:35:00-How to Alter a Bat

00:41:11-New Rules that Affect Gameplay

00:47:55-Expanded Electronic Communications

00:53:46-Explanation: The Step-Off Rule

00:58:42-Explanation: The Slide Rule

01:01:47-Explanation: Blocking the Plate

01:07:11-Opinion: Bring Back Throwing Inside!

In this episode of the D3P Division III Baseball Podcast we interview Dan Spain, second-year head coach at University of Dubuque—and cover his path through baseball, the Dubuque coaching staff, results of this past season, his all conference players, recruiting strategies, the differences between DIII and NAIA baseball, succeeding in a loaded conference, and his favorite piece of coaching advice.

00:00:00-Coach Introduction

00:11:16-Growing Up with Baseball

00:14:55-Playing Juco, DIII and NAIA

00:20:50-Finding the Way to Head Coach

00:25:51-About University of Dubuque

00:29:20-The Dubuque Coaching Staff

00:32:21-Recapping this Past Regular Season

00:36:25-Looking Back at the ARC Playoffs

00:39:58-All Conference Players

00:50:57-Recruiting Strategies and Needs

01:04:58-Differences Between NAIA and DIII

01:11:21-Succeeding in a Loaded ARC Conference

01:20:47-Recruiting Transfers Out of NAIA

01:23:26-Lightning Round

01:33:39-Best Piece of Coaching Advice