Everything Fastpitch - The Podcast

Everything Fastpitch episode 421 with Coach Tory and Coach Don previews warm-up segments and features an interview with social media instructor Megan Rembielak. They recap early NCAA Division I regional results and notable games, including Oregon’s elimination by Mississippi State amid pitching injuries, seeded teams advancing (Alabama, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia), Florida State’s loss to Stetson and matchup with UCF, and Texas Tech’s comeback win over Ole Miss; they emphasize the value of smaller-conference teams in the tournament. City of the Week is Bloomington, Indiana.  Listener Danielle asks about handling coaching decision regret; they advise accountability, grace, and focusing on process over outcomes. In the interview, Rembielak (megremsoftball.com) shares her playing/coaching path, content-creation motivations, views on criticism, key teaching points (timing in hitting, staying in motion on defense), the importance of live reps and softball IQ, and launching RemProSports (remprosports.com) equipment. Coaching tip addresses managing a 12U player who over-corrects teammates by setting guidelines and channeling leadership appropriately.

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Coach Torrey and Coach Don preview episode 420 of Everything Fastpitch, beginning with “good news, bad news”: UCLA’s Megan Grant sets the single-season home run record with 38, but a Big Ten Network replay skipped the record-breaking at-bat in favor of injury and replay footage. They answer a listener question about a $50 travel-ball tryout fee, agreeing the biggest issue is not disclosing it upfront. They break down the newly announced NCAA Division I tournament bracket, noting SEC strength, mid-majors benefiting from SEC teams missing the .500 threshold, and storyline-heavy potential matchups (e.g., Oregon–Oklahoma, Texas–Texas A&M, Alabama–LSU). In cleanup, they encourage players to watch how elite athletes handle mistakes and teamwork, then argue the sport has a shrinking strike zone, citing 1,600 more home runs than last year. They close by questioning in-game iPad video coaching for 12U players, favoring postgame review, and thank sponsors and patrons.

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Coach Torrey hosts Episode 419 solo outlining warm-up items, a hitting proverb discussion, a Division I postseason preview, and a coaching “confession.” He notes an NCAA Division I proposal to shift eligibility from five years to play four seasons to a five-year window allowing five seasons. The city of the week is Columbia, South Carolina, and the equipment tip spotlights Fastpitch Prep’s Square Cuts training discs designed to help hitters learn what “squaring up” the ball means. A listener question addresses the “blame game,” urging players and parents to take ownership rather than blame umpires, coaches, teammates, or conditions. Torrey contrasts “problem-solver” hitting coaches with teaching hitters to understand and self-correct. He previews conference tournaments, seeding implications, and possible top-eight hosts, and argues coaches do have favorites—typically the hardest-working, most reliable team-first players.

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Coach Tory and Coach Don host Everything Fast Pitch open with thanking patrons and previewing segments. They discuss the SEC’s plan to make Madison, Alabama’s Toyota Field the permanent home of the SEC softball tournament from 2027–2030, replacing rotating campus sites, and note Lexington, Kentucky is the last on-campus host through 2030. The city spotlight is Oklahoma City. A listener prompts discussion about multi-sport athletes versus early specialization. In an interview, Bill Hoopes (coach, PGF Florida state director, tournament director, author) covers his background, high school vs travel ball purposes, recruiting changes, finding the right college fit, and his books/workbooks and “60 for me” content. The coaching tip emphasizes balancing quality instruction with reps so repetitions reinforce correct mechanics.

Bill Hoopes Link - https://www.leadyourjourney.com/

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Coach Tory and Coach Don record Everything Fast Pitch episode 417 via Zoom from Canada, previewing segments and thanking Patreon supporters. They note the NCAA’s Division I softball transfer portal window will open the Monday after the Women’s College World Series and last 15 days, aiming to tighten timing and discuss how the portal changes recruiting without eliminating opportunities, especially noting elite freshmen still impact top programs. City of the Week is Salt Lake City, and the equipment tip promotes Square Cuts training discs. Listener Alan asks whether the portal is “ruining recruiting,” prompting discussion of shifting opportunities and roster voids. The lead-off segment critiques negative fans and “super fans,” especially those who harass opponents. The cleanup segment condemns bashing underpaid school-ball coaches and emphasizes their developmental value. The coaching tip urges better situational decision-making focused on securing outs and winning games.

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Coach Tory and Coach Don record episode 416 and preview segments on pickup player etiquette, baseball vs. softball fielding, and coaching styles In “Did You Know,” Tory argues the Division I strike zone has become overly hitter-friendly, citing 185 hitters over .400 late in the season, and says it hurts pitchers despite consistent umpiring; Don notes pros and cons and the sport’s evolution. City of the week is Fayetteville, Arkansas. A JV coach asks how to keep a struggling team engaged; they suggest removing scoreboard focus, setting small in-game goals, and celebrating incremental wins with team leaders. They discuss green/yellow/red guidelines for guest players and warn against using pickups to replace roster players. They also advise being open-minded about a former MLB player changing defensive instruction and say coaching energy should match both coach nature and team needs.

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Coach Tory and Coach Don preview episode 415, thank patrons, and highlight Nebraska hosting UCLA with over 8,000 fans as a possible true home-field regular-season attendance record, noting softball’s growth. The city of the week is Bloomington, Indiana, and they promote Square Cuts training discs and sponsors EAS and Elite Sporting Goods. A listener reports Tennessee varsity games canceled due to a severe umpire shortage; they discuss poor treatment of officials and encouraging more people to umpire. In the lead-off segment, they debate year-round softball, risks of burnout and injury, and advocate balancing commitment with multi-sport participation. They explain the “Rule of Thirds” for great, average, and terrible days and emphasize performing through adversity using goals. The coaching tip stresses pitchers practicing fielding, overhand throwing, and situational awareness, including a two-ball drill. Tory also criticizes an overly small TV strike zone in college games and its effects on pitchers, offense, and record comparisons.

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Coach Tory and Coach Don preview episode 414, thank Patreon supporters, and share a “good news, bad news” did-you-know: pitching coach Bill Hillhouse has died after battling cancer, while Oklahoma pitching coach Jennifer Rocha has returned to the dugout after her own cancer fight, alongside encouragement to support cancer research. The City of the Week is Oxford, Mississippi. A recruiting listener question challenges “Division I or bust,” emphasizing academics and that playing college softball at any level is an accomplishment. Tory then discusses unrealistic expectations for young players transitioning from tee ball/coach pitch to kid pitch and travel ball, stressing long-term development over quick fixes. The cleanup segment reviews a popular Atlanta-area Banana Ball-style tournament, praising the fun while noting safety and skill concerns for young players. The coaching tip argues coaches must clearly communicate team rules and reasons for discipline/benching and enforce rules consistently.

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Coach Tory and Coach Don preview episode 413 of Everything Fast Pitch, thank Patreon supporters, and highlight “Did You Know” that Florida State’s Isa Torres set an NCAA Division I record with 16 consecutive hits. The city of the week is Houston, Texas. They answer a listener question about the best way to request clarification from an umpire, emphasizing calm, specific, rule-based questions rather than emotional confrontation. In the leadoff segment they reflect on how dramatically women’s athletics and technology have changed since the 1960s–1990s, citing growth in size, skill, and athleticism in sports like basketball and softball. The cleanup topic urges stopping “crack or scratch” bat posts and accepting that composite bats inevitably crack and break. The coaching tip stresses practicing and prioritizing defensive communication to avoid missed popups and injuries, and they tease a future interview on body language and the mental game.

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Coach Tory and Coach Don preview episode 412, thank patrons, and share USA Softball Hall of Fame news honoring Monica Abbott and the Raybestos Brakettes. City of the Week is Madison, Wisconsin, and a Player of the Week recognized for work ethic and leadership. Tory answers a listener question about 10U players ignoring instructions, discussing accountability, consequences, and today’s team-hopping culture. The main segment is an interview with Tiffany Deering (former Michigan national champion) about Athletic Placement Services (APS), a new app-based recruiting hub that matches athletes with schools, streamlines emailing from personal Gmail, integrates YouTube/X, provides engagement analytics, camp searches, and roster/portal data, with a free promo through August. The coaching tip emphasizes modeling, practicing, and rewarding positive body language.

If people want to take advantage of the Promo from APS going on until end of August they can: 1- Go to apsrecruits.com 2- create an account using email or google auth 3- if prompted, authorize email 4- promo code Launch2026 5- begin building profile- sync x and YouTube 6- they can then download the app. Tutorials are available once they log in. They can follow on Facebook and Instagram @apsrecruits.

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