Outside The Chute

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with Arizona State University alum and current Head Coach at Vanguard University, Amber Freeman.

Amber had an absolute excellent career with the Sun Devils.  Her skills as a catcher made her a steady force behind the Sun Devils' plate from 2012-2015. She was a three-time All-American and 2013 PAC-12 Player of the Year. Amber ranks fourth in ASU career history with 56 home runs and fifth all-time in career RBI with 197 as well as fifth in ASU history with 46 career doubles. She became just the third player in ASU history to earn both First-Team All-American and First-Team Academic All-American designations.  Amber would also play professional with the USSSA Pride in the NPF and was a member of the US National Team as well.

We’re gonna talk to Amber about getting her start in the game, the huge roll her Dad played in her development, her time with the Sun Devils and of course, Amber Freeman Softball which she runs to this day.

Amber was an absolute treat to chat with and I know you’re all gonna love this episode.

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with Northwestern University alum and current Female Athlete Mental Mentor, Paige Tonz.

Paige’s story is pretty awesome and goes to show you how big the mental side of the game plays in sport.  Paige had a, what we can say “mediocre” first three years in college and she is the first to admit that, but that all changed her Senior season as she decided to focus on giving it her all, having fun and whatever happens….happens and it paid dividends as she hit a fantastic .313.  Paige now devotes her time to helping the younger generation with the mental side of sport. You can take a look at her website at paigetonz.com if this is something you feel your daughter could benefit from.

We’re gonna talk to Paige about getting her start in the game, the whole recruiting process she went through to get to Northwestern, the struggles she endured early on there, how she got out of them and of course her mental program she runs today.

Paige was an absolute treat to chat with and I hope any young female that listens to this episode and is having trouble with certain parts of their game from the mental side, takes the opportunity to reach out to her. 

Paige Tonz Mental Mentor

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with 2019 WBSC Coach of the Year, Head Coach of the Argentina Men’s National Team, Julio Gamarci.

Julio has had quite the impact on the game in his country since joining the Argentina Men’s National Team in 1991.  As a player, he would play in many ISF and Pan Am tournaments, as well as, compete in the ISC’s with team’s like Larry Miller Toyota out of Salt Lake City and County Materials out of Wisconsin.  Julio has definitely made his mark in the game from coaching the Argentina Men’s National Team.  He has brought the country to the top of the mountain in Men’s Fastpitch, where they are the defending WBSC Champions from their epic win in 2019.  The team also won Pan Am Games gold that same season and most recently won the Pan Am Championship Tournament on home soil a few week’s ago.

We’re going to talk to Julio about getting his start in the game down in Argentina, what the Fastpitch scene was like growing up there, his time playing in North America, of course, the 2019 WBSC win and much, much more.

Julio was an absolute treat for Hopey and I to chat with.  To be able to sit down and chat the game with one of the most respected coaches in the game today was pretty cool.  

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with University of Washington alum, former US National Team member and current AU athlete, Courtney Gano.

Court has had a fantastic career to date. She would have a stellar 4 years with the Washington Huskies where she would have a solid .306 career average with 23 homeruns and 91 RBI’s.  She then got her professional start over in Italy before joining the Chicago Bandits of the NPF in 2018.  Court would play with the US National Team as well in 2018 where she would help the red, white and blue capture  gold at the Japan Cup.  Since then, her and her husband Abdul welcomed their son Gregory to the world in 2020 and now she is back playing in Athlete’s Unlimited.

We’re gonna talk to Court about getting her start in the game, the influence her parents played in her development, her time with the Huskies, of course Greggy, and much, much more.

Getting the chance to talk to Courtney was an absolute pleasure and I’m so happy she took time out of her busy schedule to come on and chat cause this was a good one.

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with 4 time ISC World Champion and former member of the Men’s Canadian National Team, Waterloo native, Brandon Horn.

Horny has had a remarkable career to date.  As just mentioned, he has won 4 ISC World Titles, been named to 3 ISC All World Teams, won the 2015 Pan Am Games and ISF World’s while representing Team Canada and a Canadian Senior Men’s title just to name a few.

We’re gonna talk to Horny about getting his start in the game at a young age in Waterloo, his great junior run with Scarborough, his time with Team Canada and much, much more.

Horny was a pleasure to chat with, and Hopey and I were treated to some big news from him that you’re not going to want to miss

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with Texas State Bobcats alum, Texas native, Randi Hennigan.

Randi had an amazing 4 years at Texas State.  She is the career leader in wins, strikeouts, appearance and innings pitched.  She is a two time All-American, two time Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year and a 4 time First Team All-Sun Belt Conference winner, and many other accolades as well.

We’re gonna talk to Randi about getting her start in the game in her home state of Texas, the amazing bond between her and her twin sister Sara, who also played at Texas Tech, her special relationship with the great Cat Osterman and much, much more.

Randi was an absolute treat to chat with and I’m sure you’re all gonna enjoy hearing her story.

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with ISC and WBSC Hall of Famer and current head coach of the New Zealand Black Sox, one of the best to ever play the game, Mark Sorenson.

I’m not even sure where to begin when talking about Mark’s accomplishments in the game.  He is a 4 time ISF World Champion with the Black Sox as a player, with the first coming at 16 years of age in 1984. 

Mark would play in 18 ISC World Tournaments, where he would go on to win 4 World titles and be named to 12 All World Teams along the way, as well as and MVP award.  As a coach, Mark would guide the Black Sox to a WBSC title in 2017 in Whitehorse and will be looking to get back on the podium this November at home in New Zealand.

We’re gonna talk to Mark about getting his start in the game in his hometown of Hutt Valley, his travels over to North America to play on the ISC circuit during its hay day, those world title wins with the Black Sox and much, much more.

Hopey and I were absolutely privileged to be able to chat with Mark.  To hear his story about playing our game was awesome and I’m sure everyone that hears this is going to thoroughly enjoy it.

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with 4 time ISC World Champion and former Canadian Men’s National Team member, Ian Fehrman.

Opie had an absolute excellent career in the game.  To go along with those 4 ISC rings, he has also won a ISF World Title and Pan Am gold in 2015, 2 Canadian Senior Men’s National Title’s, has been a 6 time ISC All World selection, as well as, a two time All Canadian.

We’re gonna talk to Opie about getting his start in the game, the epic run at the ISC’s with Jarvis, his time on the National Team and some hilarious stories from his time in the game.

Opie was such a treat to chat with and its very easy to see why he was so respected and loved by opponents and teammates.  This was a fun one for Hopey and I and I’m sure you’ll see why after listening.

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with University of Michigan alum and 2005 WCWS Most Outstanding Player, Samantha Findlay.

Sam had an amazing 4 years at University of Michigan.  As a Freshman in 2005, she would have a Cinderella season.  She was named Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year to go along with Michigan’s first ever, National Title at the Women’s College World Series, as well as, being named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.  In that final game against UCLA, Sam would hit a three run shot in the Top of the 10th inning to seal the deal for the Wolverines.  She would end her tenure with Michigan as the school’s all time career leader in Homeruns, Walks and RBI’s.  Sam then went on to win the 2008 NPF Championship with her hometown Chicago Bandits, before retiring from the game in 2012 to start a family.

We’re gonna talk to Sam about how she got her start in the game, the journey to get to the University of Michigan, that epic Freshman season, and much, much more.

Sam was an absolute pleasure to chat with, and I wish nothing but the best for her and her beautiful family moving forward.

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with Arizona State Sun Devils alum and 2021 Olympian with the Mexican National Team, Sashel Palacios.

Sash has had a stellar career to date.  She excelled in her 4 years at Arizona State, twice being named to the Pac-12 All Defensive Team, as well as, being named a 1st Team All-Pac 12 in 2017.  She helped lead Mexico to a birth in the Olympics in Tokyo this past summer, and is set to take part in her third season with Athlete’s Unlimited.

We’re gonna talked to Sashel about getting her start in the game, the big influence her family plays in her life, her time at ASU and how she almost quit the game after her Freshman season, of course, the Olympic Games and much, much more.

Sash was an absolute pleasure to chat with.  I’m so happy I reached out to her to do this and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for her.