Coach Tory and Coach Don open episode 410 with a show rundown. Tory issues corrections: when last week’s undefeated Power Four teams segment released, North Carolina and Grand Canyon were also unbeaten. This week’s City of the Week is Spartanburg, South Carolina, citing USC Upstate, nearby JUCOs, and the Tiger River softball complex. Player of the Week is a player recognized for commitment and rapid improvement despite little prior experience. Listener question asks how long pitchers should warm up; they stress that “ready” means able to locate every expected pitch (not just feeling loose), that travel-ball uncertainty can tempt corner-cutting, and that pitcher plans and honest fatigue communication help. The lead-off segment begins with part one of an interview with Ken Krause and Jay Bolden of the “From the Coach’s Mouth” podcast: Ken coached travel ball ~15 years, shifted to full-time lessons; Jay is an educator who entered softball via a JV opening, played men’s fastpitch, coached travel/high school, and has coached college while teaching pitching/hitting. They describe a guest-interview format plus occasional topic episodes  Key takeaways include lifelong learning, coaching the person first, and hearing elite coaches’ doubts and growth journeys. They highlight Bill Hillhouse’s influence on pitching mechanics and Rick Pauly’s mentorship and and discuss increased crossover from men’s fastpitch into women’s programs. In cleanup, Coach Tory and Coach Don address travel-ball organizations pushing “D1 or bust,” arguing it’s often marketing that discounts strong D2/NAIA options, overlooks playing time realities, and ignores that any college roster spot signifies a high-level player; they also note NIL/transfer portal dynamics. The coaching tip emphasizes written practice plans, “everyday drills,” targeting weaknesses with data, better staff coordination, and using past plans to prevent recurring problems.

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