Marty Tyson was drafted by the Chicago Cubs out of high school and could have been a baseball coach…but he had four daughters! Marty started coaching his oldest daughter Dena in the local Chino softball league…against Mike Stith…and hasn’t looked back. 

The Tyson family has built one of the strongest brands in youth softball - the Corona Angels organization– and have developed some of the best players through their system including Rachel Garcia, Megan Faraimo, Jazmine Jackson and Morgan Stuart. All four of Marty’s daughters coach softball including three inside the Angels organization and daughter Tori is the head coach at Howard University. 

Marty spent over 20 years as a Correctional Officer at a California men’s prison. He shares some tough life lessons he learned from inmates that he shared with his daughters and female athletes. 

A self-proclaimed competitor who loves to win, Marty also reveals his softer side in the car ride home…including an epic Christmas party and letters to his players. Join us for a car ride home with Marty Tyson that’s full of laughs, lessons, and storytelling!

This week host Jami Lobpries is joined by one of softball’s best in player development, Mike Stith, OC Batbusters. Stith speaks on working with some of the greatest athletes in softball, changing the scope of player development and learning to coach from the player up. 

Mike Stith started coaching softball like most dads, coaching his oldest daughter in a local recreational softball league. After years of pulling double duty with a job and coaching, Mike went full time into softball building the OC Batbusters and Sports Training Complex in Anaheim. Hear about the difficult moment Mike used to make that decision and how he continues to learn from his players every day. 

Mike has coached some of the game’s best players like Sydney and Sierra Romero, Amanda Lorenz, Jocelyn Alo, and Tiare Jennings. He shares stories on his ‘best team’, most athletic player, and most challenging player to coach! 

Join us on the car ride home with Mike Stith to hear more.

Four-time first-team All-American, two-time medal winning Olympian and former Bruin Natasha Watley joins the Car Ride Home this week! Watley shares stories and insight on diversifying the sport of softball, the importance of being a triple threat, and expanding the sport of softball through youth and professional development. 

Natasha also shares her most memorable ‘car ride home’ when she learned a valuable life lesson from not making the team! Can you believe Natasha Watley was cut from a team? Join us on the car ride home with Natasha to hear her story!

Ever heard of “look good, play good?” Tony Rico, President of Firecracker Softball Inc., sits down with Jami Lobpries to discuss the keys to player development and effective coaching that have helped him develop some of the game’s greatest players and brands.  Rico reveals his favorite car ride tunes, shares stories from his 20+ years of coaching, and gives insight into player and team branding within the world of fastpitch softball. 

Tony is a trailblazer in softball. He was the first organization to expand its brand across the country. He was also one of the first people to start working with competitors, which eventually led to the formation of the Alliance Fastpitch. Tony shares why the Alliance is important and his excitement for what’s to come. 

Want to hear about the most challenging player he’s coached? Or who he thinks was the best travel ball player he’s coached against? Join the car ride home with Tony Rico to hear! 

Jami Lobpries, Alliance Fastpitch CEO, interviews the best minds and brands and storytellers in fastpitch softball. 

In each episode, we ask these industry leaders to reveal deep, intimate moments of success and failure, to share stories of their journeys, and to provide real takeaways for others looking to learn. 

The Car Ride Home with the Alliance Fastpitch is a master-class on leadership, storytelling, and community building. 

New episodes every Friday for free!