In this episode, Ashley Tobar Sunshine and Laura McDonald dive into pitching during the transition from preseason to in season competition.

They discuss pitching as a craft, how in game data informs better decisions, and the importance of managing workload to avoid both acute and chronic fatigue. The conversation highlights why communication matters in coaching, how training must adapt in season, and the challenges youth pitchers face as workload increases.

This episode provides practical insight for coaches, parents, and athletes who want to balance performance, development, and long term health.

Nationwide Biomechanics Assessments
https://go.ogxsoftball.com/ogx-softball-biomechanics-assessment

Join the OGX Community
https://ogxsoftball.myshopify.com/products/ogx-community-membership?_pos=1&_sid=f9bae4c8e&_ss=r

Episode 84 of the OGX Podcast

In this episode, Jamnes steps in as host and is joined by certified sports nutritionist Stefanie Rock to unpack the role nutrition plays in youth athlete performance, health, and long term development.

The conversation focuses on fueling as part of training, not an afterthought. Stefanie breaks down common nutrition myths, hydration misconceptions, and the influence of social media on young athletes. They discuss why timing matters, how sleep impacts performance, and why female athletes need individualized nutrition strategies during puberty and hormonal changes.

This episode offers practical guidance for parents, coaches, and athletes who want simple, sustainable approaches to fueling that support performance, recovery, and injury prevention.

Guest information
Stefanie Rock is a certified sports nutritionist working with youth and collegiate athletes.

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/rock_performance/?hl=en

Website
https://www.rockperformance.net

Listen in for actionable insights that help athletes fuel better, recover smarter, and perform with confidence.

Block training may look good, but it rarely prepares hitters for real games.

In this episode, Krista Swip and Kealia Wysocki unpack why variable training is essential for true skill acquisition in hitting. They discuss how adaptability is built, why training environments matter, and how coaches can rethink drills to better match game demands.

If hitters look great in practice but struggle in competition, this episode explains why and what to do differently.

Interested in learning more about your movement and performance profile?

Nationwide biomechanics assessments available here:
https://go.ogxsoftball.com/ogx-softball-biomechanics-assessment

Join the OGX Community and save 10 percent with code OGXPOD:
https://ogxsoftball.myshopify.com/products/ogx-community-membership?_pos=4&_sid=e85122d13&_ss=r

Listen now on Spotify.

Krista Swip, Laura McDonald, and Ashley Sunshine wrap up 2025 by reflecting on the biggest changes in softball athlete development and what lies ahead.

They discuss how partnerships and assessment innovations reshaped their work, why in game data became such a critical tool, and how timing, accountability, and power production influence performance. The episode also covers the complexities of body weight, force generation, and multi sport participation in female athletes.

This conversation offers insight into where the game is headed and why the future of softball is bright going into 2026.

In the final episode of the year, Ashley Sunshine and Laura McDonald explore the challenges surrounding pitching, pain, and return to play.

They discuss why pitching requires sport specific understanding, how pain is often mishandled in athlete environments, and why return to throw protocols must reflect real training demands. The conversation highlights the importance of communication between coaches and medical staff, the evolving education of athletic trainers, and the need for better collaboration to support athlete recovery and long term performance.

This episode closes the year with an honest and practical discussion for anyone working with pitchers at the youth, high school, or college level.

Pitchers face unique demands that require more than traditional strength training.

In Episode 80 of The OGX Podcast, Ashley Sunshine, Laura McDonald, and Jamnes Cameron explore how movement quality, fatigue, and strength conditioning shape pitching performance. They discuss why strength coaches play a critical role in both performance and injury prevention and how tracking resilience can help pitchers stay healthy over the course of a season.

This conversation highlights the importance of specificity, collaboration between coaches, and interventions that restore movement quality before injuries occur.

Krista Swip and Laura McDonald break down the science behind force plates, pressure mats, and the biomechanics that shape hitting performance. They discuss what these tools measure, how to interpret the data, and why understanding impulse, stability, and posture matters for athlete development.

Key ideas covered:
• Differences between force plates and pressure mats
• How ground reaction forces influence hitting
• Why more force into the ground is not always better
• The role of stability and posture in performance
• How to apply these metrics in coaching

Meet OGX at NFCA 2025 with Driveline Baseball
Stop by booths 224 and 226 to connect with the team and learn more about player development strategies and tools.
Learn more here: https://go.ogxsoftball.com/nfca2025-7092

In Episode 78 of the OGX Podcast, Krista Swip, Ashley Sunshine, and Laura McDonald tackle one of the most misunderstood topics in sports: the balance between mental and physical challenges in performance. They explore how athletes are often labeled as having “mental blocks,” when in reality, physical patterns and mechanics are at the root of the issue.

The discussion dives into how perception, decision-making, and movement all work together in skill acquisition. The hosts highlight why coaches must address physical execution, provide context-driven feedback, and train athletes under realistic conditions. This episode is a deep look into the relationship between biomechanics, psychology, and coaching helping both athletes and coaches rethink how performance is developed and supported.

Pitching success starts with arm adjustability.

In Episode 77 of the OGX Podcast, Ashley Sunshine and Laura McDonald break down how biomechanics, plyometrics, and arm action all work together to create better pitchers. They explain how rigid mechanics and traditional training can hinder development and why adaptability, movement quality, and command are essential for long-term success.

Save 10% on OGX’s Shop with code OGXPOD:
https://ogxsoftball.myshopify.com

#softball #pitching #biomechanics #ogxpodcast

Pitchers have unique training demands, and managing them the right way can be the difference between progress and burnout.

In Episode 76 of the OGX Podcast, Ashley Sunshine leads a discussion with James and Laura McDonald on the intersection of pitching and strength conditioning. They break down how to balance workload, recovery, and performance while improving communication between pitching and strength coaches.

Join the OGX Community to connect with athletes and coaches focused on performance and player development:
https://ogxsoftball.myshopify.com/products/ogx-community-membership

#softball #pitching #strengthconditioning #ogxpodcast