Well, we hope that Shane Eames gets well soon, and we will get him back on the show soon. Until then you get the producer of Youth Baseball Midwest and host of Baseball Talk here talking with Mitch about the World Series, and an array of topics. How Socioeconomics should not affect the opportunity for kids to play the game of baseball and how we can create solutions for kids from every background. As always, the conversations roam through the whole landscape of youth and high school baseball and we hope you enjoy the ride.

📲 Follow Mitch Thomas:
Instagram: @_mtsperformance
Twitter/X: @TheHittingZoneSTL


⚾ Stay locked in with Youth Baseball Midwest—your hub for full-spectrum youth baseball insight in the Midwest. Subscribe and hit that dinger (🔔) to never miss a game-state insight.

🌐 More YBM:
Website: youthbaseballmidwest.com
YouTube: Youth Baseball MidwestInstagram: @youthbaseballmidwest
TikTok: @YouthBaseballMidwest
X: @YBM_cast
Facebook: Youth Baseball Midwest


Presented by our proud partners:
Game 7 Baseball: game7baseball.com
Prime Sports Midwest: primesportsmw.com


🎥 Production Partner:Red Earth Productions: redearthprod.com

Once again Brett Graves brings his playing perspective to the table and talks about being in high pressure moments and what that means and how players can thrive.

Looking at the mental approach to physical execution whether you are in the playoffs or just a big game with any big moment. How an athlete deals with failure — from the standpoint of the team, coaches, and players — can help you continue to rise to the occasion.

But how do you handle what we call high leverage situations, and what does this mean from the athlete’s perspective? Listen here as Brett breaks it down, along with a few of his own experiences from his playing days in the MLB.

📲 Connect with Brett Graves
Instagram: @brettgraves5



⚾ Stay locked in with Youth Baseball Midwest—your hub for full-spectrum youth baseball insight in the Midwest. Subscribe and hit that dinger (🔔) to never miss a game-state insight.

🌐 More YBM:
Website: youthbaseballmidwest.com
YouTube: Youth Baseball MidwestInstagram: @youthbaseballmidwest
TikTok: @YouthBaseballMidwest
X: @YBM_cast
Facebook: Youth Baseball Midwest


Presented by our proud partners:
Game 7 Baseball: game7baseball.com
Prime Sports Midwest: primesportsmw.com


🎥 Production Partner:Red Earth Productions: redearthprod.com

We Coach Cissell welcomes 2nd-year Head Coach of Staley High School, Dionandre Josenberger, to the show.
They discuss the expectations that come with taking over a successful program from a Hall of Fame coach — and what it means to lead with purpose after finishing 2nd in Class 6 during his first year at the helm.
From setting standards to leading with faith and connection, Coach Josenberger shares how he’s developing relationships with his players and how different coaching approaches can make a lasting impact.
We appreciate Coach Josenberger for taking the time to sit down and talk through these important topics here on Baseball 101, where the classroom meets the locker room — and faith keeps us grounded.

📲 Stay connected with Darin Cissell:
Instagram: @drcissell
X: @dcissell

⚾ Sponsored by Buntmaster
Instagram: @officialbuntmaster
X: @buntmasters

👉 Follow Staley Baseball:
Instagram: @staley_baseball
X: @Staley_Baseball

⚾ Stay locked in with Youth Baseball Midwest—your hub for full-spectrum youth baseball insight in the Midwest. Subscribe and hit that dinger (🔔) to never miss a game-state insight.

🌐 More YBM:
Website: youthbaseballmidwest.com
YouTube: Youth Baseball MidwestInstagram: @youthbaseballmidwest
TikTok: @YouthBaseballMidwest
X: @YBM_cast
Facebook: Youth Baseball Midwest


Presented by our proud partners:
Game 7 Baseball: game7baseball.com
Prime Sports Midwest: primesportsmw.com


🎥 Production Partner:Red Earth Productions: redearthprod.com

We want to discuss with Coach McGee some of the players that could make an impact on their respective schools and those who take the next step into that elite status as high school players. The southwest is going to be loaded again and the COC will be wide open as we see who will take hold of the southwest in the MSHSAA large school classifications. East and West, who will take charge and emerge as a contender for the state Final Four.

📅 Mark Your Calendars — Prime Sports Midwest Demo Day!
🗓 Saturday, November 15th | Starts at 9AM
📍 Prime Sports Midwest – St. Peters
🎯 Demo the latest bats, test new gear, win prizes, and register your team for a chance to win custom jerseys!
👉 https://www.primesportsmw.com


⚾ Stay locked in with Youth Baseball Midwest—your hub for full-spectrum youth baseball insight in the Midwest. Subscribe and hit that dinger (🔔) to never miss a game-state insight.

🌐 More YBM:
Website: youthbaseballmidwest.com
YouTube: Youth Baseball MidwestInstagram: @youthbaseballmidwest
TikTok: @YouthBaseballMidwest
X: @YBM_cast
Facebook: Youth Baseball Midwest


Presented by our proud partners:
Game 7 Baseball: game7baseball.com
Prime Sports Midwest: primesportsmw.com


🎥 Production Partner:Red Earth Productions: redearthprod.com

On this episode of The Hitting Zone, Mitch Thomas is joined by Brian French to ask the question every baseball player and coach should be thinking about — “What the Fluff?!?”

Baseball today is full of “sexy stats” and highlight-reel numbers — but what’s real, and what’s just noise? Mitch and Brian cut through the flash to find the substance:

⚾ Where are the failures in the game of failure?
⚾ What truly drives development and performance?
⚾ How do players get better when the focus shifts from hype to hard work?

It’s an honest, no-nonsense look at the state of the game — and a reminder that failure, reflection, and growth are what baseball has always been about.

📲 Follow Mitch Thomas:
Instagram: @_mtsperformance
Twitter/X: @TheHittingZoneSTL


⚾ Stay locked in with Youth Baseball Midwest—your hub for full-spectrum youth baseball insight in the Midwest. Subscribe and hit that dinger (🔔) to never miss a game-state insight.

🌐 More YBM:
Website: youthbaseballmidwest.com
YouTube: Youth Baseball MidwestInstagram: @youthbaseballmidwest
TikTok: @YouthBaseballMidwest
X: @YBM_cast
Facebook: Youth Baseball Midwest


Presented by our proud partners:
Game 7 Baseball: game7baseball.com
Prime Sports Midwest: primesportsmw.com


🎥 Production Partner:Red Earth Productions: redearthprod.com

On this episode of Keep Klimbing with Brett Graves, Brett sits down with Cody Fick, Director of Pitching at Premier Pitching Performance, to talk about one of the most important times of the year — the early offseason. They break down how to approach the first stages of throwing after a long season, including:

• The importance of deloading the arm and recovery strategy
• Knowing when and how to ramp back up
• How Premier’s Tracker App helps athletes and coaches monitor progress and performance
• Understanding intensity levels and expected workload
• Why communication and patience matter most during the early offseason

Whether you’re a pitcher, coach, or parent, this episode dives deep into the process of preparing for success before the new season even starts.

📲 Connect with Cody & Premier Pitching
Cody Fick → IG: @cfick25
Premier Pitching → IG: @premierpitching

📲 Connect with Brett Graves
Brett Graves → IG: @brettgraves5

⚾ Stay locked in with Youth Baseball Midwest—your hub for full-spectrum youth baseball insight in the Midwest. Subscribe and hit that dinger (🔔) to never miss a game-state insight.

🌐 More YBM:
Website: youthbaseballmidwest.com
YouTube: Youth Baseball MidwestInstagram: @youthbaseballmidwest
TikTok: @YouthBaseballMidwest
X: @YBM_cast
Facebook: Youth Baseball Midwest


Presented by our proud partners:
Game 7 Baseball: game7baseball.com
Prime Sports Midwest: primesportsmw.com


🎥 Production Partner:Red Earth Productions: redearthprod.com

In this episode of Baseball Moms, Jenny Mayberry opens up about something every baseball parent faces — the balance between what we expect as parents and what our athletes expect of themselves. ⚾️

Jenny shares her thoughts on how to navigate those emotional crossroads — especially when a player decides not to move forward with baseball. It's real, honest, and a conversation every sports parent can relate to.

💬 Join the conversation and hear what’s on Mayberry’s mind!

🔗 Connect with Host Jenny Mayberry:
Facebook: @jennifer.mayberry.50
Instagram: @jat49erfan

⚾ Stay locked in with Youth Baseball Midwest—your hub for full-spectrum youth baseball insight in the Midwest. Subscribe and hit that dinger (🔔) to never miss a game-state insight.

🌐 More YBM:
Website: youthbaseballmidwest.com
YouTube: Youth Baseball MidwestInstagram: @youthbaseballmidwest
TikTok: @YouthBaseballMidwest
X: @YBM_cast
Facebook: Youth Baseball Midwest


Presented by our proud partners:
Game 7 Baseball: game7baseball.com
Prime Sports Midwest: primesportsmw.com


🎥 Production Partner:Red Earth Productions: redearthprod.com

In this episode of Baseball 101, host Darin Cissell sits down with the Head Coach of Nixa High School Baseball to talk about his journey from serving as an assistant coach at Drury University to leading one of Missouri’s most competitive high school baseball programs.

Drawing on his college experience, Coach shares how he’s built a system at Nixa that’s rooted in preparation, player development, and program-wide culture.

You’ll hear:
⚾ How coaching at Drury University shaped his approach to leadership and communication
🎯 How recruiting principles influence how he develops and evaluates players at the high school level
🏆 What it takes to create a consistent, high-performing culture
💬 Reflections on the transition from the college game to running a high school program

It’s a conversation about growth, experience, and the lessons learned along the way from both sides of the game.

📲 Stay connected with Darin Cissell:
Instagram: @drcissell
X: @dcissell

⚾ Sponsored by Buntmaster
Instagram: @officialbuntmaster
X: @buntmasters

👉 Follow Nixa Baseball:
Instagram: @nixa_bsbl
X: @nixabaseball

⚾ Stay locked in with Youth Baseball Midwest—your hub for full-spectrum youth baseball insight in the Midwest. Subscribe and hit that dinger (🔔) to never miss a game-state insight.

🌐 More YBM:
Website: youthbaseballmidwest.com
YouTube: Youth Baseball MidwestInstagram: @youthbaseballmidwest
TikTok: @YouthBaseballMidwest
X: @YBM_cast
Facebook: Youth Baseball Midwest


Presented by our proud partners:
Game 7 Baseball: game7baseball.com
Prime Sports Midwest: primesportsmw.com


🎥 Production Partner:Red Earth Productions: redearthprod.com

Chris Copeland, the Director of Kirkwood Legion Baseball Post 156, joins Baseball Talk to discuss how the landscape is changing within American Legion Baseball programs. Not only focused on building successful athletes but also on developing community-minded people, Chris brings a unique perspective on leadership and growth within Missouri Legion Baseball.

As the Chairman of District 10, Chris works with zone commissioners to continue the growth of American Legion Baseball across the state. We’re excited to have him on the show as we look into the Kirkwood Post 156 program and the opportunities emerging in District 10, as several programs begin to make a comeback across the Metro St. Louis Area.

📅 Mark Your Calendars — Prime Sports Midwest Demo Day!
🗓 Saturday, November 15th | Starts at 9AM
📍 Prime Sports Midwest – St. Peters
🎯 Demo the latest bats, test new gear, win prizes, and register your team for a chance to win custom jerseys!

👉 https://www.primesportsmw.com

#BaseballTalk #YBMcast #MissouriBaseball #LegionBaseball #AmericanLegionBaseball #KirkwoodPost156 #ChrisCopeland #District10Baseball #MissouriLegion #YouthBaseballMidwest #PrimeSportsMidwest #PSMWDemoDay

⚾ Stay locked in with Youth Baseball Midwest—your hub for full-spectrum youth baseball insight in the Midwest. Subscribe and hit that dinger (🔔) to never miss a game-state insight.

🌐 More YBM:
Website: youthbaseballmidwest.com
YouTube: Youth Baseball MidwestInstagram: @youthbaseballmidwest
TikTok: @YouthBaseballMidwest
X: @YBM_cast
Facebook: Youth Baseball Midwest


Presented by our proud partners:
Game 7 Baseball: game7baseball.com
Prime Sports Midwest: primesportsmw.com


🎥 Production Partner:Red Earth Productions: redearthprod.com

We are going to take a look at five conferences that primarily consist of Class 4 schools throughout the central and north-central parts of Missouri. From recent state championships to programs that have developed a legacy, Central Missouri has played a pivotal role in the development of many high school athletes.

Many of these athletes are multi-sport competitors who represent their schools year-round. The Tri-County Conference has produced two state championship teams since 2020, and numerous district champions have come from these Class 4 power conferences — including the 2025 Chillicothe Hornets out of the Midland Empire Conference, who took home this year’s Class 4 title.

Joining the conversation is Brian Ash, Head Coach at Southern Boone High School, one of Missouri’s most successful programs in recent years.


🔗 Follow Southern Boone Baseball:
X: @SouthernBooneB


📣 Mark Your Calendars — Prime Sports Midwest Demo Day!
🗓 Saturday, November 15th | Starts at 9AM
📍 Prime Sports Midwest – St. Peters
📍 Get all the details at https://www.primesportsmw.com



Join us for a full day of demos, giveaways, and gear testing!
🎯 Bring your team and register the day of for your chance to win a full set of custom team jerseys!
🔥 Don’t miss your chance to swing the newest bats, try the latest gear, and hang with the YBM crew.

Prime Sports Midwest → https://www.primesportsmw.com
#BaseballTalk #YBMcast #MissouriBaseball #SouthernBooneBaseball #Class4Baseball #BrianAsh #TriCountyConference #MidlandEmpireConference #YouthBaseballMidwest #PrimeSportsMidwest #PSMWDemoDay

⚾ Stay locked in with Youth Baseball Midwest—your hub for full-spectrum youth baseball insight in the Midwest. Subscribe and hit that dinger (🔔) to never miss a game-state insight.

🌐 More YBM:
Website: youthbaseballmidwest.com
YouTube: Youth Baseball MidwestInstagram: @youthbaseballmidwest
TikTok: @YouthBaseballMidwest
X: @YBM_cast
Facebook: Youth Baseball Midwest


Presented by our proud partners:
Game 7 Baseball: game7baseball.com
Prime Sports Midwest: primesportsmw.com


🎥 Production Partner:Red Earth Productions: redearthprod.com