YBMcast

oday’s Baseball Talk brings us into Illinois baseball with a special guest from the Illinois High School Association, Associate Executive Director Sam Knox, who oversees baseball for the state.
This gives us an opportunity to better understand what goes on behind the scenes and the relationship between the IHSA and your local high school programs. From rules oversight to postseason structure, we take a closer look at how Illinois baseball operates at the highest level.
We’re also joined by Diego Solares to talk Illinois baseball and preview the upcoming Border Battle matchup slated for the season — Francis Howell visiting the Edwardsville Tigers.

We’ll also break down some Class of 2027 standouts we expect to see in this showdown as the rivalry between Missouri and Illinois heats up.

Illinois baseball continues to set the standard — and we’re diving into it here on Youth Baseball Midwest.

📣 Guest Socials
Illinois High School Association (IHSA)
X: @IHSA_IL
Instagram: @ihsa_il

Diego Solares (Scout Connect, Founder)
X: @DeegsBaseball

Scout Connect
X: @ScoutConnectBB
Instagram: @scoutconnectbb

⚾ 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

Today’s episode is Part 1 of a crossover conversation between The Hitting Zone and Baseball 101.

Mitch Thomas is joined by Dave Wiggins (Host of Baseball 101) and Michael Yeager, Assistant Coach & Recruiting Coordinator at Johnson County Community College, for an honest discussion about what development really looks like in youth baseball.

They simplify the conversation down to three core issues:
• If development is the goal, why do we measure success by rings and roster size instead of measurable growth?
• Are families paying for real player development — or for the status of wearing a jersey?
• If athletes aren’t receiving individualized plans for strength, movement, skill, and recovery, can we truly call it development?

This episode challenges how we define progress and asks whether we are building better athletes — or simply better optics.

📲 Follow Mitch Thomas:
Instagram: @_mtsperformance
X (Twitter): @TheHittingZoneSTL
TikTok: @thehittingzonestl

📲 Follow Dave Wiggins:
X (Twitter): @CruitsCoachDW
Instagram: @coachdave1338

📲 Follow Michael Yeager:
X (Twitter): @MYeags7

📲 Johnson County Community College Baseball:
X (Twitter): @JCCCBaseball
Instagram: @jcccbaseball

⚾ 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

This week on Keep Klimbing, Brett Graves visits Premier Pitching’s Fenton, MO location to sit down with Andrew Schwaab, Facility Coordinator, to talk all things showcase season.

Showcases are a major part of today’s recruiting landscape — but they aren’t for everyone, and they aren’t one-size-fits-all.

In this episode, Brett and Andrew break down:
• Who showcase season is truly a good fit for
• What real preparation looks like before stepping on the field
• The difference between exposure and development
• How to define success at a showcase — beyond radar numbers
• Why mindset and readiness matter more than hype

As summer approaches and schedules start filling up, this conversation helps athletes and families make informed decisions about timing, preparation, and expectations.

📍 Filmed at Premier Pitching – Fenton, MO

📲 Connect with Andrew Schwaab

Instagram: @agschwaab
X: @AndrewSchwaab

📲 Connect with Premier Pitching

Main IG: @premierpitching
Fenton IG: @premierpitching.fenton
X: @PremierPitching

📲 Connect with Brett Graves

Instagram: @brettgraves5
X: @bgraves05

⚾ 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 like to talk baseball, so we decided to do a health check on the state of youth baseball — focusing on the 7U to 14U age groups as we head into another spring and summer season.
In this episode, we sit down with representatives from the Midland organization, Matt Shadow and Jason Stahl, to discuss what development and training actually mean for young players within a structured club environment.

We dive into realistic expectations across age groups, including conversations around what proper development should look like for a 9U baseball player and how growth changes as athletes mature.

We also take on one of the most important — and challenging — topics in youth sports: the relationship between clubs and parents. It’s a conversation that can be difficult on both sides, but one that needs to be addressed as we work toward healthier environments for young athletes.

This episode marks another stop in our Youth Baseball Talk series, where we continue engaging with clubs and baseball communities across the state to have real conversations about development, expectations, and the long-term health of the game.

📣 Guest Socials
Midland Baseball
X: @MidlandBasebal
Instagram: @midlandbaseball

⚾ 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 Baseball 101, host Dave “Diamond Dave” Wiggins is joined by Brian French to recap the Scout Connect Winter Showcase that took place this past Saturday.

After spending the day evaluating talent, talking with players, and observing the event firsthand, Dave and Brian break down what stood out — from player preparation and performance to the overall environment of the showcase.

They discuss:
What players did well at the event
How athletes can better prepare for showcases
The importance of competing with confidence and intent
What events like this mean for recruiting and exposure

If you’re a player preparing for your next showcase — or a coach helping guide athletes through the recruiting process — this episode offers real perspective from those who were in the building.

⚾ Baseball 101 — where experience meets education.

📲 Follow Dave Wiggins (Host):
X: @CruitsCoachDW
Instagram: @coachdave1338

⚾ 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 have Andy Urban of Prep Baseball joining the show as we take a look at the MOKAN Invitational held a couple weeks ago at Mac N Seitz in Kansas City, MO.

We have Andy Urban of Prep Baseball joining the show along with Brian Ash, Head Coach at Southern Boone, as we take a look at the MOKAN Invitational held a couple weeks ago at Mac N Seitz in Kansas City, MO.

We watched and spoke with a group of Kansas athletes along with some Missouri athletes that we will see on our 2026 live stream schedule. This event gave us an early look at talent on both sides of the state line.

Urban gives us perspective on the outlook of the upcoming season — who he likes, which teams on the west side of the state we may have overlooked, and his take on some of the best teams on the Kansas side. Coach Ash adds his Missouri perspective as we break down how the west side continues to shape the state landscape.

And yes… we might even grab a prediction or two.

The west side is loaded — and we’re diving into it here on Youth Baseball Midwest.

📣 Guest Socials
Andy Urban (Prep Baseball Kansas)
X: @PrepBaseballKS
Instagram: @prepbaseballks

Brian Ash (Southern Boone HC)
X: @SouthernBooneB

⚾ 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 working our way toward Opening Day 2026, and today we bring together a strong lineup to get you ready for the season.
Scott McGee, Head Coach at Willard High School, joins us to talk about that season opener and what it takes to prepare a program for the start of a new year.
We are also joined by Daryl Bradley, Assistant Executive Director of MSHSAA, who oversees baseball for the state. We discuss what’s new with rules, potential class movers, and when we can expect to see the official 2026 District Assignments.

And of course, we have the Guru himself, Kevin Moulder, Director of Scouting, to break down the upcoming Missouri All-State Invitation Only Showcase happening this weekend at The Sports Barn in Wentzville, MO. We’ll get an early look at some players to watch as we inch closer to opening day.

Opening Day is coming — let’s get ready the right way here on Youth Baseball Midwest.

📣 Guest Socials
Scott McGee (HC Willard HS)
X: @CoachMcGee

Daryl Bradley (MSHSAA)
Organization: MSHSAA

Kevin Moulder (Prep Baseball Missouri)
X: @PrepBaseballMO
Instagram: @prepbaseballmo

⚾ 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 today’s episode of The Hitting Zone, Mitch Thomas is joined by Josh Cathcart of Hitting Done Right for a powerful and honest conversation centered on one big question: Who is truly responsible for developing the player? Is it the travel coach? The hitting instructor? The strength coach? The parent? The high school program? Or the athlete themselves? Mitch and Josh unpack the layers of accountability in modern player development and challenge the idea that growth can be outsourced. They discuss ownership, consistency, communication, and the difference between guidance and responsibility. If we’re serious about development, we have to get clear on who owns it. This episode challenges coaches, parents, and players alike to rethink how development actually happens.

📲 Follow Mitch Thomas:

• Instagram: @_mtsperformance
• X (Twitter): @TheHittingZoneSTL
• TikTok: @thehittingzonestl

📲 Follow Josh Cathcart & Hitting Done Right:

• Instagram: @hitting_done_right_hdr
• X (Twitter): @JoshCathcart8

⚾ 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

This week’s episode of Keep Klimbing was filmed at the Premier Pitching Wentzville location, as Brett continues building on the foundation laid in recent episodes — workload balance, velocity phases, pitch arsenal construction, and sequencing — by stepping into the next critical stage of development: The Pitch Design Phase.

This episode covers:
• Understanding developmental fit — not every pitch fits every arm
• Workload-informed timing and when to introduce design phases
• Biomechanical determinants of pitch effectiveness
• Evaluating pitch performance using measurable thresholds
• Making sure pitch design enhances performance rather than increasing unnecessary risk

The message remains consistent: development must be intentional. Pitch design should align movement, workload, and mechanical efficiency to the athlete in front of you. 

📖 Read the Full Article Here:
The Pitch Design Phase in Baseball: Developmental Fit, Workload-Informed Timing, Biomechanical Determinants of Effectiveness, and Evidence-Based Evaluation Thresholds
👉 https://premierpitching.com/blogs/premier-pitching-chronicles/the-pitch-design-phase-in-baseball-developmental-fit-workload-informed-timing-biomechanical-determinants-of-effectiveness-and-evidence-based-evaluation-thresholds

📲 Connect with Brett Graves & Premier Pitching
Brett Graves → IG: @brettgraves5 | X: @bgraves05
Premier Pitching → IG: @premierpitching | X: @PremierPitching

⚾ 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 Baseball 101, host Dave “Diamond Dave” Wiggins is joined by Chad Gendron, whose baseball journey began in St. Louis and extended through the collegiate and professional levels.

The conversation starts with Chad’s playing background and the experiences that shaped his understanding of pitching at higher levels of the game. From there, the focus shifts to the present — his work with Elite Pitching Development, where he serves as the Lead Instructor and Director.

Together, they discuss:

How playing experience at advanced levels informs modern pitching instruction

The philosophy behind Elite Pitching Development

What effective pitching development should look like today

How instructors can better prepare pitchers for long-term success


This episode offers insight for pitchers, parents, and coaches looking to better understand how development, experience, and instruction come together to help athletes reach the next level.

⚾ Baseball 101 — where experience becomes education.

📲 Follow Dave Wiggins (Host):
X: @CruitsCoachDW
Instagram: @coachdave1338

⚾ 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