YBMcast

On today’s Keep Klimbing podcast, Brett Graves talks about building your pitching arsenal based on your strengths and what you do best. Every pitcher is different, and understanding which pitches best fit your abilities is key to long-term development. Brett, as always, Keeps Klimbing by using his own experience to help you understand how to continue working to get yourself better.

In this episode, he begins by breaking down the curveball — what the pitch is designed to do, how and when it should be used, and how proper spin and shape create the depth and downward action that define an effective breaking ball.

Because the curveball can vary greatly from pitcher to pitcher, grip is the key. Brett walks through multiple grip variations and opportunities to help pitchers find the curveball grip that works best for their hand, arm action, and strengths.

📲 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, the one and only Coach Dave Wiggins steps into the host’s chair. Joining him is the new Head Coach of Troy-Buchanan High School, Joel Krato, as the two dive into what it truly takes to build and sustain an effective offense—no matter the level of play.

With Coach Krato’s experience moving from Class 1 at Community R-6 to Class 6 at Troy-Buchanan, and Coach Wiggins’ journey from Class 5 at Webster Groves to Class 2 at Principia, this conversation offers a unique perspective on adapting offensive philosophy across vastly different environments.

They discuss:
⚾ Developing effective offensive approaches at the plate
🎯 Training athletes differently based on resources and competition level
💡 Overcoming limitations while still producing results
📈 Adjusting philosophy without losing identity
Whether you’re coaching at the youth level, a small-school program, or a large-class powerhouse, every team faces offensive challenges. This episode provides practical insight into how successful coaches adapt, adjust, and elevate offense at every level of the game.

Follow Coach Wiggins:
X: @CruitsCoachDW
Instagram: @coachdave1338

Follow Coach Krato:
X:@coachkrato
Podcast-The Coaches Roundtable: https://open.spotify.com/show/705hifXJgPnJVBrvHXHJgR?si=2c97c64726ec43b4

⚾ Baseball 101 — where experience becomes education.

⚾ Sponsored by Buntmaster
Website: https://buntmaster.com
Instagram: @officialbuntmaster
X: @buntmasters


⚾ 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 we have the head coach of O’Fallon Township High School joining the show to talk about Illinois baseball and the incredible tradition in southwest Illinois. The Panthers program has enjoyed sustained success — since 1991 they have posted 18 seasons with 20+ wins, 10 seasons with 30+ wins, and they haven’t had a losing season in over three decades.

Now in his second season, Coach Dave Causey looks to continue and build on that success. It won’t be easy, as the Southwestern Conference has proven itself to be one of the toughest in the state, loaded with programs battling for district crowns, state playoff berths, and regional dominance.

We dig into the Panthers’ culture, the state of high school baseball in Illinois, and what it takes to compete year after year against some of the best competition around.

📣 Guest Socials:
Dave Causey (O’Fallon Township HC):
X & IG: @othsbaseball

🎥 Production Partner:
Red Earth Productions: redearthprod.com

#BaseballTalk #YBMcast #IllinoisBaseball #OFallonBaseball #SouthwesternConference #HighSchoolBaseball #PantherPride #YouthBaseballMidwest

⚾ 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 joined by Head Coach Brian Ash of Southern Boone High School and Kevin Moulder of Prep Baseball to highlight some All-State players from 2025 in the central part of the state.

Along with that discussion, we take a look at private schools and championship points — and how those points may move programs from one class to another.

We lead the show with a timely topic coming out of the ABCA this past week, focusing on being efficient with feedback for pitchers. As programs begin their winter training cycles and work toward the start of the 2026 season, this conversation becomes especially relevant for coaches, players, and parents preparing for tryouts and competitive seasons ahead.

📣 Guest Socials:

Brian Ash (Southern Boone High School HC):
X: @SouthernBooneB

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

🎥 Production Partner:
Red Earth Productions: redearthprod.com


#BaseballTalk #YBMcast #MissouriBaseball #PrivateSchoolBaseball #ChampionshipPoints #PitcherDevelopment #PrepBaseball #SouthernBooneBaseball #HighSchoolBaseball


⚾ 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

Shane Eames steps back inside The Hitting Zone to close out the third part of this important series — this time turning the focus to the Volunteer Coach.

Volunteer coaches have long been the backbone of youth baseball, but is that role disappearing? Mitch and Shane dive into the tough questions surrounding today’s coaching landscape:

⚾ Is the volunteer coach becoming a thing of the past?
⚾ Why has it become so difficult to build and retain an effective coaching staff?
⚾ Has a sense of entitlement crept into the game, changing expectations for coaches, parents, and players?

From experience on the field and in the dugout, they discuss the realities volunteer coaches face, the pressures placed on them, and why this role still matters more than ever to the future of youth baseball.

It’s an honest, thought-provoking conversation that challenges the current culture and asks what it will take to rebuild trust, commitment, and leadership at the grassroots level of the game.

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

📲 Follow Shane Eames:
Instagram: premier_hittingdevelopment
X (Twitter):@HittingDev


⚾ 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

Velocity-focused training — often referred to as the “velo phase” — has become a major component of modern pitcher development. While these phases can lead to meaningful velocity gains, they also come with increased physical demands and potential injury risk if not properly managed.

In this episode of Keep Klimbing, Brett Graves breaks down what athletes, coaches, and parents need to understand about navigating the velo phase safely and effectively. Drawing from current research and real-world application, Brett discusses how rapid increases in throwing intensity, workload mismanagement, and improper implementation can place added stress on the shoulder and elbow.

This conversation explores:
• Key risk mechanisms during velocity-focused training phases
• Proper athlete preparation to reduce injury risk
• Workload-balancing principles throughout the training cycle
• Evidence-backed implementation strategies that support long-term development

The goal is a practical, data-driven framework that helps pitchers chase velocity gains while protecting arm health and sustainability.

📖 Related Reading:
Navigating the Velo Phase for Pitchers: Data-Driven Preparation, Workload Management, and Implementation
👉 https://premierpitching.com/blogs/premier-pitching-chronicles/navigating-the-velo-phase-for-pitchers-data-driven-preparation-workload-management-and-implementation

📲 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

Mitch Thomas from The Hitting Zone Podcast joins Baseball 101 to talk about developing basic practice plans for a 9U baseball team.

Being prepared and organized helps you develop the trust of the players — and most importantly, the parents. This is not something we truly prepare for as dad coaches, but we have embarked on this endeavor to help ten to twelve nine-year-old boys learn the game of baseball.

So, let’s get started!

⚾ Sponsored by Buntmaster
Website: https://buntmaster.com
Instagram: @officialbuntmaster
X: @buntmasters


⚾ 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, Dave Wiggins and Diego Solares join Baseball Talk in a look at the quality of baseball in Metro St Louis. From both sides of the river, we take a general look at the overall landscape of high school baseball — across different classes and with players making an impact at every level.

We also share our thoughts on which programs may have a legitimate shot at winning a state championship in both Missouri and Illinois.

The Missouri side of the Mississippi is loaded with talented teams poised to make runs from St. Charles County through West and South County. On the Illinois side, the Edwardsville Tigers continue to be the standard that everyone is chasing as teams prepare for another competitive run through the IHSA tournament.

📣 Guest Socials:

Dave Wiggins (Principia School HC):

X: @CruitsCoachDW
Instagram: @coachdave1338

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

Scout Connect:
X: @ScoutConnectBB
Instagram: @scoutconnectbb

🎥 Production Partner:
Red Earth Productions: redearthprod.com

#BaseballTalk #YBMcast #MetroStLouisBaseball #MissouriBaseball #IllinoisBaseball #HighSchoolBaseball #ScoutConnect #YouthBaseballMidwest


⚾ 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 we are bringing the discussion to the KC Suburban Conference with some highly talented pitchers. But talent is only one ingredient — we are going to talk about the impact of leadership from these players and how important it is for them to take that role on their teams.

We will be looking at teams that we believe have opportunities to win a conference or district championship and put themselves in position to make a run to the MSHSAA Final Four in Ozark, MO.

🎥 Production Partner:
Red Earth Productions: @redearthproductions

#BaseballTalk #YBMcast #KCSuburban #MissouriBaseball #HighSchoolPitching #ImpactPitchers #LeadershipOnTheMound #MSHSAA #YouthBaseballMidwest


⚾ 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

Coming in to close out the 2025 season, Brett Graves delivers another powerful episode of Keep Klimbing.

In this episode, Brett takes time to reflect on his journey — the lessons learned along the way, the challenges faced, and what it truly takes to develop a champion’s mentality. From learning how to handle both failure and success, to navigating the pressure that success brings, Brett breaks down the mindset required to keep pushing forward when expectations are high.

He also dives into overcoming obstacles and shares insight into the development of Premier Pitching’s Champion Program, designed to help athletes grow not just on the field, but in how they approach preparation, adversity, and leadership.

A fitting close to the season, this episode challenges athletes, coaches, and parents to think deeper about what it means to compete — and what it takes to Keep Klimbing.

📲 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