YBMcast
By: YBMcast
Language: en
Categories: Sports, Baseball
YBM brings the experience of top baseball Coaches, Club Directors, Youth Instructors, and Prep Scouting in the Midwest. For the most comprehensive Youth and Prep Baseball talk. We want to become your source for news, commentary, and perspective. Not to mention our live stream of Game 7 Championship games, the GAC game of the week, local community events, and PBR Missouri Showcase events.Subscribe to the Midwest Report and YBMcast Today!
Episodes
Pitching Command with Milwaukee Brewers Pitcher Rob Zastryzny | Keep Klimbing | YBMcast
Dec 15, 2025Today Brett welcomes one of his Mizzou teammates who is also a pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers Rob Zastryzny who was 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA in 26 games. Commanding the strike zone as a pitcher is key to success, but learning how to command your pitches at the maximum output can be a very difficult task to master. So we have these Brett former MLB pitch and Zastryzny current MLB pitcher here to break down learning how to command your pitch arsenal to reach the next level.
📲 Connect with Rob Zastryzny
Instagram: @robzastryzny
X: @RobZastryzny_8
📲 Connec...
Recruiting at the D2 Level with University of Central Missouri Head Coach Kyle Crookes | Baseball 101 | YBMcast
Dec 12, 2025This week on Baseball 101, Coach Darin Cissell welcomes Kyle Crookes, Head Coach at the University of Central Missouri, one of the most successful Division II baseball programs in the nation. Coach Crookes brings years of experience and championship-level insight as he and Darin break down what it really takes to get noticed and succeed at the D2 level.
You’ll hear:
⚾ What D2 coaches look for when recruiting student-athletes
🎯 How players can separate themselves from the crowd
💪 Tips on preparation, communication, and character
🏆 What makes D2 baseball unique and why it’s an incredible path for so man...
Breaking Down the Mississippi Valley Conference in Illinois | Baseball Talk | YBMcast
Dec 11, 2025You have to go all the way back to 2015 for the last state championship to come out of the Mississippi Valley Conference, when Highland defeated Nazareth Academy 7–6.
In 2025, both Triad and Highland finished tied for the conference title — but it was Triad who broke through, making a Final Four run and securing 3rd place in the Class 3A State Playoffs with a 3–1 victory.
So what will 2026 look like?
Who returns the pitching depth?
Who has the roster to make another deep postseason march in Class 3A?
Today we break down the contenders, strengt...
Championship Pitching: What It Takes to Win a District! | Baseball Talk | YBM Cast
Dec 10, 2025Today’s show breaks down what kind of pitching it takes to win a district title in the always-tough Class 6 Districts 7 and 8.
We also dive into the big disparity in Class 5, where District 8 features four programs that could all be top-ten teams in the state.
Who has the inside track? Which staffs have the depth to survive district week? And what do the not-too-early KC Suburban Power Rankings from Youth Baseball Midwest tell us about who may emerge as contenders?
It’s all on tap as we look at the arms, rotations, and pitching phil...
Why Junior College is a Great Path. w/ JeffCo HC Zac Bone | The Hitting Zone | YBMcast
Dec 09, 2025Jefferson Community College Head Coach Zac Bone steps up to the plate on this episode of The Hitting Zone Podcast. Today, Mitch and Coach Bone break down why junior college baseball is such a strong and often underrated path for student-athletes.
They discuss the opportunities JUCO provides, how it differs from Division I baseball, and why the JUCO route can be the perfect fit for many players looking to develop, compete, and earn their next opportunity. With years of successful junior college coaching experience, Coach Bone brings valuable insight, perspective, and honesty to the conversation.
📲 Follow Mit...
Building a Pitch Arsenal: Sliders | Keep Klimbing | YBMcast
Dec 08, 2025In this episode, he begins by breaking down the slider — what the pitch is designed to do, how and when it’s used, and how the pitch should spin to create the sharp lateral movement and depth you're looking for.
Because the slider is one of the most personalized pitches in baseball, grip is the key, and Brett takes a look at multiple variations and opportunities to find the grip that works best for your slider.
📲 Connect with Brett Graves & Premier Pitching
Brett Graves → IG: @brettgraves5 | X: @brettagraves
Premier Pitching → IG: @premierpitching | X: @PremierPitching
...
Francis Howell Baseball: The All-Decade Team | Baseball 101 | YBMcast
Dec 05, 2025Francis Howell head coach Tony Perkins sits down with Baseball 101 host Darin Cissell as they walk through some of the incredible history behind one of the most successful high school baseball programs in the state of Missouri.
From players you may have never heard of, to names who went on to the MLB, Coach Perkins takes us decade by decade as they put together an All-Decade Team — starting from the 1960s all the way to the present day.
If you’re a Francis Howell Vikings fan, you don’t want to miss this one. And even if you...
Small School Teams to Watch in the Metro Area | Baseball Talk | YBMcast
Dec 04, 2025oday we take a look at small schools in the Metro area that often get overlooked because of the bigger programs in town. On both sides of the river, there are teams with championship expectations and the talent to make it happen.
Coach Dave Wiggins and Diego Solares join the show to break down these programs, the players leading the way, and why these small-school contenders deserve just as much attention as the traditional power programs. Their combined coaching and scouting insight sheds real light on how good these teams truly are.
Join the YBM Club Today...
Class 3 and 4 Top Ten Power Rankings | Baseball Talk | YBMcast
Dec 03, 2025With the Winter Workout Tour right around the corner, we wanted to get an early look at the contenders for Class 3 and Class 4.
This is where it gets difficult — two of the most competitive MSHSAA classifications, filled with programs that battle every season for district titles and the opportunity to make a run to the Final Four in Ozark, MO.
Today we jump in with both feet to break down early favorites, potential risers, and the teams that could shape the 2026 high school baseball landscape.
⚾ Stay locked in with Youth Baseball Midwest—your hub fo...
Dad Coaches! The Bad, the Good, and the Importance! | The Hitting Zone | YBMcast
Dec 02, 2025Shane Eames is back inside The Hitting Zone for another great at-bat! This time he joins Mitch to talk about one of the most influential — and sometimes misunderstood — roles in youth baseball: the Dad Coach.
Drawing from their personal experiences coaching their own kids, Mitch and Shane dive into:
⚾ The good — passion, commitment, connection, and the unique bond created through coaching your child
⚾ The bad — blurred lines, expectations, parent pressure, and the challenges that come with wearing two hats
⚾ And most importantly — the value dad coaches bring to the game when they do it the right way
<...
What Goes into Successful Pitching | Ricky Meinhold Blue Jays Pitching Coordinator | YBMcast
Dec 01, 2025Ricky Meinhold is the Pitching Coordinator for the Toronto Blue Jays, and he joins the Keep Klimbing podcast with Brett Graves to discuss his journey and how he keeps klimbing to meet the challenges of pitching at the highest level of baseball. How to be successful as a pitcher takes dedication, hard work, and an understanding of what success is on the mound during a game. Nobody knows the outcome of every pitch but understanding the development process and the tools you need are at the heart of the journey to success. Taking the time to listen to people like...
Duration: 01:06:36Baseball 101 | What Are Scouts Really Looking at? Arizona Diamondback Scout Nate Birtwell | YBMcast
Nov 21, 2025Today on the Baseball 101 podcast with Darin Cissell, Arizona Diamondbacks scout Nate Birtwell joins Coach Cissell to discuss scouting methods. Knowing what goes into scouting can make the difference not only if you want to make it to the MLB, but also play at your next level. Nate Birtwell breaks down the many different facets of scouting that go into projecting players moving to the next level of baseball. So if you want to know about what scouts are looking for? This is the place to be! From high school to college, to doing the right things, the information is...
Duration: 00:44:14Baseball Talk | SEMO High School Baseball, is it being overlooked? W/ Jackson HC Josh Roach | YBMcast
Nov 20, 2025We have the Jackson High School baseball head coach joining the show to talk with us about SEMO baseball and to get an early look at his Indians program.
The Jackson Indians are no secret in Class 6 across the state of Missouri — but what about the small-school success that defines Southeast Missouri? SEMO is full of programs winning districts, making deep postseason pushes, and turning out Final Four contenders year after year.
We take a closer look at conferences, teams, and emerging programs across Southeast Missouri with Coach Roach, and talk through what the process looks li...
Baseball Talk | How Does a High School Coach Trust the Process? | YBMcast
Nov 19, 2025Willard high school head coach and YBM contributor Scott McGee joins the conversation about how a high school coach must trust the process.
We take a look at the scope of youth baseball development from the perspective of a public high school head coach.
How does a coach know what kind of instruction and development young athletes have gone through before they arrive as freshmen? What do coaches see when players first enter the program, and how can they continue to develop players who have come through various “processes” on their way to becoming effective high school base...
The Hitting Zone | The Secret Sauce! | YBMcast
Nov 18, 2025Well, we had to pivot today on The Hitting Zone podcast with Mitch Thomas today as we had a last minute cancelation. The producer of YBM Brian French jumped in the show to talk about the secret sauce of the process. We talk about building community and how we develop young athletes within that community. Core values are a huge part of any organizational success and today we talk about these values what they are and the secret sauce that is the strength of any organizations value system. We hope you enjoy the show
📲 Follow Mitch Thomas:
Ins...
Keep Klimbing | Building a Pitch Arsenal: Sinkers | YBMcast
Nov 17, 2025This week on Keep Klimbing, Brett continues building out the pitching arsenal — moving from last week’s cut fastball to one of the most effective weapons in baseball: the sinker.
Brett breaks down what makes the sinker unique, how to understand the movement profile you’re trying to achieve, and why this pitch is built on leverage, intent, and movement quality. From identifying your natural strengths to shaping the right grip, Brett shows how pitchers can create downward action, weak contact, and consistency on the mound.
He also discusses:
• How a sinker plays off your existing...
Baseball 101 | Taking the HC at FZW, Coaching Your Son & Making It All Work w/ The Sissoms | YBMcast
Nov 14, 2025In this episode of Baseball 101, Coach Darin Cissell sits down with Matt Sissom, the new Head Coach of Fort Zumwalt West, and his son Nolan, as they discuss navigating the challenges and rewards of a unique season ahead.
Coach Sissom steps into one of Missouri’s premier baseball programs — and in his first year as head coach, he’ll also be coaching his son through his final high school season before Nolan heads off to play at Mizzou.
Together, they talk about:
⚾ The emotions and expectations of taking over a successful program
👨👦 The balance between being “D...
Baseball Talk | Small School IL Baseball and the Gateway Metro | YBMcast
Nov 13, 2025We are joined by the Head Baseball Coach at Father McGivney High School in Illinois, members of the Gateway Metro Conference.
We talk with Coach Erwin about the teams to watch and who may have the inside track on the conference title and the potential to make a deep run in the Illinois state playoffs.
With McGivney making the jump to Class 2A, we’ll discuss what that means for the program and the conference as a whole — and highlight several programs that have been getting it done in Class 2 over the past few years. The comp...
Baseball Talk | Breaking Down the Process w/ Dionandre Josenberger | YBMcast
Nov 12, 2025Today on Baseball Talk, Staley Head Coach Dionandre Josenberger joins the conversation as we break down the process.
We hear this phrase a lot in sports — “Trust the process.” But what is the process, and do we really break it down in an understandable way for players, coaches, and parents?
This discussion focuses on youth development, as the landscape of recruiting continues to shift with new rules, NIL opportunities, and increased pressure at younger ages. The goal? Shifting the mindset from chasing scholarships to developing the skills, discipline, and confidence it takes to make your high school baseball team —...
The Hitting Zone | A Training Program is Just the Start! w/ Gonzo Gonzalez of Mac-N-Seitz | YBMcast
Nov 11, 2025Mitch Thomas welcomes back Gonzo Gonzalez from the Mac N Seitz Baseball Club in Kansas City, MO, for another powerful conversation on The Hitting Zone.
This time, Mitch and Gonzo dig into the real meaning behind having a training program — and why it’s only the starting point for true player development.
They break down:
⚾ Why training programs are essential for structure and growth
⚾ How one-on-one instruction branches out from that foundation
⚾ The difference-maker: a player’s personal dedication and discipline
It’s not just about the drills — it’s about the drive. The bes...
Keep Klimbing | Building a Pitch Arsenal: The Cut Fastball | YBMcast
Nov 10, 2025Brett takes the discussion to building your pitching arsenal based on your strengths and what you do best.
Brett, as always, Keeps Klimbing using his own experience to help you understand how to continue working to get yourself better. He begins by breaking down the cut fastball — what it’s supposed to do, how and when to use it, and how the pitch should spin to move in the direction you want it to go.
Grip is the key, and Brett takes a look at multiple ways to find the grip that works best for your cut...
Baseball 101 | What Really Matters? | Part 2 of 2 | YBMcast
Nov 07, 2025Coach Darin Cissell takes you back to the chalkboard this week as he continues evaluating the conversations he’s had with various high school coaches — and the lessons learned along the way.
If we’ve learned anything from these discussions, it’s that we’re never too old to learn. The best coaches keep growing — applying lessons from each season and experience to positively impact the lives of their student-athletes.
Coach Cissell continues to remind us that baseball is more than a game; it’s a classroom of life. Through these reflections, he challenges us to see the value...
Baseball Talk | Getting to Know Illinois Baseball: Edwardsville HC Tim Funkhouser | YBMcast
Nov 06, 2025We welcome Edwardsville Head Coach Tim Funkhouser, who is currently seventh on the all-time list of wins with 861 for the state of Illinois, and eighth all-time for most wins at one school with 806 at Edwardsville High School.
We are going to be discussing the state of Illinois baseball — from the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association (IHSBCA) and its role in player development, to how they are working with the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) to create the best environment for the coach/athlete relationship.
Coach Funkhouser also shares insight on programs to watch as the Ti...
Baseball Talk | How Good is the Central MO Athletic Conference? | YBMcast
Nov 05, 2025We are joined by the new head coach of Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, MO to discuss the transition from assistant to the top job. Coach Bazat is a Bruin as he also graduated from the school and played for and coached with just retired Justin Towe, MHSBCA 2025 Hall of Fame inductee.
We will have some fun taking a look at one of the better conferences in the state with MSHSAA Class 5 and 6 schools fighting it out for the title. Coach Brian Ash is back to bring his experience and perspective from central Missouri giving us a...
The Hitting Zone | The High Velocity of Content vs. The Modern Athlete. | YBMcast
Nov 04, 2025We have Cody Massey of Buzzin' Baseball, joining The Hitting Zone Podcast for another big topic that we are going to work to crush it out of the park. Are 10 second clips ruining "gamer style" players? Is too much screen time causing kids to lose basic skills, that players of yesterday developed from "Just Being a Kid."? Does the fast pace of content today, drown out the real work goes into becoming a successful athlete? Join Mitch and Cody as they take a swing at the curve balls and high velocity flow of information that modern athletes face.
📲 Fol...
Baseball Moms | Being a Youth Baseball Coach's Wife | YBMcast
Nov 01, 2025We are back with another episode with our resident baseball mom Jen Mayberry. Through the years of her son's playing youth baseball her husband has coached these teams. Jenny brings her unique perspective to today's topic and the different aspects she witnessed and experienced as the wife of a youth baseball coach.
We don't always get to hear the different circumstances that arise during a season between coach, player, and parents, but one thing is for certain—they all affect the wife and the dynamics that may carry towards the son of Coach and wife and how we ha...
Baseball 101 | What Really Matters? | Part 1 of 2 | YBMcast
Oct 31, 2025This week on Baseball 101, Coach Darin Cissell takes us back to the chalkboard to reflect on the conversations from the past several weeks with some of Missouri’s top high school coaches — and the lessons learned along the way.
If there’s one takeaway from these discussions, it’s that no matter how long we’ve been in the game, we are never done learning. Each of these coaches continues to grow, applying new lessons each season to make a lasting impact on the lives of their student-athletes.
Coach Cissell breaks down the key themes and insights shared ove...
Baseball Talk | The Loaded Southwestern Conference (IL), Who Has the Edge? | YBMcast
Oct 30, 2025We are taking our first look at one of the top conferences in IL and the teams that may be vying for the conference title and an opportunity to make a long run in the Illinois State playoffs. Edwardsville has long been the dominant team here, but O’Fallon knocked them off in the playoffs in 2025 and look loaded and ready to compete with a 2026 class that gained a ton of experience from last year. How will the Belleville squads look to compete as well as a scrappy Alton team who is bringing back a lot of arm talent — they will...
Duration: 01:00:23Baseball Talk | The Mission of the M.H.S.B.C.A. | YBMcast
Oct 29, 2025We sit down with Bryan Harmon, Executive Director, and Tony Perkins, Hall of Fame Committee and Clinic Speaker, for a look at the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association. We are going to discuss its mission and how these coaches promote the game of baseball in Missouri. What does it mean to be part of this group and have a look at the history of some of the Hall of Fame coaches that have had brilliant careers and some who are still getting it done!
📅 Mark Your Calendars — Prime Sports Midwest Demo Day!
🗓 Saturday, November 15 | Starts at 9 AM
Keep Klimbing | Trajectory of Pitching Development | YBMcast
Oct 27, 2025Today's episode of Keep Klimbing takes a look at the trajectory of pitching development and better understanding of how each pitcher has their own unique trajectory. From the movement quality and the athleticism of the individual to your strength capacity and how you produce the necessary force to produce the velocity you want. There is also the development of your pitch arsenal and the design in which you achieve the action on the pitch you are looking for, not to mention the game day execution when you take the mound. Great stuff from Brett Graves, as he continues to help...
Duration: 00:49:14Game 7 Baseball 2026 Schedule Release Show | YBMcast
Oct 23, 2025We are going to reveal the schedule for the upcoming Game 7 Baseball season. We will talk each month and tournaments you don’t want to miss. We also take a look at the venues and what is new, and some brand-new venues coming to Game 7 Baseball.
We also get a chance to hear from the directors of these different venues from around the state talking about their amenities, city, and upgrades to each park. Not to mention we will be discussing the Super 7 Series where YBM will bring the mobile studio with our Saturday at the Park feature, an...
Baseball Talk | 2027 Impact Players for the KC Suburban in 2026 | YBMcast
Oct 22, 2025We look at some teams that finished in the top 20 in 2025 and the impact of players in the 2027 class that could keep these teams in the preseason top 20 for the 2026 season. Staley HC Dionandre Josenberger joins us again to talk about these players and how deep these two divisions of the KC Suburban Conference are again this season.
Who will make an impact on the Gold and Red divisions for their teams to get an inside track for a shot at a district title? From what it looks like, we could see another Final Four contender coming from...
The Hitting Zone | World Series Pick & Everything Else | YBMcast
Oct 21, 2025Well, 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:
Keep Klimbing | Thriving in High Level Baseball Moments | YBMcast
Oct 21, 2025Once 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...
Baseball 101 | Expectations of Stepping into a Successful Program from a Hall of Fame Coach | YBMast
Oct 17, 2025We 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 thro...
Baseball Talk | Players Make a Difference | YBMcast
Oct 15, 2025We 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
📍 P...
The Hitting Zone | What the Fluff?!? Cutting Through the Baseball Noise! | YBMcast
Oct 14, 2025On 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...
Keep Klimbing | Early Off-Season Throwing w/ Cody Fick | YBMcast
Oct 13, 2025On 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 strategyKnowing when and how to ramp back upHow Premier’s Tracker App helps athletes and coaches monitor progress and performanceUnderstanding intensity levels and expected workloadWhy communication and patience matter most during the early offseasonWhether you’re a pitcher, coach, or par...
Duration: 00:34:28Baseball Moms | What’s on Mayberry’s Mind?!?: Parental Expectations vs Player Reality | YBMcast
Oct 11, 2025In 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...
Baseball 101 | College Coaching to Building a Powerhouse: Nixa HC Logan Hughes | YBMcast
Oct 10, 2025In 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 th...
Baseball Talk | Development & Competition: Legion Baseball in Missouri | YBMcast
Oct 09, 2025Chris 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...
Baseball Talk | Class 4 Conferences that Dominate the State! | YBMcast
Oct 08, 2025We 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 Cl...
The Hitting Zone | The Pitcher-Catcher Relationship /w Brett Graves | YBMcast
Oct 07, 2025Mitch Thomas is joined by Brett Graves, former MLB pitcher and host of Keep Klimbing, for a deep dive into one of the most important connections in baseball — the pitcher and catcher relationship.
Together, they talk about how that bond is built, tested, and refined through every level of the game:
⚾ How to establish trust between pitcher and catcher
⚾ The role of communication, emotion, and mindset in performance
⚾ How the relationship can make — or break — success on the field
⚾ What leadership and accountability look like inside the battery
It’s an honest and insig...
Keep Klimbing | Defining the Performance Equation w/ Nolan Rappe (Premier Pitching) | YBMcast
Oct 06, 2025• On this episode of Keep Klimbing with Brett Graves, Brett welcomes Nolan Rappe, Physical Therapist and Performance Coordinator at HQ with Premier Pitching Performance, for a deep dive into Defining the Performance Equation.
Nolan shares how Premier approaches development by blending physical care with data-driven analysis — helping players not only perform better but also stay healthier over the long haul. Together they break down:
The importance of caring for your body to minimize injury and maximize performanceHow Premier’s staff evaluates a player through their fundam...
Baseball 101 | The Coach’s Seat: Culture, Legacy & Fatherhood | YBMcast
Oct 03, 2025The Coach’s Seat: Culture, Legacy & Fatherhood In this episode of Baseball 101, Darin Cissell sits down with Coach Justin Towe, former Head Coach of Rock Bridge High School, to unpack how he transformed the program’s culture—and how his role continues even after retirement. Together, they explore:
How Coach Towe shifted Rock Bridge’s mindset and standards during his tenureWhat supporting the team looks like now that he’s retiredNavigating the challenge of being a father to a son who still plays—how roles change and the fine line between parent and coachThis conversation digs deep into legacy, relationship...
Baseball Talk | 113 Wins in First 5 Years! HC Alex Weathermon | YBMcast
Oct 02, 2025We have the Head Coach of Forsyth High School, Alex Weathermon, joining Baseball Talk. Coach Alex Weatherman has posted twenty-plus win seasons in each of his first five years as a head coach. He began at his alma mater Marionville Comets in 2021 and 2022, winning the Class 2 State Championship in his first year. From there, he made the jump to Class 6 at Lebanon High School before returning to Class 4 Forsyth for his sixth year of coaching. In this episode, we talk about:
Early coaching success and building momentumThe transition from Class 2 to Class 6 and back to Class 4Coaching philosophy and...
Baseball Talk | STL Sub: Is it a Two Division Conference? | YBMcast
Oct 01, 2025Our first look at a very top heavy conference in the StL Suburban we see the Yellow and Red divisions are going to be very competitive in 2026. The Green conference has two teams that could be tough teams in District 1 when the playoffs come. They will be the two teams vying for the conference title in the Green division. With Ladue and Pattonville we are going to have to wait and see who can step up from the underclassmen. Eureka is loaded with talent, and they are bringing back four dynamic arms in that rotation along with a senior heavy...
Duration: 00:48:13The Hitting Zone | Culture Shift in the Cardinals Clubhouse w/ Shane Eames of PHD | YBMcast
Sep 30, 2025On this episode of The Hitting Zone, Mitch Thomas is joined by Shane Eames, founder of Premier Hitting Development (PHD), to talk about the changing culture inside the St. Louis Cardinals clubhouse now that John Mozeliak (“Mo”) is leaving.What does this mean for the organization moving forward?
Mitch and Shane dive into:
⚾ Culture change — how leadership transitions impact the clubhouse and beyond.
⚾ Expectations from the top down — what standards need to be set for long-term success.
⚾ The vision — where do the Cardinals go from here, and how do they reset for the future?
This is a m...
Keep Klimbing w/ Brett Graves | The Impact of a Strong Culture with Anthony Silkwood (JSU) | YBMcast
Sep 29, 2025On this episode of Keep Klimbing with Brett Graves, Brett welcomes Anthony Silkwood, Pitching Coach at Jacksonville State, to discuss The Impact of a Strong Culture. Anthony shares how his experiences in the military and college have shaped the identity and culture of JSU’s baseball program. Together, they explore:Lessons learned in the military that translate to team mentalityBuilding an environment of accountability, trust, and identityHow culture impacts performance, retention, and legacy📲 Connect with Anthony & JSU Baseball
Anthony Silkwood → IG: @silk_wood5 | X: @Silkwood_Jax
Jacksonville State Baseball → IG: @jaxstatebb | X: @JaxStateBB
📲 Connect with...
Baseball 101 | The Building Blocks to a Successful Program: Platte County - Coach John Sipes | YBMcast
Sep 26, 2025What does it take to build a lasting, winning high school baseball program? On this episode of Baseball 101, Darin Cissell welcomes Coach John Sipes of Platte County High School to break down the foundation of success they’ve built together. Coach Sipes has guided Platte County to a 130-68 record during his tenure, and has captured two Missouri state championships (2022 & 2025) under his leadership.
At the heart of the program is a set of four core values they call L.I.D.S. — Love, Integrity, Discipline, and Selfless — and Coach Sipes and Darin explore exactly how each pillar is impleme...
Baseball Talk | Two and A Half Decades of Dominance: Vikings Baseball | YBMcast
Sep 25, 2025The Baseball 101 Podcast w/ Darin Cissell recently hosted former Francis Howell HC Terry Kasper, current HC Tony Perkins, Together, they discussed some history of Vikings baseball and talked about the different approaches to coaching and what made Howell such a success.With 4 State Championships, 3 second place finishes, 1 third and 1 fourth place finish gives them a total of nine final four appearances in this time frame. Diego Solares of Scout Connect joins us as we take the time to look through some of the history of the players that have put on the Vikings uniform and how they have managed to...
Duration: 00:43:52Baseball Talk | How Good is the KC Suburban Conference? | YBMcast
Sep 24, 2025We have the second-year head coach of the Staley Falcons joining us today on Baseball Talk to discuss the two and a half years of dominance in the state. We could be talking about the best baseball conference in the state of Missouri. We will discuss this subject with Coach Josenberger and get his thoughts on the subject as he and his squad finished second play in Class 6 behind Blue Springs South Jaguars. Oh YEAH! Both teams are from the KC Suburban Athletic Association, in particular the Gold division.
Follow Staley Baseball: X: @StaleyBaseball
⚾ Stay lo...
The Hitting Zone | Truth About Showcase Baseball w/ Diego Solares | YBMcast
Sep 23, 2025On this episode of The Hitting Zone, Mitch Thomas welcomes Diego Solares of Scout Connect for a deep dive into the world of showcase baseball—a piece of the game that continues to grow in importance for players, families, and coaches.
Showcases can be exciting opportunities, but they also come with plenty of questions:
⚾ Why is showcase baseball such a big deal?
⚾ When should an athlete start attending these events?
⚾ What are the actual benefits—and common misconceptions—around showcases?
Mitch and Diego explore how showcases fit into the player development and recruiting p...
Keep Klimbing W/ Brett Graves | Understanding the Off-Season Needs for Players | YBMcast
Sep 22, 2025On this episode of Keep Klimbing with Brett Graves, Brett dives into the offseason grind and what players need to understand to be ready when spring rolls around.
From high school to college to professional baseball, the offseason looks different at every level. Brett breaks down how to:
Understand and manage offseason schedules
Build strength and conditioning for long-term success
Balance rest, training, and preparation to enter spring fully ready
📲 Connect with Brett & Premier Pitching
Follow Brett Graves → @BrettGrave05
Follow Premier Pitching → @PremierPitching
⚾ Stay locked in with Youth Baseball Midwest—your hub...
Baseball 101 w/ Darin Cissell | 3 Generations of Coaching at One Table! | YBMcast
Sep 19, 2025When Coach Cissell was playing high school baseball, the head coach at Francis Howell was Terry Kasper, with Tony Perkins as his assistant. The Francis Howell program has been a powerhouse for decades, and Coach Perkins is now on track to become the all-time winningest coach in Missouri high school baseball. This episode dives into the legacy: how it started under Kasper, the elite talent that has come through the program, and the continued success under Perkins. Coach Cissell reflects on his time playing for these men and his experience coaching alongside Perkins for 20+ years.
Baseball 101 is on...
Baseball Talk | Getting to Know High School Baseball in Southwest Missouri | YBMcast
Sep 18, 2025We have the Head Coach of the Willard Tigers baseball program in his 19th season with 2 State Championships, 3 third place, and 1 fourth place finish, along with 9 District Championships. Coach McGee has built a powerhouse program in the southwest and we are happy to have him join the show to bring his knowledge about that part of the state and the baseball being played year in and year out. We are going to be taking a look at some of the conferences and teams you may have not heard of before, but nonetheless are some of the best programs in the...
Duration: 00:43:56Baseball Talk | Collegiate Summer Baseball | YBMcast
Sep 17, 2025We welcome the commissioner of the Prospect League David Brauer, comprised of 18 teams across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania. We appreciate Commissioner Brauer for taking the time to come on the show and talk about the league. We wanted to take the time to find out what it takes to run a league like this that provides the level of baseball college players need to continue to develop their skills and they continue their journey to reach the goal of being an MLB player.
Follow the Prospect League:
Website: prospectleague.com
YouTube: @ProspectLeagueBaseball<...
The Hitting Zone | Breaking Down Prep Baseball Missouri’s 2027 Top 10 Local Players | YBMcast
Sep 16, 2025On this episode of The Hitting Zone, Mitch Thomas takes a closer look at the local talent featured in Prep Baseball Missouri’s most recent 2027 Top 10 Players list.
⚾ Who made the list?
⚾ What makes these players stand out at such a young age?
⚾ What does this say about the future of Missouri baseball?
Mitch dives into the names, the tools, and the upside of these players as we continue to highlight the talent and development coming out of Missouri
.📲 Follow Mitch Thomas:
Instagram: @_mtsperformance
Twitter/X: @TheHittingZoneSTL
⚾ Stay locked in wit...
Keep Klimbing w/ Brett Graves | Building Identity and Culture | YBMcast
Sep 14, 2025On this episode of Keep Klimbing with Brett Graves, Brett goes solo to talk about the importance of building team identity and culture — and how the same principles apply to the work being done at Premier Pitching Performance.
From the field to the training facility, culture defines who you are and what you stand for. Brett breaks down why establishing identity matters, how it impacts long-term success, and what players, coaches, and organizations can learn from the way Premier builds its own environment of growth and accountability.
⚾ About Keep Klimbing Hosted by former MLB pitcher Brett Grav...
The Return of the Baseball Mom's w/Jen Mayberry | YBMcast
Sep 13, 2025Yes that is correct Jen Mayberry is back our resident baseball mom who has been with us since 2019 and now just recorded her 35th episode of the Baseball Mom's podcast and will be out at the ballparks talking baseball and sharing her thoughts as she moves through fall ball talking with other mom's, rating the concession stands and just droppin' the knowledge from the mom's perspective. We are happy to have Jen as part of the YBM family and her contributions to the baseball conversation. Make sure you follow Jen as we continue to talk baseball from the Mom's point...
Duration: 00:15:20Baseball 101 w/ Darin Cissell | Building Culture and Passing it On | YBMcast
Sep 12, 2025Former Head Coach of the Fort Zumwalt West Jaguars joins the program and brings over 25 years of coaching and 300+ wins to discuss building culture and passing it on to the next generation of coaches. Coach Gough and Coach Cissell have quite the history as these two group up together and have been friends for many years. Both played for Terry Kasper who became a member of the MHSBCA Hall of Fame in 2008 and Coach Perkins when he was an Assistant for Kasper before taking over as the Head Coach.
So, as we take a look over the career...
Baseball Talk | Navigating the Fall! | YBMcast
Sep 11, 2025We are joined by our contributor Diego Solares of Scout Connect to talk about the subject of the week, how to navigate the fall. We bring to the discussion the different age groups and how elementary ages could look at fall ball as opposed to middle school ages. Then when you talk about the high school group that become a whole other topic when you begin to deal with the recruiting question. We have talked about purpose and intent and when you bring these questions to the table, we believe that the questions should become easy to answer. However, you...
Duration: 00:40:22Baseball Talk | Central Missouri Baseball | YBMcast
Sep 10, 2025Today we welcome Head Coach Brian Ash from Southern Boone high school in Ashland, MO. Coach Ash has more than 400 wins and is a three time state champion and the only coach to win championships in three different MSHSAA Classifications. Kevin Moulder Prep Baseball Missouri Scouting Director joining as always to bring his perspective to the conversation. We are going to be discussion Central Missouri Baseball today and the different conferences and classifications that make up one the best regions for high school baseball in the state. We will also look at the opportunities of the some of the new...
Duration: 00:50:14The Hitting Zone | Fall Ball - What's Your Purpose? | YBMcast
Sep 09, 2025The same fall ball questions come around each year and we are going to discuss this topic for as long as there is youth baseball. Every year kids around the country begin to play baseball in Coach pitch, tee ball, or machine pitch leagues. So, what are the steps we need to take for our children in baseball? I think we need to ask why we are playing fall ball and determine what is good for the athlete and why the athlete is playing and what purpose does it serve. This question will always be relevant as kids continue to...
Duration: 00:24:25Baseball 101 / Darin Cissell | Defining Culture: Nick Beckmann | YBMcast
Sep 05, 2025On this episode of Baseball 101 with Darin Cissell, we’re joined by Nick Beckmann, Head Coach at Francis Howell Central.
They dive into the importance of shaping a program’s culture — how it defines team success, influences player development, and builds lasting impact both on and off the field.
📲 Stay connected with Darin Cissell:
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Baseball Talk | Nobody Cares How Hard You Throw Ball Four! Stop with the Social Trolling!! | YBMcast
Sep 04, 2025Webster Groves Head Coach and Senior Director at RBC, Dave Wiggins, joins the program to discuss a topic we both engaged on social media a short time ago. The post read "nobody cares how hard you throw ball four!" Is this true? I have said for some time that we should not make blanket statements that are subject to more thorough conversation. So Coach Wiggins and I decided that we would talk about this statement and have a conversation that will look at all the aspects of pitching and where velocity fits into the overall picture of pitching development from...
Duration: 00:38:47Baseball Talk | New Head Coaches in Missouri | YBMcast
Sep 03, 2025Today we are going to take a look at some new head coaches in the state of Missouri taking over programs at the high school level. Not to mention moving on into the college ranks for one former Falcon head coach. Taking on the head coaching position at any level is always a commitment, being prepared to develop young athletes not only on the field but off the field as well.
We have Dave Wiggins joining us on Baseball Talk today as he has been in these shoes as the head coach at Webster Groves High School and...
The Hitting Zone | Cardinals Management Heat & the Growing Role of Data w/ Andrew Keck | YBMcast
Sep 02, 2025On this episode of The Hitting Zone, Mitch Thomas sits down with Andrew Keck, founder of AK12 Sports Group, for a compelling breakdown of two major conversation lines in the game today:
Heat on St. Louis Cardinals Management — the drama, the scrutiny, and what’s next for the organization.
The Role of Data & Analytics in Baseball — from how it’s shaping on-field performance to transforming coaching strategy.Andrew brings a unique perspective grounded in elite player development, and Mitch leans into how baseball’s future is being built at the intersection of tradition and technology.
📲 Fol...
Baseball Talk | Who Got Drafted? Missouri Players in the 2025 MLB Draft | YBMcast
Aug 20, 2025We want to walk through the players who were drafted in the 2025 MLB Draft from the state of Missouri. We want to take a look at who we may see in the Show! And the chances they have to succeed at the next level. We will walk through the high school and college players drafted into the highest level of baseball and maybe we will see the next superstar from the state of Missouri at a big-league park near you!
🔗 Follow Kevin Moulder & Prep Baseball Missouri:X: @PrepBaseballMOInstagram: prepbaseballmo📲 Follow Youth Baseball Midwest:YouTube: @YouthBaseballMidwestX: @YBM_castInstagram: @youthbaseballmidwestFacebook: Youth...
The Hitting Zone w/ Mitch Thomas | Breaking Through the Noise with Josh Cathcart | YBMcast
Aug 19, 2025On this episode of The Hitting Zone, Mitch Thomas is joined by Josh Cathcart, founder of Hitting Done Right, a premier hitting development platform dedicated to helping players cut through the noise of social media and actually make progress at the plate. Josh and Mitch talk about how today’s players, coaches, and parents can identify real value in online instruction, where hitting development is headed, and how social media can be used as a tool for growth instead of a distraction.
🔥 A must-watch conversation for anyone serious about player development and hitting success.
📲 Follow Mitch Thomas:
Keep Klimbing with Brett Graves | New Partnership Announcement: Boost App | YBMcast
Aug 18, 2025Big news in the world of baseball development! In this episode of Keep Klimbing, Brett Graves announces an exciting new partnership between Premier Pitching Performance and Scout Connect, founded by Diego Solares — all centered around Premier’s brand-new Boost App.
What is the Boost App?
Boost is a powerful new web app designed to provide a wide variety of solutions for baseball players:
⚾ View your data from trainings and assessments
📥 Download FREE bonus content
🎓 Access education and certification courses anytime
💻 Available at boost.premierpitching.com
Brett dives into what this means for player deve...
Baseball Talk | Mid-South Regional Championships Preview | YBMcast
Aug 05, 2025We’re diving into one of the biggest events on the summer baseball calendar — the American Legion Mid-South Regional Championships, hosted at Ronsick Field in Washington, Missouri!
🎙️ Kent Getsee joins Mitch Thomas to talk all things Missouri American Legion Baseball — including a look back at the 2025 season, major growth across the state, and how Zone 3 has emerged as one of the most competitive in the region.
We also spotlight what it takes to bring this event to life — from coordinating 8 elite teams from 7 states to managing the behind-the-scenes logistics that make championship baseball happen. Shoutout to Trent Hendric...
Baseball Talk | Mid-South Regional Championships Preview | YBMcast
Aug 05, 2025We’re diving into one of the biggest events on the summer baseball calendar — the American Legion Mid-South Regional Championships, hosted at Ronsick Field in Washington, Missouri!
🎙️ Kent Getsee joins Mitch Thomas to talk all things Missouri American Legion Baseball — including a look back at the 2025 season, major growth across the state, and how Zone 3 has emerged as one of the most competitive in the region.
We also spotlight what it takes to bring this event to life — from coordinating 8 elite teams from 7 states to managing the behind-the-scenes logistics that make championship baseball happen. Shoutout to Trent Hendrickson and Joe Buehl...
Keep Klimbing w/ Brett Graves | Winding Down Your Summer Cycle | YBMcast
Aug 04, 2025On this episode of Baseball Talk, we welcome back Kevin Moulder, Director of Scouting at Prep Baseball Missouri, to dive into two of the hottest topics in the summer baseball circuit:
⚾ American Legion Mid-South Regional
Today on Keep Klimbing, Brett Graves talks through the importance of closing out your summer baseball cycle the right way — physically, mentally, and developmentally.
Whether you played in the PCDL, logged innings in a summer league, or traveled on the showcase circuit, how you finish matters. Brett shares insight into:
⚾ Evaluating your s...
Baseball Talk | Mid-South Regional Preview & Future Games Recap | YBMcast
Jul 30, 2025On this episode of Baseball Talk, we welcome back Kevin Moulder, Director of Scouting at Prep Baseball Missouri, to dive into two of the hottest topics in the summer baseball circuit:
⚾ American Legion Mid-South Regional
📅 August 6–10 | 📍 Washington, MO
We preview the field and highlight the Missouri teams ready to make some noise on the regional stage.
🔥 Prep Baseball Future Games Recap
The premier uncommitted showcase just wrapped up this past weekend — Kevin shares his thoughts on standout performances, rising stock, and what this means for Misso...
Keep Klimbing with Brett Graves | What is the P.C.D.L.? | YBMcast
Jul 28, 2025In this solo episode, Brett Graves goes all in on answering the question: “What is the P.C.D.L.?”
As the founder of the Premier Collegiate Development League, Brett shares the vision behind creating a league built for the players. He breaks down:
⚾ Why he started the PCDL
🎯 The goals of the league
🚧 The gap it fills in collegiate summer development
📈 How it’s helping athletes sharpen their skills in a competitive, consistent, and high-level environment
If you’ve ever wondered what makes the PCDL different — this is the episode to wat...
Baseball Talk w/ Diego Solares & Chris Erwin | Playing High School Baseball | YBMcast
Jul 23, 2025Chris Erwin joins the Baseball Talk podcast to discuss Playing High School Baseball and how we are preparing our young athletes to compete at that level. Today’s youth sports have a dramatically different approach than their former iterations of the past. Baseball in this case has one of the more dramatic shifts over the past twenty years from the dirt fields of the local association to the synthetic turf of tournament baseball. How has this changed the landscape of high school baseball and are we going to see more changes, or will we see the pendulum swing back towards so...
Duration: 01:02:13Baseball Talk | Missouri American Legion Championship Preview | YBMcast
Jul 17, 2025In tonight’s episode of Baseball Talk, we’re getting you ready for one of the biggest weeks of the summer in Missouri American Legion Baseball.
We’re joined by:
👤 Kyle Zimmerman, Head Coach – Smith-Cotton (Sedalia, MO)
👤 Brandon Boyer, Head Coach – Moberly (Moberly, MO)
Here’s what we’re covering:
⚾ 15U & 17U State Championships
Full bracket breakdowns
Key teams to watch
⚾ 19U Zone Previews
Zone 1, 2, & 4 contenders
Dark horses and top-tier talent
What’s on the line heading into the State Tournament in Sedalia
📢 D...
Keep Klimbing with Brett Graves | Understanding Signability | YBMcast
Jul 14, 2025📺 Presented by Youth Baseball Midwest
Former MLB Draft pick and longtime coach Darin Cissell joins Brett Graves once again for a powerful conversation about one of the most misunderstood parts of the scouting and draft process:
👉 Signability — what it means, why it matters, and how it can shape a player’s future.
Whether you're a parent, player, or coach, this episode breaks down how scouts evaluate not just talent — but timing, value, and commitment. If you're aiming for the next level, this is essential listening.
💬 Get the inside perspective from two guys who’ve been on both sid...
Scouting Opportunities for Young Players and Summer Baseball | YBMcast Baseball Talk w/Diego Solares
Jul 10, 2025Diego Solares of Scout Connect droppin' knowledge for us here on Baseball Talk! We get into some questions about scouting young players and the opportunities that exist right here in the metro area and how far are you traveling to get seen by who? Finding the right place to play for your team is critical to get your players in front of the right people for recruiting purposes. So, summer baseball is not so easy and picking where you play can be decided by helping your athletes understand their own abilities and where they are in their development process.
<...
Summer Scouting & Missouri American Legion Baseball | YBMcast Baseball Talk w/Kevin Moulder
Jul 09, 2025Today we talk about the summer scouting circuit with Kevin Moulder, director of scouting for Prep Baseball in Missouri. We get our first look at the players that have made the roster for the upcoming 2025 PBR Future Games. It is the centennial season for American Legion Baseball, and we have taken the opportunity to talk about some standout players for the latest Scout Day's for Legion Baseball players held in Warrensburg, MO, and at St Charles Community College a couple weeks ago. Along with a quick preview of some teams we think will make another run at the Missouri American...
Duration: 00:45:10Legion Baseball Talk | YBMcast
Jul 03, 2025In today’s episode of Baseball Talk, we’re looking ahead to two major events on the Missouri Legion Baseball calendar:
📅 2025 Triple-A State Championships
🗓️ July 24–27 | 📍 Sedalia, Missouri
📡 Live streamed by Youth Baseball Midwest
📅 Mid-South Classic
🗓️ August 6–10 | 📍 Washington, Missouri
📡 Live streamed by Youth Baseball Midwest
🔥 Top Legion teams from the region battling for bragging rights!
After that, we roll out our latest 19U Power Rankings — who’s climbing, who’s sliding, and what to watch for as championship season closes in. Plus, we talk about the impact of live streaming and how it’s helping elevate the Le...
The Hitting Zone with Mitch Thomas | Training: Why It’s Important to the Game. | YBMcast
Jul 02, 2025In this episode of The Hitting Zone, host Mitch Thomas breaks down the role of training — and why it’s absolutely essential to every part of a player’s success.
⚾ What does effective training really look like?
⚾ How can players translate practice to performance?
⚾ Why is training just as much mental as it is physical?
Recorded live at CarShield Field, this episode dives into how quality training shapes athletes at every level, from mindset to mechanics — and why skipping the grind is never an option for those who want to level up.
📺 Subscribe to @Yout...
Keep Klimbing w/ Brett Graves | Getting Started with Pitching Training | YBMcast
Jun 30, 2025Ready to take your first step on the mound? In this episode, former MLB pitcher Brett Graves breaks down the essential first moves in pitching development — inspired by Premier Pitching’s latest blog:
👉 Getting Started with Pitching Training in 2025
We’re talking about how to build a solid training base in 2025:
⚾ Identifying your starting point — and what matters early
🧠 Understanding workload, mechanics, and recovery
🔁 Why movement prep is crucial before you ever throw a pitch
📈 Setting realistic, performance-driven goals
Whether you're a player, coach, or parent, this episode gives you the framework to start dev...
Baseball Talk w/ Diego Solares -Scout Connect | Recruiting Criteria | YBMcast
Jun 26, 2025With over 16.7 million kids playing baseball and softball in the U.S., and according to MLB.com over 8.9 million kids are participating on a casual basis which is at an all-time high. With that being said what are our goals with you baseball? From elementary to middle school to high school, we have kids playing the national pastime. How many of these kids truly want to play college baseball? How many of these kids are good enough to play Division I baseball? Club baseball has been built around sending your player to play college baseball on a scholarship.
...
PCDL Premier Player Spotlights | Week 2 | YBMcast
Jun 25, 2025We’re two weeks into the Premier Collegiate Development League (PCDL), and the talent is already making waves. Earlier this week, we caught up with several standout players at CarShield Field to hear about their early-season mindset, goals, and takeaways.
This week’s Premier Player Spotlights include interviews with:
⭐ Nick Mullinax
⭐ Luke Wright
⭐ Anthony Gura
⭐ Sean Raucher
⭐ Dominic Horn
Get a behind-the-scenes look at these rising athletes and their PCDL experience, as they reflect on personal development, team culture, and the drive to compete.
📍 Recorded at CarShield Field – O'Fallon, MO
🎥 Powered b...
Missouri Baseball Talk | MHSBCA All-Star Recap + Players of the Year | YBMcast
Jun 18, 2025This week on Missouri Baseball Talk, we’re recapping a huge weekend of high school baseball action from the MHSBCA All-Star Games. From standout players to memorable moments, we break down everything you need to know from this premier summer event.
We’re also joined by special guests Coach Dave Hix, Senior All-Star Series Chair, and Coach Brian Ash, MHSBCA Committee Member, who bring their insight and behind-the-scenes perspective from this year’s games.
Plus, we highlight the MHSBCA Players of the Year for Classes 1 through 6, and reveal the overall State Player of the Year — honoring the top...
The Hitting Zone | The 4 F's To Success | YBMcast
Jun 17, 2025In this episode of The Hitting Zone, Mitch Thomas unpacks a powerful mental framework for athletes: The 4 F’s to Success — Focus, Flush It, Forget It, and Fight.
These four principles aren’t just about baseball — they’re about building the mindset needed to face adversity, stay in the moment, and compete at your highest level.
⚾ Learn how to:
Focus on what you can control
Flush It when something goes wrong
Forget It to move forward with confidence
Fight through the challenge with grit and intent
Whether you’re at the plate or in life, th...
Keep Klimbing with Brett Graves | Transitioning from High School to Summer Baseball | YBMcast
Jun 16, 2025In this episode of Keep Klimbing, former MLB pitcher Brett Graves dives into a crucial stage in a young athlete’s journey — the transition from high school baseball into summer ball. Whether you're stepping into a new team, navigating different competition levels, or figuring out how to stand out, Brett shares key insights and tips to help players adjust, grow, and keep climbing toward their goals.
⚾ Real talk. Honest advice. No shortcuts.
🧢 Brought to you by Youth Baseball Midwest
📅 Set your reminder and tune in at 5 PM CST!
#KeepKlimbing #BrettGraves #YBMcast #YouthBaseballMidwest #SummerBaseball #HighSchoolBaseball #PlayerDevelo...
Illinois Baseball Talk - ISHA Championship Recap & Preview | YBMcast
Jun 12, 2025The road to the title continues! 🏆
We’re recapping an exciting weekend of action with shoutouts to your new State Champs:
🥇 1A – Ottawa (Marquette)
🥇 2A – Springfield (Sacred Heart-Griffin)
Now, all eyes are on the 3A & 4A contenders as they gear up for Final Four Friday and Championship Saturday. Who’s taking the crown next?
🎙️Join us on #BaseballTalk as we break it all down and get you ready for the final showdown.
🎧Listen now and stay in the know!
#YBMcast #IllinoisBaseball #IHSA #BaseballTalk #StateChamps #FinalFourFriday #ChampionshipSaturday #YouthBaseballMidwest
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Missouri Baseball Talk - MSHSAA State Championship Wrap Up| YBMcast
Jun 11, 2025The 2025 MSHSAA State Championships are in the books and Champions crowned! Watch along as, Kevin Moulder of Prep Baseball, joins us as we recap the action from last week and walk through the semifinals and championship games for classes 1-6!
Congratulations to all the teams for all their hard work this season!
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The Hitting Zone | Development: What Does it Really Mean? | YBMcast
Jun 10, 2025⚾ 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.
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Illinois Baseball Talk - ISHA Super Sixteen State Championship Preview | YBMcast
Jun 06, 2025Our mobile studio is out at Ozark Mountain Sports Complex! Its State Championship Season in the midwest, joining us via the Prime Sports Midwest Call in link is Scout Connects very own Diego Solares. Tune in as we take a look at the Illinois State Super Sixteen Championship for classes 1A & 2A, as well as preview Sectionals for classes 3A & 4A!
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Keep Klimbing w/ Brett Graves | How to Handle the Heightened Environment. | YBMcast
Jun 05, 2025Brett Graves shares his memories on his trip to the Big Four MSHSAA Championship in 2011. In this episode we discuss the topic of handling the environment of playing in a championship level game. When we are put in these situations how do we handle the moment and what is it that separates winning and losing in these moments. It is championship week and many players around the state will be wondering about the what if's, and a very few will be celebrating the pinnacle of winning it all.
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Illinois Baseball Talk - IHSA Sectional Semifinals | YBMcast
May 29, 2025Well, the playoffs are in full swing, and we are talking about sectional semifinals and who will be the teams to head to the sectional finals. Diego Solares brings the knowledge about these teams throughout central and southern Illinois and who he thinks has a chance to come out on top and head to the Sectional finals that will determine the Big Four in the State Championship bracket.
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Missouri Baseball Talk – MSHSAA State Quarterfinals | YBMcast
May 28, 2025The MSHSAA State Quarterfinals are set for every Class! With Class 1 and 2 beginning today, Class 3 and 4 will be played on the 29th. Class 5 and 6 will begin their best of three series on May 30th with the first game and then will play on the 31st, and if necessary, a final game on that same day to determine who goes to the Big Four playoffs! We have everything you need to get ready for a great week of baseball leading up to the Big Four in every Class.
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Illinois Baseball Talk | Week 9: Sectionals are HERE!! | YBMcast
May 22, 2025Diego Solares of Scout Connect Baseball is back in the house to join the Youth Baseball Midwest cast of contributors, covering Illinois high school baseball and wherever it takes us next! In this week's show we talk Sectionals! Join us as we walk though all 4 classes in the state of Illinois, and give our predictions on who we think is going to come out on top!
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Missouri Baseball Talk | Week 9: Who's Coming out of Districts on Top? | YBMcast
May 21, 2025Today we are going to look at Class 6 and Class 5 to see who we believe will make it to the field of 8 with a chance to move on to the MSHSAA State Championship top four. We have 8 districts in each class with eight teams per class. With a few of these districts holding multiple top twenty teams. That means some of the top teams will not get the opportunity to move on to the field of 8 where a best 2 out of 3 series awaits these teams for the first time in Missouri baseball playoff history. We are ready to cover the...
Duration: 00:43:29The Hitting Zone | Why are We Posting Tryouts in May?!?! | YBMcast
May 20, 2025Tryouts…Posted in May? 👀 Mitch Thomas is back in The Hitting Zone to take on one of youth baseball’s hottest—and more controversial—topics. Are we helping players... or rushing the process?
This episode dives into the timing of tryouts, the pressure on players and parents, and how early decisions might be affecting development at every level. If you're in the youth baseball world, this is a conversation you can’t afford to miss.
🔥 Real talk. No fluff. Let's open the conversation.
🎧 Watch now & join the discussion.
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Keep Klimbing w/ Brett Graves | How Do You Build a Routine? | YBMcast
May 19, 2025What separates good pitchers from great ones? 👀 Consistency. In this episode of Keep Klimbing, Brett Graves dives into the building blocks of a strong in-season routine—from daily workouts and recovery habits to nutrition and mental focus. Whether you're grinding through a full schedule or just trying to stay sharp, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you stay competitive all season long.
Get your mindset right. Lock in your routine. Let’s Keep Klimbing.
🎧 Listen now & subscribe for more pitching performance content.
#KeepKlimbing #YBMcast #pitching #routines #mentalgame #nutrition #baseballtraining
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