Sinopsis
Everything Fastpitch is a podcast hosted by Coach Tory Acheson and Coach Don McKinlay. If you are interested in the recruiting process, tips on how to better your game and everything Fastpitch Softball this is the podcast for you!
Episodios
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Approaching an umpire / Changes in women's athletics / Crack or scratched bats / Practice communication
25/03/2026 Duración: 40minCoach Tory and Coach Don preview episode 413 of Everything Fast Pitch, thank Patreon supporters, and highlight “Did You Know” that Florida State’s Isa Torres set an NCAA Division I record with 16 consecutive hits. The city of the week is Houston, Texas. They answer a listener question about the best way to request clarification from an umpire, emphasizing calm, specific, rule-based questions rather than emotional confrontation. In the leadoff segment they reflect on how dramatically women’s athletics and technology have changed since the 1960s–1990s, citing growth in size, skill, and athleticism in sports like basketball and softball. The cleanup topic urges stopping “crack or scratch” bat posts and accepting that composite bats inevitably crack and break. The coaching tip stresses practicing and prioritizing defensive communication to avoid missed popups and injuries, and they tease a future interview on body language and the mental game.Support the show
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Help with players ignoring instructions / Interview about recruiting and a new app / Body Language
18/03/2026 Duración: 01h16minCoach Tory and Coach Don preview episode 412, thank patrons, and share USA Softball Hall of Fame news honoring Monica Abbott and the Raybestos Brakettes. City of the Week is Madison, Wisconsin, and a Player of the Week recognized for work ethic and leadership. Tory answers a listener question about 10U players ignoring instructions, discussing accountability, consequences, and today’s team-hopping culture. The main segment is an interview with Tiffany Deering (former Michigan national champion) about Athletic Placement Services (APS), a new app-based recruiting hub that matches athletes with schools, streamlines emailing from personal Gmail, integrates YouTube/X, provides engagement analytics, camp searches, and roster/portal data, with a free promo through August. The coaching tip emphasizes modeling, practicing, and rewarding positive body language.If people want to take advantage of the Promo from APS going on until end of August they can: 1- Go to apsrecruits.com 2- create an account using email or google
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Opinions from other podcasters / Time-Limit games and wasted time / Coaches self-evaluation tool
12/03/2026 Duración: 59minCoach Tory and Coach Don preview episode 411 and note that UCLA’s Kelly Inouye-Perez has become the winningest coach in UCLA softball history. City of the week is Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A listener asks why Liberty isn’t ranked in the D1 softball poll; they explain Liberty is still a mid-major, has played a very tough early schedule, and may rise later. Part two of an interview with Ken Krause and Jay Bolden (From the Coach’s Mouth) covers a pitching/catching shortage driven by too many teams, limited work ethic, overuse of top young pitchers, and parent expectations, emphasizing practice over excessive games and overuse injuries. The cleanup segment critiques time-limit games and wasted time from huddles, celebrations, and arguing. The coaching tip promotes a head coach self-evaluation tool across key categories.Support the show
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Pitcher Warm-Up Time / Podcaster Interview / It's Not "D1 or Bust" / Have a Practice Plan
04/03/2026 Duración: 59minCoach Tory and Coach Don open episode 410 with a show rundown. Tory issues corrections: when last week’s undefeated Power Four teams segment released, North Carolina and Grand Canyon were also unbeaten. This week’s City of the Week is Spartanburg, South Carolina, citing USC Upstate, nearby JUCOs, and the Tiger River softball complex. Player of the Week is a player recognized for commitment and rapid improvement despite little prior experience. Listener question asks how long pitchers should warm up; they stress that “ready” means able to locate every expected pitch (not just feeling loose), that travel-ball uncertainty can tempt corner-cutting, and that pitcher plans and honest fatigue communication help. The lead-off segment begins with part one of an interview with Ken Krause and Jay Bolden of the “From the Coach’s Mouth” podcast: Ken coached travel ball ~15 years, shifted to full-time lessons; Jay is an educator who entered softball via a JV opening, played men’s fastpitch, coached travel/high school, and
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Shifts in Division 1 Recruiting / "Non-Parent Coaches" / Rotating Players Every Inning / Picking a Bat
26/02/2026 Duración: 43minCoach Tory and Coach Don preview and record Everything Fast Pitch episode 409 via Zoom, highlighting a listener-driven show and thanking supporters on patreon.com/everythingfastpitch. In the warmup “Did You Know,” they note three Division I undefeated teams at the time of recording—Tennessee, Florida, and Alabama—and discuss SEC strength and ongoing top-team dominance. The city of the week is Huntsville, Alabama, with mention of strong softball in the area, UAH’s Division II success, and local universities. Player of the week is Bronwyn Conroy (College of Charleston), recognized as rookie of the week after a standout week including five runs, nine hits, three RBIs, and multiple stolen bases; they share Don’s prior familiarity with her and invite more nominations via email. The equipment tip promotes Square Cuts training discs (FastPitchPrep.com), priced at $49.95 per dozen, with YouTube demos and varied uses beyond hitting. A listener question asks how transfers, extra eligibility, and NIL may shift Division
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More on field coaches in college / Sports Illustrated Article / Sara Mosley Interview / Batting Practice
18/02/2026 Duración: 01h24minCoach Tory and Coach Don welcome you to Episode 408 of Everything Fast Pitch. In “Did You Know,” they cover an NCAA rule change allowing all institutional staff in baseball/softball to provide technical and tactical instruction through the end of the current season, noting it may widen the gap between well-funded “super schools” and smaller programs. A listener question addresses a Sports Illustrated article about Texas Tech and the Matador Club, explaining NIL/tampering loopholes where collectives can contact players even when coaches cannot, and discussing how agents and NIL have changed recruiting. The lead-off segment is Part 2 of Tory’s interview with former Georgia standout and pro player Sara Mosley, who recounts her determination to play at Georgia, a showcase moment after being doubted by Coach Tony, her high school adversity (broken hips, two knee surgeries, and her father Bob Mosley’s death junior year), and how those experiences reshaped her purpose. She describes COVID-era disruptions at Georgi
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Prioritize Player Development / Sara Mosley Interview / Anna Nickel of GameChanger Interview / Practice the difficult
11/02/2026 Duración: 01h32minIn this action-packed episode of Everything Fast Pitch by Fast Pitch Prep, Coach Tory and Coach Don cover multiple topics. They introduce the City of the Week and Player of the Week and discuss the feedback from a listener about the importance of prioritizing player development over playing games. In their lead-off segment, they highlight the Professional Softball League's new minor league system. The episode features part one of an interview with Sara Mosley, a former All American at Georgia, who now plays professionally. Sara discusses influential people in her life. The cleanup segment includes an insightful chat with Anna Nickel, Senior Marketing Manager from Game Changer, who explains the numerous new features enhancing the app, such as game insights, replay capabilities, and lineup recommendations. The coaching tip of the week emphasizes the need for players to practice hitting the difficult pitches they are likely to face in games.Support the show
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Coaching a skill you are weak at / Skipping Practices for Games / Backing Up is not optional
04/02/2026 Duración: 01h27sIn episode 406 of Everything Fast Pitch by Fast Pitch Prep, Coach Tory and Coach Don delve into several listener-driven topics and provide insights into effective softball coaching and team management strategies. The lead-off segment tackles a query from a high school coach looking to improve his pitching coaching skills. The hosts advise taking advantage of online resources, developing a collaborative relationship with players, and maintaining a positive coaching attitude even if expertise isn't fully developed.In the cleanup segment, they address whether it's acceptable for players to skip team practices to play in other tournaments. Both coaches stress the importance of team practices for skill development and team cohesion, highlighting that skipping practices undermines team performance and individual growth. The coaching tip of the week focuses on ensuring players consistently back up plays during games. The coaches share strategies for making this a habit, including the importance of drills,
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College Camp Challenges for multi-position players /Interview with new podcasters / Model Good Behavior
28/01/2026 Duración: 01h07minThis episode of Everything Fast Pitch by Fast Pitch Prep features Coach Tory and Coach Don discussing several engaging segments. They cover the 'Did You Know' with preseason D1 softball rankings and emphasize the dominance of teams like Oklahoma, Texas Tech, and Texas. The episode also highlights Houston, Mississippi as the City of the Week and a Player of the Week. The equipment tip focuses on the Square Cuts Training Discs. A listener question addresses college camp challenges for a player who is both a utility player and a pitcher. The main segment is an interview with Samarra and Rob Dalrymple about their new podcast, DSPN Softball Central Podcast, focusing on recruiting, player development, and insights from various guests. The coaching tip of the week stresses the importance of modeling good behavior after several troubling incidents involving parents and coaches in youth sports.Support the show
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Judging Coaches / D1 Softball with Justin McLeod / Coaches, you can't do it by yourself
21/01/2026 Duración: 01h07minIn this week's episode of Everything Fast Pitch by Fast Pitch Prep, Coaches Tory and Don record their 404th episode, packed with insightful content. The warmup segment reveals news about AUSL professional softball team locations, including the Durham Blaze, Portland Cascade, Chicago Bandits, Utah Talents, Texas Volts, and Oklahoma City Spark. Additionally, they celebrate Ames, Iowa, as the City of the Week and a Player of the Week. The equipment tip of the week highlights the square cuts training discs, praised for their ability to provide immediate feedback to players. The listener question addresses whether coaches are truly bad or just not meeting parental expectations, emphasizing the importance of aligning expectations with reality. In the lead-off segment, part two of Tory's interview with Justin McLeod from D1 Softball dives deep into the upcoming 2026 Division 1 season, discussing potential breakout teams, strong conferences, and the impact of key transfers, including Texas Tech's new a
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Discussion with Justin McLeod of D1Softball / What is "Recruiting Evaluation Period"? / What to prioritize in practices
14/01/2026 Duración: 01h04minIn this episode of 'Everything Fast Pitch' by Fast Pitch Prep, Coaches Tory and Don discuss a variety of topics. They begin with a warmup segment that includes 'Did You Know?', city of the week, player of the week, equipment tip of the week, and a listener question that dives into the rise of elite Division I pitchers. The main segment features part one of an interview with Justin McLeod from D1 Softball, focusing on the upcoming college softball season and the state of professional softball. The discussion covers both Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) and the Professional Softball League (PSL), detailing their impacts and recent developments. Further segments include a talk on the recruiting evaluation period and a coaching tip on prioritizing team practices when practice time is limited. Support the show
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Do college coaches use geography in recruiting? / Preparing for the season / Getting into umpiring / Focus on what to do right
07/01/2026 Duración: 39minIn this week's episode of Everything Fast Pitch, Coach Tory and Coach Don connect to record episode 402, marking the beginning of the 2026 season. The discussion covers several key segments, including the warmup segment featuring City of the Week (Charlotte, NC), Player of the Week and an equipment tip about Square Cuts training discs, and an intriguing listener question. The lead-off segment focuses on players' preparation for the spring season, stressing the importance of self-care and conditioning. The clean-up topic addresses how a listener can get started in umpiring. The coaching tip of the week emphasizes coaching players to achieve their goals rather than focusing on avoiding mistakes. Support the show
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Looking into the future for 2026
31/12/2025 Duración: 11minIn this New Year's Week mini episode of 'Everything Fast Pitch' by Fast Pitch Prep, the focus is on the outlook for 2026 in college softball. Coach Tory reflects on the growing viewership and success of the Women's College World Series and other softball events in the past year, questioning how much bigger the sport can get. Topics discussed include the impact of financial investment by schools, particularly around facilities and name, image, and likeness (NIL) money, on competing for championships. Speculation on how the escalation in spending correlates with success, mirroring trends in college football. Additionally, the episode covers the proliferation of softball games accessible via ESPN platforms, the role of podcasts like 'In the Circle' in keeping fans informed, and the influence of social media algorithms in disseminating softball-related content. Lastly, Coach Tory encourages listeners to support college softball at various levels and to engage with the sport through l
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Merry Christmas and there is a lot to be thankful for in women's sports
24/12/2025 Duración: 08minIn this week's Christmas edition of Everything Fast Pitch by Fast Pitch Prep, the host reflects on the past year and expresses gratitude for the progress in women's sports coverage. The episode highlights significant improvements in the visibility of women's sports on major networks like ESPN. The host recalls personal experiences from 2007 and discusses challenges from earlier periods, emphasizing the importance of continued support for women's sports. Additionally, the host thanks Stan for his production efforts, acknowledges the audience's support, and looks forward to an exciting 2026.Support the show
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Re-lace a glove question / Interview with author Steve Dickey / Involve players in charitable activities
17/12/2025 Duración: 01h38minIn this week's edition of Everything Fast Pitch by Fast Pitch Prep, Coach Tory and Coach Don celebrate their 401st episode and reflect on the significant milestone of having 700 total podcast episodes including mini-pods and prediction shows. They express gratitude to listeners, patrons, and contributors, particularly during the busy holiday season. The program highlights include 'Did You Know' on upcoming city announcements by AU Softball League, 'City of the Week' Las Vegas, 'Player of the Week', and a question on whether it's worthwhile to get a glove re-laced. Key segments include an interview with Steve Dickey from Better Ballgame, who discusses the complexities and challenges of youth sports, particularly in fast pitch softball, with topics like long-term development, the importance of having strong female role models, and the crucial role parents play. The episode concludes with the Action Coach coaching tip of the week, emphasizing the importance of involving pl
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Coping with Faster Pitching / Long Term Coaches Retiring / Improve Athleticism / Get there Early
10/12/2025 Duración: 49minIn the 400th episode of Everything Fast Pitch by Fast Pitch Prep, Coach Tory and Coach Don celebrate their milestone and discuss a variety of topics. They highlight NiJaree Canady’s inclusion in Forbes' 30 under 30 list, celebrate Chicago, Illinois as the City of the Week, and recognize a Player of the Week. They provide an equipment tip for Christmas, answer a listener's question on coping with faster pitching, and discuss the challenges and solutions for long-term coaches contemplating retirement. They also emphasize the importance of helping players improve their overall athleticism and stress the value of punctuality with the core principle, 'If you're early, you're on time; if you're on time, you're late.' The episode includes thanks to their patrons and a call for continued support, player nominations, and listener engagement.Support the show
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Impact of Misconduct / Switching Teams Advice / Positive Coaching over Fear-Based
03/12/2025 Duración: 50minThis episode of Everything Fast Pitch by Fast Pitch Prep, hosted by Coach Tory and Coach Don, covers various segments including City of the Week, Player of the Week, and Equipment Tip of the Week. The lead-off segment discusses recent incidents of athletes' misconduct and the impact it has on sports. The cleanup segment addresses considerations for switching teams, providing advice for players and their families. Finally, the action coach coaching tip emphasizes the importance of positive coaching over fear-based coaching. Support the show
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Viewership Surges / Impact of Money / Coach Interview / Holiday Gifts / It's not always a physical problem
26/11/2025 Duración: 01h08minIn episode 398 of Everything Fast Pitch by Fast Pitch Prep, Coach Tory and Coach Don discuss various topics via Zoom, as Coach Don is in Canada. The warmup segment includes a 'Did You Know' about record-setting TV ratings for softball events, Valdosta, GA as the city of the week, and a player of the week. Equipment tips include recommendations for holiday gifts for softball players, such as bats, gloves, and training aids. The listener question discusses the impact of financial investment on college sports success. In the lead-off segment, the show continues an interview with Scott Thomas from Gulf Coast State College, who talks about potential rule changes for junior college transfers and the overall state of college softball. The cleanup segment focuses on recommended holiday gifts for players and coaches. The action coach tip of the week addresses the importance of balancing physical and mental preparation in softball. The episode concludes with expressing gratitude towards patrons and urging lis
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Line Drive Hitters and Recruiting / Interview with a Jr College Coach / Mount Rushmore Project / Technology in Training
19/11/2025 Duración: 55minIn this week's edition of Everything Fast Pitch by Fast Pitch Prep, Coach Tory discusses the podcast agenda for episode 397, including segments such as 'Did You Know,' City of the Week, player of the week, equipment tip, and a listener question about the value of line drive hitters in recruiting. He and Don interview Scott Thomas, head coach at Gulf Coast State College, about the competitiveness and academic opportunities in junior college softball, as well as insights into his team and their fall season performance against top Division I programs. The episode also features a two-part Mount Rushmore project, listing the top softball players from both the past and present and concludes with a coaching tip on using technology in softball training.Support the show
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Showcasing Players / Mount Rushmore Coaches / Consider Mental Aspect of Player's Unhappiness / Use Video Effectively
12/11/2025 Duración: 49minIn this episode of 'Everything Fast Pitch' by Fast Pitch Prep, Coach Tory and Coach Don discuss various segments including the warm-up section with the 'Did You Know?' fact featuring the Georgia Dugout Club's Senior All-Star Games at Truist Park, City of the Week, Player of the Week, and an equipment tip focusing on Square Cuts training discs. They address a listener's concern about a coach showcasing player versatility at the cost of playing primary positions during showcases. The episode also highlights the Mount Rushmore of influential fast-pitch coaches with separate lists for old school and new school coaches. In the cleanup topic, they discuss whether players should be made to finish the season even when unhappy and explore the growing importance of mental health in sports. Finally, they offer coaching tips on using video effectively without overwhelming players.Support the show