Fastpitch Prep

06/04/2026

Home Field Advantage / Interview with Chip Pugh / Practice Attendance and Playing Time / Coaching Gadgets

In episode 423 of Everything Fastpitch, Coach Tory and Coach Don preview segments and encourage Patreon support, then share a Did You Know about UCLA’s Megan Grant hitting 40+ home runs to crush a record held since 1995 despite playing about 20 fewer games, with Grant also having been part of UCLA’s national-championship women’s basketball team. City of the Week is Oklahoma City, reflecting a download spike during the Women’s College World Series, and they briefly plug Square Cuts training discs. A listener asks about the best D1 home-field advantage; they highlight Alabama’s Rhodes House, plus Nebraska’s record crowds and Arkansas’s intense atmosphere, noting big attendance as a major factor. In the interview, Chip Pugh (a former strength coach who shifted into leadership/character development and now serves as the Tennessee Titans’ director of team development) explains his book Made to Win, built around six practices, encouraging people to believe they were made to win by maximizing potential through serving others and, from his faith perspective, modeling Jesus; he recommends buying in bulk via the publisher site. They also debate practice attendance impacting playing time, emphasizing preseason expectations, communication, and consequences for repeated no-shows, and conclude that gadgets can help teach specific concepts but shouldn’t be overused.
Book links: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Made+to+Win+Chip+Pugh
https://oakspress.com

https://www.buzzsprout.com/153812/episodes/19280648

In episode 423 of Everything Fastpitch, Coach Tory and Coach Don preview segments and encourage Patreon support, then share a Did You Know about UCLA’s Megan Grant hitting 40+ home runs to crush a record held since 1995 despite playing about 20 fe...

05/28/2026

Measuring Improvement / Interview with Marla Townsend / Collegiate Summer League / Getting out of a rut

Coach Tory and Coach Don preview episode 422 of Everything Fastpitch, including a “Did You Know” and City of the Week Las Vegas. They answer a listener question about measuring improvement beyond stats, emphasizing observation, confidence, quality at-bats, and long-term development over instant results. Tory interviews former UAB coach Marla Townsend about her Compete mental performance system (12 key ingredients, journal with QR-code audio coaching, parent playbook, and Performance Hub), available at marlatownsend.com with a discount code "VIP". In the cleanup segment, Robbie Brogdon discusses launching an Atlanta-area collegiate summer league at Heritage Park in McDonough with doubleheaders, streaming/stats, camps, and support for transfer-portal players. The coaching tip covers ways to get a team out of a rut by adding variety and redefining success metrics.

Marla Townsend Compete Program-marlatownsend.com
Collegiate Summer League (Robbie Brogdon - 229-376-8591, [email protected])
https://www.buzzsprout.com/153812/episodes/19234331

Coach Tory and Coach Don preview episode 422 of Everything Fastpitch, including a “Did You Know” and City of the Week Las Vegas. They answer a listener question about measuring improvement beyond stats, emphasizing observation, confidence, quality...

05/22/2026

Decision Regrets / Interview with Megan Rembielak / Managing a player who coaches other players

Everything Fastpitch episode 421 with Coach Tory and Coach Don previews warm-up segments and features an interview with social media instructor Megan Rembielak. They recap early NCAA Division I regional results and notable games, including Oregon’s elimination by Mississippi State amid pitching injuries, seeded teams advancing (Alabama, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia), Florida State’s loss to Stetson and matchup with UCF, and Texas Tech’s comeback win over Ole Miss; they emphasize the value of smaller-conference teams in the tournament. City of the Week is Bloomington, Indiana. Listener Danielle asks about handling coaching decision regret; they advise accountability, grace, and focusing on process over outcomes. In the interview, Rembielak (megremsoftball.com) shares her playing/coaching path, content-creation motivations, views on criticism, key teaching points (timing in hitting, staying in motion on defense), the importance of live reps and softball IQ, and launching RemProSports (remprosports.com) equipment. Coaching tip addresses managing a 12U player who over-corrects teammates by setting guidelines and channeling leadership appropriately.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/153812/episodes/19202418

Everything Fastpitch episode 421 with Coach Tory and Coach Don previews warm-up segments and features an interview with social media instructor Megan Rembielak. They recap early NCAA Division I regional results and notable games, including Oregon’...

05/18/2026

Everything Fastpitch will have Meg Ram Softball on the podcast in TWO days!
www.fastpitchprep.com

05/16/2026

I've coached championship athletes. I've also coached the ones who had all the talent yet lacked confidence and mental toughness. I built the COMPETE Journal because I kept seeing the same thing over and over:

05/13/2026

Tryout Fee / D1 Tournament Breakdown / How elite athletes handle mistakes / In-game video

Coach Tory and Coach Don preview episode 420 of Everything Fastpitch, beginning with “good news, bad news”: UCLA’s Megan Grant sets the single-season home run record with 38, but a Big Ten Network replay skipped the record-breaking at-bat in favor of injury and replay footage. They answer a listener question about a $50 travel-ball tryout fee, agreeing the biggest issue is not disclosing it upfront. They break down the newly announced NCAA Division I tournament bracket, noting SEC strength, mid-majors benefiting from SEC teams missing the .500 threshold, and storyline-heavy potential matchups (e.g., Oregon–Oklahoma, Texas–Texas A&M, Alabama–LSU). In cleanup, they encourage players to watch how elite athletes handle mistakes and teamwork, then argue the sport has a shrinking strike zone, citing 1,600 more home runs than last year. They close by questioning in-game iPad video coaching for 12U players, favoring postgame review, and thank sponsors and patrons.

Coach Torrey and Coach Don preview episode 420 of Everything Fastpitch, beginning with “good news, bad news”: UCLA’s Megan Grant sets the single-season home run record with 38, but a Big Ten Network replay skipped the record-breaking at-bat in fav...

05/06/2026

"Blame Game" / Types of hitting coaches / College Tournaments / Do coaches have favorites?

Coach Torrey hosts Episode 419 solo outlining warm-up items, a hitting proverb discussion, a Division I postseason preview, and a coaching “confession.” He notes an NCAA Division I proposal to shift eligibility from five years to play four seasons to a five-year window allowing five seasons. The city of the week is Columbia, South Carolina, and the equipment tip spotlights Fastpitch Prep’s Square Cuts training discs designed to help hitters learn what “squaring up” the ball means. A listener question addresses the “blame game,” urging players and parents to take ownership rather than blame umpires, coaches, teammates, or conditions. Torrey contrasts “problem-solver” hitting coaches with teaching hitters to understand and self-correct. He previews conference tournaments, seeding implications, and possible top-eight hosts, and argues coaches do have favorites—typically the hardest-working, most reliable team-first players.

Coach Torrey hosts Episode 419 solo outlining warm-up items, a hitting proverb discussion, a Division I postseason preview, and a coaching “confession.” He notes an NCAA Division I proposal to shift eligibility from five years to play four seasons...

05/01/2026

Coach Tory and Coach Don host Everything Fast Pitch open with thanking patrons and previewing segments. They discuss the SEC’s plan to make Madison, Alabama’s Toyota Field the permanent home of the SEC softball tournament from 2027–2030, replacing rotating campus sites, and note Lexington, Kentucky is the last on-campus host through 2030. The city spotlight is Oklahoma City. A listener prompts discussion about multi-sport athletes versus early specialization. In an interview, Bill Hoopes (coach, PGF Florida state director, tournament director, author) covers his background, high school vs travel ball purposes, recruiting changes, finding the right college fit, and his books/workbooks and “60 for me” content. The coaching tip emphasizes balancing quality instruction with reps so repetitions reinforce correct mechanics.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/153812/episodes/19084196

Challenge to be a multi-sport athlete / Interview with Bill Hoopes, a dynamic leader, accomplished educator, and seasoned coach / Balance Reps with Instruction

04/22/2026

Shifting Recruiting Opportunities / Negative Fans and "Super Fans" / Stop Bashing School-Ball Coaches / Better Situational Decision Making

Coach Tory and Coach Don record Everything Fast Pitch episode 417 via Zoom from Canada, previewing segments and thanking Patreon supporters. They note the NCAA’s Division I softball transfer portal window will open the Monday after the Women’s College World Series and last 15 days, aiming to tighten timing and discuss how the portal changes recruiting without eliminating opportunities, especially noting elite freshmen still impact top programs. City of the Week is Salt Lake City, and the equipment tip promotes Square Cuts training discs. Listener Alan asks whether the portal is “ruining recruiting,” prompting discussion of shifting opportunities and roster voids. The lead-off segment critiques negative fans and “super fans,” especially those who harass opponents. The cleanup segment condemns bashing underpaid school-ball coaches and emphasizes their developmental value. The coaching tip urges better situational decision-making focused on securing outs and winning games.

Coach Tory and Coach Don record Everything Fast Pitch episode 417 via Zoom from Canada, previewing segments and thanking Patreon supporters. They note the NCAA’s Division I softball transfer portal window will open the Monday after the Women’s Col...