This week on The Rundown Tori and Mike connect with Sr. Account Executive at Blast Motion to talk about hitting data and how Blast Motion is helping players and coaches benchmark success and create development plans for athletes. Jon shares best practices and some great insights from his professional career as a pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds and as a front office member responsible for bringing data into the player development mix! Enjoy this week’s show and thank you for listening to The Rund...
Feb 03, 2023•58 min•Season 2Ep. 32
On this episode of The Rundown Mike and Tori relive the last MN Vikings game of the 2022 season, and Tori makes a solid case to defend his beloved Kirk Cousins. More importantly, we sit down with former MN Gopher and owner of Catalyst Softball Academy, Erika Smyth. Erika shares the acquisition story of purchasing the softball arm of Starters Sports Training, and gets into the details of how Catalyst is pushing the development envelope with her athletes. It is a great conversation and Erika is do...
Jan 26, 2023•1 hr 34 min•Season 2Ep. 1
On this Christmas week episode of The Rundown Tori and Mike relive their recent memories from an unbelievable and record breaking Minnesota Vikings victory over the Indianapolis Colts. It was truly a game to remember and Ol’ Coach Holt got to witness it live! We also get to hear from Tori about his life’s journey in faith, and how his struggles as a young man led him to the Lord and to his calling - coaching, mentoring, and spreading the Good News to all! We wish each of you a very Merry Christm...
Dec 24, 2022•54 min•Season 1Ep. 30
This week on The Rundown we join you from San Antonio Texas at the beautiful JW Marriott Hill Country Resort and Spa as we attend the 2022 National Fastpitch Coaches Association National Convention. We give you a flavor of what the experience was like networking and learning from the biggest names in our sport! If you name them…we saw them and talked to them. It was unreal! The NFCA calls upon us to help transform the game…what can you do to start? Join NFCA and come to their regional convention...
Dec 11, 2022•1 hr 51 min•Season 1Ep. 29
On this week’s episode of The Rundown Mike and Tori connect with Saint Cloud State University Women's Softball Head Coach, Mitch Roberts. The Huskies are coming off of a very strong 2022 campaign, and in Mitch’s first year, the team set the school’s single season record for NSIC wins with 23 and home runs with 60! We cover how Mitch builds his team culture and he spills a few secret ingredients on how to win as well. We also give a little preview on the 2022 Winter Bash and preview the Alliance ...
Nov 29, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 28
This week on The Rundown Tori and Mike host a round table with some of the most experienced coaches in the Midwest! Sean Hall, Jeremy Chell, Bob Beedle and Mike Mills join the hosts for an amazing 90 minutes of softball chatter. Mike gets angry about stalling, we share some trade secrets, and we give you the best memories of our careers! Honestly, a description of this episode does not do it justice! Give it a listen and thank you for listening to The Rundown! Music Bed - Unexpected Journey - Al...
Nov 13, 2022•1 hr 32 min•Season 1Ep. 27
On this episode of The Rundown Mike and Tori catch up with Sara Moulton of Strike Zone Sports and this time she is joined by her business partner and SZS hitting instructor, Sam Macken! This episode marks our first remote broadcast, and we got a first class tour of Sam and Sara’s state of the art facility in Eagan MN! We cover a wide range of topics from hitting mentality to dodge ball! These two instructors know their stuff, and we are very fortunate to have them play such an important part in ...
Oct 18, 2022•1 hr 24 min•Season 1Ep. 26
This week on The Rundown we are joined by our sport’s most legendary coach! Our guest is an 8 time NCAA Women's College World Series Champion, 3 time NCAA Coach of the Year, Head Coach of the 2004 gold medalist Olympic Women's Softball team, and the winningest NCAA softball coach in history with 1,674 wins! We are blessed to share the mic with 36 year Head Coach (retired) from the Arizona Wildcats, Mike Candrea. It is an amazing chat with the legend and one you will not want to miss. If that isn...
Oct 10, 2022•1 hr 51 min•Season 1Ep. 25
On this week’s episode of The Rundown we share about our recent visit with Chelsey Falzone - Manager, Youth Engagement at the Minnesota Twins, as she gave our new team a first class experience at the Twins vs White Sox game at Target field, and more importantly planted the seed for these young women to pursue careers in professional sports! Thank you Chelsey for a wonderful and motivating evening for our group. This week, we recap the USSSA Fall State Tournament and are joined by Midwest Speed 1...
Oct 04, 2022•1 hr 55 min•Season 1Ep. 24
In this episode of The Rundown! Mike and Tori give you the details on our 15-0-1 record and 3rd straight Championship in the S&C Woodside USA Elite Select Qualifier in Wisconsin Dells! This week we are joined by Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator of the Mississippi State Bulldogs, and NAFA Hall of Famer, Josh Johnson. We talk with Josh about his playing career and he shares some insight to the amazing success State has seen with their pitching staff over the past 3 seasons. Josh...
Sep 23, 2022•1 hr 43 min•Season 1Ep. 23
This week on The Rundown Tori and I recap the first tournament of the 2022 fall club season, the S&C Fall Showcase. It was a great weekend of ball and many new rosters got their first taste of competition! Our guests are MN Ice 16U Head Coach and Owner of TLC, Tien Ly. We talk with Tien about the focus of his training center and about the development and growth of his up and coming 16U team! We are also joined on the show by friend and Lakeville Lobos teammate Matt Meyer. Matt Meyer download...
Sep 10, 2022•1 hr 34 min•Season 1Ep. 22
This week on The Rundown we give you a recap of the Minnesota Senior Men’s Adult Baseball Association World Series and the performance of our beloved Lakeville Lobos. We are also joined by Kirsten Verdun, Wisconsin Badgers Associate Head Coach to talk pitching, and pitch calling with one of the Big 10’s best. Fall Softball is also upon us and we give a brief purview of the Labor Day weekend Fall S&C Showcase at Aronson Park in Lakeville. A busy fall is ahead and we look forward to sharing it...
Sep 01, 2022•1 hr 21 min•Season 1Ep. 21
On this episode of The Rundown Tori and Mike recap our time spent away from the game and share some inside info on our whereabouts and what we did to relax and get ready for another exciting fall club season. We are also joined by Northwestern University Head Coach and 2022 Big 10 Coach of the Year, Kate Drohan! Kate gives us some great intel on the success of her program and how crucial team leadership is to achieve success at the highest level. We chat a little baseball, and talk about the uni...
Aug 22, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 20
On this week’s episode of The Rundown Mike and Tori recap the end of the 2022 summer season and share a bit about our experience playing the top competition in the nation at the 2022 Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series in Kokomo Indiana. We also get a quick story from Tori on his near death experience with a fence! Our guests on the show include Midwest Speed pitching and hitting extraordinaire, Macy Borowski, who can now add Showtime Sports 2022 Midwest Summer Showcase Homerun Derby Champion...
Aug 08, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 19
This week on The Rundown a very busy Tori and Mike bring you the newly named assistant coach at the University of St. Thomas, and fastpitch guru, Nat Wagner! Nat gives us great insight into his coaching career, philosophies, and gives us a bit of an “under the hood” look into his exceptional "student of the game" approach. We are also joined by Midwest Speed 15U National Head Coach, Don Bross, as we relive the amazing run his team just experienced finishing runner-up in the 16U USSSA Elite Selec...
Jul 25, 2022•1 hr 44 min•Season 1Ep. 18
In this week’s episode of The Rundown Tori and I give you a full report on the epic journey and saga of the Triple Crown Sparkler and the IDT in Denver Colorado. We also bring you along for the highs and lows of the USSSA Minnesota Top Tier State Tournament and give you a recap and highlight the great teams and programs that took home the titles in each age bracket! For our guest this week we are joined by Stew Parker, Northern Director of North American Fastpitch Association (NAFA) and have a b...
Jul 12, 2022•1 hr 27 min•Season 1Ep. 17
On this week’s episode of The Rundown we take you on the road to the Windy City for the HFL/Alliance National Championship qualifier. It was a wild week highlighted by a tournament victory, a bid to Nationals, time spent with an old friend, and a chance to meet Eddie Vedder! We also had a great conversation with 2019 National Champion head coach, Gretta Melsted of Augustana. Coach Melsted provides great insights into her program's perennial success and shares excellent advice to young players lo...
Jun 27, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 16
This week on The Rundown Mike and Tori bring you two amazing guests and bring into focus the most impactful legislation ever written for the protection and advancement of women's sports - most commonly known as Title IX. On the 50th anniversary of this landmark legislation we find ourselves reflecting upon the growth of women’s athletics and yet recognize the reality that there is still a long way to go! Our first guest, former Minnesota Gopher Women’s Hockey Coach and three time national champi...
Jun 23, 2022•1 hr 41 min•Season 1Ep. 15
In this week’s episode of The Rundown Tori and Mike recap an amazing weekend at the 2022 Lexi Kretsch Summer Showdown! We spend time with Co-Director of the Midwest Speed Jeremy Chell and preview the S&C Summer Showcase. The next big event of this new and fast moving summer club ball season is upon us!! In our final segment we recap the MSHSL State tournament and find out just how accurate we were with our picks from Episode 1 - 10,000 Strikes! Thank You for listening to The Rundown! Music B...
Jun 15, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 14
On this week’s episode of The Rundown Mike and Tori bring a fully packed episode to you with guests Mike Carter and Emily Hansen. Mike Carter of the Minnesota Vortex/A’s chats with us about the Lexi Kretsch Summer Showdown and shares the impact that Lexi’s beautiful life left on him, his program, and now via her namesake tournament, the greater fastpitch community in our area! Emily Hansen of the Minnesota Golden Gophers visits with us about her career with the Gophs and she shares how her faith...
Jun 06, 2022•1 hr 31 min•Season 1Ep. 13
This week on The Rundown Tori and Mike talk recruiting and program building with 22 year head coach, Greg Jones of Winona State University. Greg gives us some great insight into the recruiting process and advice on how to handle what is supposed to be an exciting and fun time for the player and family. Tori and Mike hit you with the latest updates on MSHSL section play and give a couple of shout outs for some exceptional performances sent our way. Thank you for listening to The Rundown! Music Be...
May 30, 2022•58 min•Season 1Ep. 12
In this week’s episode of The Rundown we cover the dynamic position of catcher, and connect with former Minnesota Twins Bullpen Catcher, Twins Youth Academy Clinician, Augsburg Baseball Alumni, and current Midwest Speed Catching Instructor, Bryan Ludwig. Bryan breaks down the paradigm shift in catching instruction and brings to light the foundations behind this new era of the position. As always, Tori and Mike give you their latest updates on the MSHSL softball season, and also give you a heads ...
May 23, 2022•1 hr 46 min•Season 1Ep. 11
This week on The Rundown Tori and Mike catch up with Penny Foore, Head Coach of the 2022 MIAC Champion Bethel University Royals! We talk with Penny and wish her squad the best of luck as they represent their University in their first appearance in the NCAA Championship tournament. Penny talks about her approach, coaching background, and the fun times coaching with her husband Roman, and Tori and Mike talk “Tom Brady” and give you all an update on the tail end of the MSHSL season. Thank you for l...
May 16, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 10
On this week's episode of The Rundown Tori and Mike connect with Jim Hanson, Director of Clutch Hitters, and Commissioner of the Pine to Prairie women’s adult fastpitch league! Jim reviews his earlier career and how coaching filled what he felt was “missing” in his life. We cover the roots and mission of Clutch Hitters, talk pitch calling, the club fastpitch scene, and the creation and success of the Pine to Prairie league! Tori and Mike share some stories from the road, and update you all on a ...
May 09, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 9
This week The Rundown catches up with former Prior Lake and Auburn Tiger great, Justus Perry, and chat about her unparalleled journey to the top level of College softball and the next step in her career as a coach with St. Catherine's University and the Midwest Speed. Mike and Tori update you on another great week of MSHSL softball and feature commentary on a few big matchups in the South Suburban and Suburban East conferences. Thank you for listening to The Rundown! Music Bed - Unexpected Journ...
May 02, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 8
This week on The Rundown Michelle Tafoya visits with Mike and Tori about her illustrious career in broadcasting and touches on what she has planned for the future. Michelle gives some great insights on the secrets to her success and stresses the importance of hard work. Athletes, parents, coaches, and friends of the podcast…you don't want to miss this one! We can all take something from the experience and wisdom shared by Michelle. Thank you for listening to The Rundown! Music Bed - "Unexpected ...
Apr 25, 2022•59 min•Season 1Ep. 7
On this week’s episode of The Rundown Mike and Tori have an important talk about the current shortage of umpires in the game of fastpitch softball with Jeremy Shibley. We share a couple of stories from our not so proud moments, but more importantly discuss how we can all work to better our game and ensure we have the much needed umpires our athletes and the game deserves! We also talk with John Kelliher from Showtime Sports Camps and discuss how his programs and showcase camps help athletes get ...
Apr 18, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Season 1Ep. 6
This week on The Rundown Tori and Mike cover a few of the early season MSHSL softball games and offer a bit of commentary on results that stood out. This episode catches up with MN Vikings great, Superbowl XLVII Champion, and current Lt. Governor candidate Matt Birk. In conversation with Matt, we tackle some of the big issues facing Minnesota and discuss the importance of protecting women's sports. Matt previews what is on the horizon for the Scott Jensen/Birk ticket in Minnesota. On the softbal...
Apr 11, 2022•1 hr 24 min•Season 1Ep. 5
In this episode of The Rundown we are joined by All-American pitcher from the Minnesota Gophers Amber Fiser! She talks about leading the Maroon and Gold Women’s Softball team to their 1st College World Series, her mentality and strategy in the circle, and much more. Mike and Tori are also joined by Sean Hall, Co-Director of Midwest Speed and Co-owner of S&C Sports Services. Sean sits down and talks about the beginnings of S&C, the development of his club program, and the impact of the Su...
Apr 04, 2022•1 hr 24 min•Season 1Ep. 4
On this week's episode of The Rundown we go “around the horn” with a standing update from division 1 NCAA, NCIS, UMAC, and MIAC. We talk teams on the rise and give a shout out to some local coaches and programs that are making things happen in the UMAC and MIAC. Director of the Minnesota Force club softball program and Hall of Fame shortstop of the Arizona Wildcats, Julie Standering talks about her illustrious playing career and running one of the top club programs in the Midwest. Head Fastpitch...
Mar 28, 2022•1 hr 37 min•Season 1Ep. 3
