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PODCAST

YBMcast

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!

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All Episodes

56:39

Championship Pitching: What It Takes to Win a...

YBMcast ·

2025/12/10

Today’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

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58:25

Why Junior College is a Great Path. w/ JeffCo HC Zac...

YBMcast ·

2025/12/09

Jefferson 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

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50:21

Building a Pitch Arsenal: Sliders | Keep Klimbing |...

YBMcast ·

2025/12/08

In 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:

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71:27

Francis Howell Baseball: The All-Decade Team |...

YBMcast ·

2025/12/05

Francis 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

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54:30

Small School Teams to Watch in the Metro Area |...

YBMcast ·

2025/12/04

oday 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

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61:23

Class 3 and 4 Top Ten Power Rankings | Baseball Talk...

YBMcast ·

2025/12/03

With 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

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56:22

Dad Coaches! The Bad, the Good, and the Importance! |...

YBMcast ·

2025/12/02

Shane 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

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66:36

What Goes into Successful Pitching | Ricky Meinhold...

YBMcast ·

2025/12/01

Ricky 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

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44:14

Baseball 101 | What Are Scouts Really Looking at? ...

YBMcast ·

2025/11/21

Today 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

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54:42

Baseball Talk | SEMO High School Baseball, is it...

YBMcast ·

2025/11/20

We 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

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54:42

Baseball Talk | How Does a High School Coach Trust...

YBMcast ·

2025/11/19

Willard 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

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63:59

The Hitting Zone | The Secret Sauce! | YBMcast

YBMcast ·

2025/11/18

Well, 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

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40:00

Keep Klimbing | Building a Pitch Arsenal: Sinkers |...

YBMcast ·

2025/11/17

This 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

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49:17

Baseball 101 | Taking the HC at FZW, Coaching Your...

YBMcast ·

2025/11/14

In 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

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64:23

Baseball Talk | Small School IL Baseball and the...

YBMcast ·

2025/11/13

We 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

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68:09

Baseball Talk | Breaking Down the Process w/...

YBMcast ·

2025/11/12

Today 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

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54:02

The Hitting Zone | A Training Program is Just the...

YBMcast ·

2025/11/11

Mitch 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

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37:32

Keep Klimbing | Building a Pitch Arsenal: The Cut...

YBMcast ·

2025/11/10

Brett 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

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34:51

Baseball 101 | What Really Matters? | Part 2 of 2 |...

YBMcast ·

2025/11/07

Coach 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

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57:40

Baseball Talk | Getting to Know Illinois Baseball:...

YBMcast ·

2025/11/06

We 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

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543 results

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