Outside The Chute

Outside The Chute – Around The Horn Returns! The summer edition of Around The Horn is officially underway as Blair Setford and Kyle Smith join Framer and Hopey to break down everything happening across the ISC landscape. In this first installment, the guys take a deep dive into the ISC circuit to date, discussing the biggest storylines, standout performances, and early-season developments from acr...

From the ball fields of Newfoundland to representing Canada on the world stage… this is one you don’t want to miss.   On Episode 218 of Outside The Chute, we sit down with 3-time Canadian Senior Men’s National Champion, 2003 Pan Am Games Gold Medalist, 2004 WBSC World Cup Silver Medalist with Team Canada, and Softball Newfoundland Hall of Famer, Sean Whitten.   Sean takes us through an incredible...

Episode 217 of Outside The Chute is an absolute must-listen as we sit down with one of the greatest to ever play the game — Jeff Goolagong. From dominating the ISC circuit to representing Australia on the world stage, Jeff takes us through his incredible journey in fastpitch softball. We dive into his time with the ACT 89ers, winning multiple ISC Championships, and what it meant to capture gold wi...

Episode 216 is here and we’re going ALL IN on the U23 WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup  We’re joined by Blair Setford and Kris Abbott, who will be on the call for the tournament in Sincelejo, Colombia, bringing you elite-level insight you won’t get anywhere else. In this episode, we break down: Every team competing and what to expect Key players and game-changing matchups Underrated squads that could...

Episode 215 is one you don’t want to miss.   We sit down with Canadian softball star Larissa Franklin for a raw, powerful, and inspiring conversation that goes far beyond the game. From winning bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, to navigating the emotional highs and lows of life after the Olympics, Larissa opens up in a way we’ve never seen before.   But that’s just the beginning.   Larissa takes...

In this episode of Outside The Chute, we sit down with Ryan Maher, one of the most exciting young talents in Canadian men’s fastpitch—and trust us, this one delivers.   From Petty Harbour, Newfoundland, Ryan’s journey is packed with wins, grit, and a few stories you won’t see coming  At just 24, he’s already:  3x Senior Men’s Champion with the Galway Hitmen  2024 U23 Canadian National Champion (Ma...

Episode 213 is here and it’s an absolute must-listen    We sit down with Sam Banister — a two-time National Champion with the University of Arizona, four-time Women’s College World Series participant, and former pro with the Akron Racers — and she brings it all in this one.   Sam gets real about her journey through one of the most dominant programs in college softball, what it takes to win at the...

In Episode 212 of the podcast, we sit down with rising men’s fastpitch star Tyler Damon, a member of the United States Men’s National Softball Team and one of the exciting young players making an impact in the game today.    Tyler shares his unique journey into men’s fastpitch softball, including how he played baseball until the age of 18 before making the switch to fastpitch — a move that quickly...

In Episode 211 of Outside The Chute, we sit down with one of the most influential figures in men’s fastpitch history — Dr. Bob Nydick.   An ISC Hall of Famer, longtime sponsor, coach, and architect behind powerhouse programs, Dr. Nydick takes us inside his incredible journey in the game. From how he first got involved in fastpitch… to building championship-caliber teams… to helping shape dynasties...

What does it take to battle through adversity and come out a National Champion?   In Episode 210 of Outside The Chute, we sit down with 2025 National Champion Joley Mitchell for one of the most powerful conversations we’ve had on the show.   From growing up in Rose Bud, Arkansas… To being named Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year (2019)… To starting her college career at Notre Dame… To facing a m...

What does it take to win an ISC title at just 19 years old… be named Most Outstanding Pitcher… capture four ISC Championships… win a World Championship… and cement your name in the Hall of Fame?   This week on Outside The Chute, we sit down with ISC Hall of Famer Jim Wana — one of the most dominant pitchers of his era.   From winning the 1985 Junior World Championship with New Zealand… to starring...

Energy. Passion. Positivity.   Episode 208 of Outside The Chute is an absolute must-listen as we sit down with Jerzie Nutile, UMBC alum and newly signed PSL Florida Heat player. From the moment this conversation starts, Jerzie’s infectious personality jumps through the mic.   We dive into her journey through the game, the grind it took to reach the pro level, and what this next chapter with the Fl...

In Episode 207 of Outside The Chute, we sit down with Saskatchewan native Justin Laskowski, one of Canada’s rising stars in men’s fastpitch softball.   Justin takes us through his journey — from getting his start in the Saskatchewan fastpitch scene, to wearing the red and white for Team Canada on the world stage. We dive deep into his experience at the 2022 Men’s World Cup, where Canada captured s...

In this episode of Outside The Chute, we sit down with Ryan Moore, Florida Vibe Team President and Executive Director of the American Collegiate League, to break down the rise of the Professional Softball League (PSL) and what it means for the future of fastpitch softball.   Ryan shares insight into the growth of professional opportunities for players, how the ACL fits into the development pathway...

What a great one we have for you this week, as Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with Softball Canada CEO, the one and only, Mike Branchaud. We get into some great chats about the state of ball here in Canada, the direction the Men’s National Team is headed, the Women’s Olympic Team, some WBSC topics and so much more.  This was such a great chat with Mike and we got to clear up a few things o...

What an episode we have to kick off 2026, as we’re joined by one of the game’s most electric arms, its AUSL Cascade member and current US Women’s National Team member, the one and only, Kelly Maxwell. ️ Man, this episode has it all. Kelly takes us back to where it all started, her journey through the college game at Oklahoma State and Oklahoma, and how those experiences shaped her into the pitcher...

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with co-author with her Dad, of the amazing book, “ Recruiting Rules " and Oregon State University Freshman, the one and only, Amelia Struber. What a fantastic chat this was as we got to hear Amelia tell us about how she got her start in the game, the ups and downs of the recruiting process, which in turn led to her and her father coming up with their awesome...

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with 2021 Rawlings Grand Slam Top Pitcher and  2022 Silver medalist at the Pan American Championships and WBSC World Cup with Team Canada, it’s the one and only, Zach Pierce. This was such an awesome chat that Hopey and I had with Zippy, the guy is an absolute weapon. We chat about getting his start in the game, playing a winter down in New Zealand, getting t...

Outside The Chute sat down with unquestionably the most resilient person that we’ve ever had on the pod, its University of Georgia alum, the one and only, Kendall Burton. Listen, what Keni has gone through in her lifetime so far is crazy.  23 surgeries prior to even getting to college is one thing, but then to have a stroke 6 days after her first college ball game is another. You’re gonna find out...

Outside The Chute got get back one of the best to ever do it! Recent inductee into the Softball Canada Hall of Fame and soon to be 2026 inductee into the ISC Hall of Fame, its good friend of the show, the one and only, Jeff Ellsworth. We get to talk to Ellsy about the recent birth of his daughter Nylah, playing a big role in the foundation of the Whitecaps ladies program over on the Island, being...

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with one of our favorite guests ever, the one and only, Kamalani Dung. So we last chatted with Kama back in 2021 and you could say she’s done a little of this and a little of that over the past 4 years.  Actually, that’s an understatement, she has done a ton! From walking the red carpet at the Grammy’s, to hitting homeruns in the Reggie Jackson Classic, she’s...

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with just an absolute star in our game, JMU alum and AUSL Bandits pitcher, the one and only, Odicci Alexander-Bennett. Odicci first captured the hearts of fans across the country during her unforgettable run with James Madison University at the 2021 Women’s College World Series, where her dominance, passion, and pure love for the game made her a household nam...

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with 2024 ISC Champion and 2022 WBSC World Cup Champ, Aussie native, the one and only, Josh McGovern. This was such a great chat that Hopey and myself got to have with Josh.  He took time after travelling over 40 hours to come on and chat with us from down in the Dominican where he was playing in the Legends Cup this past weekend, so we can’t thank him enough...

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with , two time NJCAA D1 National Player of the Year at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M college, two-time All-Big 12 First Team selection with Oklahoma State University, and current pro over in the Netherlands with the Haarlem Sparks, it’s the one and only, Rylee Bayless. Its funny, most of these interviews I do, especially on the women’s side of the game, I go...

What an episode we have for you again this week as we’re going down under and chatting with, 2025 ISC All World Selection with the Bear Creek Express, 2023 University of Newcastle Sportsman of the Year and 2022 WBSC World Cup Champion with the Aussie Steelers, it’s the one and only, Callum Beashel. Like I said, this was such a great episode.  We talk to Cal about getting his start in the game, pla...