Coach Cut's Corner

This podcast episode features a conversation with Elijah Stark, a former LCC Stars baseball player and current aspiring coach. We delve into Stark's journey through various levels of baseball, beginning with his late decision to pursue the sport at the collegiate level, influenced significantly by his experiences during the pandemic. We explore the challenges he faced, including the impact of losi...

The end of a sports season brings a mix of emotions for athletes and coaches, from gratitude and pride, to disappointment and heartbreak. This episode explores how teams process those feelings, reflect on their experiences, and look for lessons to learn from. The conversation highlights that growth is an ongoing journey, and every ending offers valuable lessons for the next beginning. ------------...

In this episode of Coach Cut’s Corner, RS sophomore pitcher Oliver Raczysnki joins the show to talk about growth, patience, adversity, and the reality of development over time. Oliver’s journey through Lansing Community College Baseball has not been built on shortcuts or overnight success. It has been built through consistency, failure, learning, and showing up through difficult moments. Over the...

In this episode of Coach Cut’s Corner, Christian Douglass joins us to break down his journey from Whetstone, Ohio, to becoming a key arm for the Stars. At 6’4, Douglass has logged 42 innings across 21 appearances, putting together a 7-0 record with 30 strikeouts to just 8 walks. Those numbers stand out, but they are the result of growth that did not happen overnight. This conversation starts with...

In this episode of Coach Cut’s Corner, Coach Radek joins us to break down exactly where we are at this point in the season and the reality of sitting at 17–16. It is not where we expect to be, but it is exactly where we have earned to be. This conversation centers around the gap. The space between the work you put in and the results you expect to see. We talk about how development is not instant....

In this episode, freshmen pitcher Gavin Przybyla is in studio to talk about his journey from youth sports to college athletics. Gavin delves into the challenges and triumphs faced during his high school career, notably overcoming injuries, and adapting to being a full-time pitcher in the competitive landscape of college baseball. Website: LCC Stars Baseball Website: Baseball Advancement Fund (Dona...

Noah Marcoux grew up in Saginaw, Michigan, and built his game step by step. He became one of the most consistent college hitters in the country by staying patient, trusting development, and learning from the right people along the way. Noah’s career was shaped by strong mentors, honest coaches, and years of learning how to handle failure, pressure, and expectations. He didn’t chase shortcuts. He l...

This episode cuts through the noise around player development and recruiting. Mike Rice lives in the evaluation seat every day. Vice President and General Manager of Detroit Prospects. Scout for the USPBL. Associate scout for the Texas Rangers organization. Mike has seen what works and what fails at every level of the game. We talk about where he’s from. How sports shaped his upbringing. How becom...

The episode features freshman utility player Jake Norton. Jake discusses his journey through several high school sports programs, including breaking a collar bone, and the transition he faced going to college baseball. The discussion delves into his impressive physical transformation, highlighting his nutritional and training regimen, which has significantly improved his performance. -------------...

Wade Sommers comes from Jonesville. A small, Michigan town that shaped how he sees work, people, and responsibility. This was Wade’s first-ever podcast, and he opens up about life growing up in a place where everyone knows your name, expectations are real, and effort is noticed. He talks about family. Strong ties. Consistent support. Being grounded by people who tell you the truth and hold you to...

This episode brings things back to where it all started. Blake McRae was a cornerstone on our first team here in 2022. He bought in before anything was proven. He helped set the standards that define our program today. His journey since then has been all action: JUCO success. Division I at Eastern Michigan. MLB Draft League. Professional baseball in the Atlantic League. Coaching and developing hit...

On this episode, join Coach Cut and Coach Radek as they recount their recent trip to the American Baseball Coaches Association's National Convention, providing insights from their experience being with over 6,000 other coaches and attendees. It is also the start of Spring Season for LCC Baseball, so with the start of a new year, so does the implementation of new training programs, including vision...

This week, Coach Cut and Coach Radek sit down with redshirt freshman pitcher Kacey Gray from Boyne City, Michigan. Kacey’s story is one of patience, discipline, and belief in the process. After redshirting his first year, he stepped into his second year ready to lead, compete, and represent what full buy-in looks like inside the Stars program. Key Topics Growing up in Boyne City and finding a love...

Freshman catcher and utility player Carson Sweet joins Coach Cut and Assistant Coach Ryan Radek in the WLNZ Studios to talk about his journey, his first fall season with the Stars, and what he’s learning about discipline, mindset, and growth inside the program. Carson came to Lansing with a strong baseball background, having played both high school and travel ball, and quickly showed what it looks...

Complacency doesn’t announce itself, it creeps in when things start going well. In this episode, Coach Cut and Ryan break down where the Lansing Stars are in their fall season, the lessons from the team’s fifth year volunteering at the Hot Cider Hustle 5K, and why staying sharp is a daily battle. They discuss how success can soften focus, how to recognize when standards start to slip, and how the...

Kate Davis, the founder of RDKate Sports Nutrition and a certified specialist in sports dietetics, returns to Coach Cut’s Corner for her second appearance. Her first time on the show was Episode 10: “Gummi Bears & Pop,” where we talked about fueling, recovery, and the mistakes young athletes make with nutrition. Three seasons later, Kate has been embedded in the Lansing Community College Baseb...

Freshman infielder Savannah Turner from Tacoma, Washington, joins Coach Cut in the WLNZ Studios to share her journey as one of the few women playing college baseball in the United States. After being cut from her high school baseball team, Savannah refused to quit. Instead, she trained and competed for two seasons with Driveline Baseball Academy in Kent, Washington, where she rebuilt her game, min...

Freshman utility player Jace Davis joins Coach Cut and Assistant Coach Ryan Radek in the WLNZ Studios to talk about his journey, his early growth inside the program, and what it takes to meet the standard every day. Jace came to Lansing from Woodhaven High School and quickly made his mark this fall, hitting .429 with a 1.028 OPS, turning four double plays, and recording a .972 fielding percentage...

In this episode of Coach Cut’s Corner, freshman catcher Kaiden Kapa joins Coach Cut in the studio to talk about his journey. Coming out of Kettering High School in Waterford, Michigan, Kaiden brings grit, versatility, and leadership to Lansing CC baseball. We dive into his journey from high school to college, how he’s adjusting to the speed of the game, and the mindset he’s building behind the pla...

This week on Coach Cut’s Corner, I’m joined by former Stars outfielder turned assistant coach Ryan Radek. Ryan was on track to play at the Division I level until a devastating knee injury ended his season and put his future as a player in jeopardy. Instead of stepping away, Ryan chose to give back, shifting from the field to the dugout and bringing his knowledge to the next generation of Stars. Wh...

In this episode, Coach Cut sits down with Stars left-handed pitcher Matthew Whiteman. A Romeo, Michigan native, Matthew talks about his journey into baseball, the people who influenced him growing up, and the challenges of stepping into the college game. From family roots to the lessons learned on the mound, Matthew shares what keeps him focused, how he stacks his bricks, and where he’s headed nex...

Sophomore utility player Bryce Wiggins joins Coach Cut’s Corner to share his journey from Novi, Michigan, to becoming one of the most versatile athletes on the Lansing Stars roster. Known for his grit and energy, Bryce led the country last season in hit-by-pitches, proving he’ll do whatever it takes to get on base. In this episode, Bryce talks about his family’s role in his success, the lessons he...

Sophomore outfielder Korbin Smith joins Coach Cut’s Corner to share his journey, his role on the team, and the energy he brings every single day. Known not only for his play in the outfield but also for his legendary attention to detail: laying down the straightest chalk lines the Stars have ever seen. Korbin talks about what drives him, how he embraces the little things, and what it means to be a...

From small-town beginnings to college competition, Parker Vaughn’s story is about lessons, growth, and momentum. Coach Cut sits down with the Cedar Springs native and Lansing sophomore infielder to talk high school roots, choosing LCC, learning from his freshman season, and carrying success from summer ball into a promising year ahead. You'll hear: Growing up in Cedar Springs and early baseball in...

This week on Coach Cut’s Corner, I’m joined by a great guy and coaching partner from this past summer, Mike Ream—head coach of the 18U Krash softball team. We break down what it takes to lead in the high-pressure world of travel softball, from building trust with players to navigating the “wild west” culture of the sport today. Mike shares his journey into coaching, the defining moments from...