Diamonds and Roses Podcast

A midseason review to the West Coast League South Division first half champions, the Ridgefield Raptors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A midseason review of the Naniamo Nightowls of the West Coast League. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A midseason review on the Victoria HarbourCats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we visit with friend of the podcast and former guest Pitching Coach of the Nanaimo Nightowls of the West Coast League and former big leaguer and coach Gorman Heimueller. We reflect on the past and present history of Gorm in baseball as his begins this his 50th Season. We are so proud of you Gorm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Ridgefield Raptors are off to one of their best starts in years - and on this episode, we dig into why. After missing the WCL playoffs for the first time since their 2019 inaugural season, the Raptors came into 2026 with one goal: get back to the postseason. Through the first month of the summer, they've delivered, capping a stretch of series wins with three straight over the second place Wall...

In this episode Ben sits down at opening day in Ridgefield, Washington with friend of the podcast and Executive Vice President of Operations for the Ridgefield Raptors and Black Bears of the West Coast League. Its been awhile, so we decided to catch-up on both teams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben and Travis are live from West Coast League opening night in Ridgefield, Washington to see the Ridgefield Raptors take on the Nanaimo Nightowls. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben sits down to catch up with friend of the podcast and Managing Partner of the West Coast League Victoria HarbourCats and Nanaimo Nightowls. Its been a few years since we last spoke with Jim, so we catch up on whats going on the last two years and what we can expect this year from the two teams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Ben welcomes everyone back for season 7. He talks about why he has been awhile for about two year. Discusses changes to the West Coast League Championship format and provides a coaching update for the Nanaimo Nightowls. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Ben sits down with current West Coast League skipper of the defending back-to-back Champions Corvallis Knights. We discuss his personal baseball history in high school, Linfield College and Oregon State University. Further, we talk about his time in the minor leagues and his coaching history with the Perth Heat of the Australian Baseball League. Additionally we get in to discussing...

In this episode Ben sits down with Jesuit High School baseball player and top 100 player in 2023 for the State of Oregon to watch. Dustin discusses his first years of baseball and how he got in to it. He also talks about taking batting practice in the house with his father. Funny thing is his dad said after the episode recording the had to stop because of dents in the walls. Listen to learn more a...

In this episode Ben sites down with the boys of baseballmapper.com, Cory and Patrick to talk about their amazing website where you can go and find just about any baseball in your area, whenever traveling, or for leisure. We also discuss the ins and outs of why they created the site, the things they have done, their baseball history and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon...

In this episode Ben sits down with the General Manager of the Alaska Goldpanners. They discuss the history of the panners, Major Leaguers who have played for the team, what it is like to play baseball in Fairbanks, AK, John's baseball history, and much more. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode Ben brings to you information regarding Salt Lake City Utah's newest effort to bring Major League Baseball to their city and who is behind it. Further, Ben shares some insight into how there have been some nuggets of information for the past two years shared in the news showing us the effort has been in development right in front of our eyes. He also discusses his feelings...

In this episode Ben sat down, live in Hillsboro, Oregon at Ron Tonkin Field, home of the Hillsboro Hops - High A Affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, to have a discussion with their super fan Hippidy Hop Guy. We talk about how he came to love the team, what he has liked over the last three years and the stories he has. Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Ben sits down with former Big Leaguer and current Victoria HabourCats head baseball Coach Todd Haney. We talk about his career in the bigs and what is it like to coach in Victoria British Columbia, Canada. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Ben sits down with SW Washington resident and baseball fan John Scukanec. We discuss John's goal to play catch for 365 days, what it was like, who he met, and much more. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we catch up with Managing Partner for the West Coast Leagues Nanaimo Nightowls and Victoria HarbourCats Jim Swanson. We talk about the ups and downs of the pandemic, 2022 season, and what lies ahead for both teams in 2023. Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Ben sits down with the owner of the Summer Collegiate Baseball team Jeff Dobish of the Canyon County Spuds. Jeff talks about his first year as owner of the team, dives into what happened for year 1, what to look forward to in year 2 and so much more. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this inning of Coal Ball we talk with new pitching coach of the Nanaimo Nightowls and former Major Leaguer Gorman Heimueller. Coach talks about his early baseball history, giving up a grand slam to Jim Rice at Fenway Park in Boston and becoming a coach for one of the newest baseball summer collegiate teams in the West Coast League. Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc...

In this extra innings of Coal Ball Ben sits down with one of the greatest baseball players ever to come out of Nanaimo British Columbia, former Major Leaguer Aaron Guiel. Listen in to hear about what it took for Aaron to make it to the majors, his sets backs, Japan baseball, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gus Farah, GM for the West Coast Leagues Ridgefield Raptors and the Cowlitz Black Bears sits down with Ben for a great discussion about the two teams. He talk about 2021 and what it was like for them operating during a pandemic and adjusting to changes. He also talks about what lies ahead for both teams rolling in to the 2022 season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we sit down with Jim Swanson, Managing Partner, Victoria HarbourCats and Nanaimo Nightowls to discuss life after the Covid Lockdown. Jim discusses the new inaugural season for the Nightowls and everything the City of Nanaimo and the ownership group has done to get the field ready. Further, we discuss the upcoming season for the Victoria HarbourCats and what we can expect this seaso...

Ben sites down for an epic interview with University Alumni Quintin Torres-Costa to talk about his baseball career today. We discuss his time at Hawaii, two Tommy John surgeries and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Ben sit down with the former play-by-play analysis for the West Coast Leagues Port Angeles Lefties and the Ridgefield Raptors Bryan Sleik. Currently, Bryan conducts play-by-play for the University of Portland Basketball, Volleyball and Baseball. Give a listen and learn more how to be a better play-by-play analysis. Cheers! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi...