Tory Acheson & Don McKinlay

Everything Fastpitch - The Podcast

Sports EN ↓ 730 episodes

Everything Fastpitch is a podcast hosted by Coach Tory Acheson and Coach Don McKinlay. Tory and Don are former college coaches that are now full time instructors and travel ball coaches. Since retiring form active collegiate coaching they have committed themselves to providing educational materials to the fastpitch community. This podcast is one of the resources they are providing. Their website has 500+ blog posts and they have a YouTube channel. All of these cover fastpitch softball from coaching and training beginner athletes up through college athletes. It is a great resource for players,...

Author

Tory Acheson & Don McKinlay

Category

Sports

Podcast website

www.fastpitchprep.com

Latest episode

Jul 8, 2026

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Episodes

Professional Softball Leagues, Transfer Portal Experiences with Alan Vanhook, and Key Coaching Strategies 08.07.2026

Coach Tory and Coach Don preview episode 428 with segments including a Did You Know?, equipment tip, listener question, and an interview with Alan Vanhook, plus a coaching tip on practicing all game situations. They highlight the Professional Softball League (WPSL) as another strong women’s pro option alongside AUSL, noting six teams (including Atlanta Smoke) and urging support for pro opportuniti...

Understanding NCAA's 5-for-5 Rule, College Planning with Shellee Howard, and Bridging Practice to Game Success 02.07.2026

Coach Tory and Coach Don discuss the NCAA’s new Division I “5-for-5” age-based eligibility model (five years to play five seasons, with limited exemptions), including potential recruiting impacts that may favor transfers and junior colleges. City of the Week is Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  A listener prompt compares Oklahoma softball missing the Women’s College World Series while Oklahoma baseb...

AUSL Growth / Strike Zone Concerns / Defensive Development with Morgan Stuart 24.06.2026

Coach Tory and Coach Don open Episode 426 by previewing the show, promoting Patreon, and naming Kansas City, Missouri as City of the Week. They discuss the AUSL’s strong ratings and attendance with the new home-site format, while raising concerns about converted baseball fields and teams missing star players still playing in Japan. A listener question reports an umpire saying the entire ball must...

Interview with female athlete Confidence Coach Bre Smedley / Keep Practices Fresh 17.06.2026

Coach Tory and Coach Don open by covering a good news/bad news “Did You Know”: the passing of renowned short-game coach Larry Ray, and the June 9 start of the AUSL season with many televised games, plus discussion of intentional walks to star hitter Megan Grant. The city of the week is Omaha, Nebraska. They answer a listener question about whether Texas Tech is leaning into a “heel” persona amid N...

Monica Abbott Interview with advice and opinions / Handling Conflicting Instruction 10.06.2026

Coach Tory and Coach Don preview episode 424 of Everything Fastpitch, recap the Women’s College World Series (Texas repeats as Division I champion behind Teagan Cavan; record-setting attendance in Oklahoma City), and discuss the irony of all-time great pitchers (Monica Abbott, Cat Osterman, NiJaree Cannady) not winning national titles. They compare Texas Tech’s transfer/NIL-built roster to a “wres...

Home Field Advantage / Interview with Chip Pugh / Practice Attendance and Playing Time / Coaching Gadgets 03.06.2026

In episode 423 of Everything Fastpitch, Coach Tory and Coach Don preview segments and encourage Patreon support, then share a Did You Know about UCLA’s Megan Grant hitting 40+ home runs to crush a record held since 1995 despite playing about 20 fewer games, with Grant also having been part of UCLA’s national-championship women’s basketball team. City of the Week is Oklahoma City, reflecting a down...

Measuring Improvement / Interview with Marla Townsend / Collegiate Summer League / Getting out of a rut 27.05.2026

Coach Tory and Coach Don preview episode 422 of Everything Fastpitch, including a “Did You Know” and City of the Week Las Vegas. They answer a listener question about measuring improvement beyond stats, emphasizing observation, confidence, quality at-bats, and long-term development over instant results. Tory interviews former UAB coach Marla Townsend about her Compete mental performance system (12...

Decision Regrets / Interview with Megan Rembielak / Managing a player who coaches other players 20.05.2026

Everything Fastpitch episode 421 with Coach Tory and Coach Don previews warm-up segments and features an interview with social media instructor Megan Rembielak. They recap early NCAA Division I regional results and notable games, including Oregon’s elimination by Mississippi State amid pitching injuries, seeded teams advancing (Alabama, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia), Florida State’s loss to S...

Tryout Fee / D1 Tournament Breakdown / How elite athletes handle mistakes / In-game video coaching 13.05.2026

Coach Torrey and Coach Don preview episode 420 of Everything Fastpitch, beginning with “good news, bad news”: UCLA’s Megan Grant sets the single-season home run record with 38, but a Big Ten Network replay skipped the record-breaking at-bat in favor of injury and replay footage. They answer a listener question about a $50 travel-ball tryout fee, agreeing the biggest issue is not disclosing it upfr...

"Blame Game" / Types of hitting coaches / College Tournaments / Do coaches have favorites? 06.05.2026

Coach Torrey hosts Episode 419 solo outlining warm-up items, a hitting proverb discussion, a Division I postseason preview, and a coaching “confession.” He notes an NCAA Division I proposal to shift eligibility from five years to play four seasons to a five-year window allowing five seasons. The city of the week is Columbia, South Carolina, and the equipment tip spotlights Fastpitch Prep’s Square...

Challenge to be a multi-sport athlete / Interview with Bill Hoopes, a dynamic leader, accomplished educator, and seasoned coach / Balance Reps with Instruction 29.04.2026

Coach Tory and Coach Don host Everything Fast Pitch open with thanking patrons and previewing segments. They discuss the SEC’s plan to make Madison, Alabama’s Toyota Field the permanent home of the SEC softball tournament from 2027–2030, replacing rotating campus sites, and note Lexington, Kentucky is the last on-campus host through 2030. The city spotlight is Oklahoma City. A listener prompts dis...

Shifting Recruiting Opportunities / Negative Fans and "Super Fans" / Stop Bashing School-Ball Coaches / Better Situational Decision Making 22.04.2026

Coach Tory and Coach Don record Everything Fast Pitch episode 417 via Zoom from Canada, previewing segments and thanking Patreon supporters. They note the NCAA’s Division I softball transfer portal window will open the Monday after the Women’s College World Series and last 15 days, aiming to tighten timing and discuss how the portal changes recruiting without eliminating opportunities, especially...

Engaging a Struggling Team / Guest Player Guidelines / Fielding Instruction by a Baseball Player / Coaching Styles 15.04.2026

Coach Tory and Coach Don record episode 416 and preview segments on pickup player etiquette, baseball vs. softball fielding, and coaching styles In “Did You Know,” Tory argues the Division I strike zone has become overly hitter-friendly, citing 185 hitters over .400 late in the season, and says it hurts pitchers despite consistent umpiring; Don notes pros and cons and the sport’s evolution. City o...

Umpire Shortage / Year Round Softball / Rule of Thirds / Pitchers and Fielding / Small TV Strike Zone 08.04.2026

Coach Tory and Coach Don preview episode 415, thank patrons, and highlight Nebraska hosting UCLA with over 8,000 fans as a possible true home-field regular-season attendance record, noting softball’s growth. The city of the week is Bloomington, Indiana, and they promote Square Cuts training discs and sponsors EAS and Elite Sporting Goods. A listener reports Tennessee varsity games canceled due to...

Division 1 or Bust? / Expectations for young players / Banana Ball style tournament / Discipline - Be consistent 01.04.2026

Coach Tory and Coach Don preview episode 414, thank Patreon supporters, and share a “good news, bad news” did-you-know: pitching coach Bill Hillhouse has died after battling cancer, while Oklahoma pitching coach Jennifer Rocha has returned to the dugout after her own cancer fight, alongside encouragement to support cancer research. The City of the Week is Oxford, Mississippi. A recruiting listener...

Approaching an umpire / Changes in women's athletics / Crack or scratched bats / Practice communication 25.03.2026

Coach Tory and Coach Don preview episode 413 of Everything Fast Pitch, thank Patreon supporters, and highlight “Did You Know” that Florida State’s Isa Torres set an NCAA Division I record with 16 consecutive hits. The city of the week is Houston, Texas. They answer a listener question about the best way to request clarification from an umpire, emphasizing calm, specific, rule-based questions rathe...

Help with players ignoring instructions / Interview about recruiting and a new app / Body Language 18.03.2026

Coach Tory and Coach Don preview episode 412, thank patrons, and share USA Softball Hall of Fame news honoring Monica Abbott and the Raybestos Brakettes. City of the Week is Madison, Wisconsin, and a Player of the Week recognized for work ethic and leadership. Tory answers a listener question about 10U players ignoring instructions, discussing accountability, consequences, and today’s team-hopping...

Opinions from other podcasters / Time-Limit games and wasted time / Coaches self-evaluation tool 12.03.2026

Coach Tory and Coach Don preview episode 411 and note that UCLA’s Kelly Inouye-Perez has become the winningest coach in UCLA softball history. City of the week is Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A listener asks why Liberty isn’t ranked in the D1 softball poll; they explain Liberty is still a mid-major, has played a very tough early schedule, and may rise later. Part two of an interview with Ken Krause and...

Pitcher Warm-Up Time / Podcaster Interview / It's Not "D1 or Bust" / Have a Practice Plan 04.03.2026

Coach Tory and Coach Don open episode 410 with a show rundown. Tory issues corrections: when last week’s undefeated Power Four teams segment released, North Carolina and Grand Canyon were also unbeaten. This week’s City of the Week is Spartanburg, South Carolina, citing USC Upstate, nearby JUCOs, and the Tiger River softball complex. Player of the Week is a player recognized for commitment and rap...

Shifts in Division 1 Recruiting / "Non-Parent Coaches" / Rotating Players Every Inning / Picking a Bat 26.02.2026

Coach Tory and Coach Don preview and record Everything Fast Pitch episode 409 via Zoom, highlighting a listener-driven show and thanking supporters on patreon.com/everythingfastpitch. In the warmup “Did You Know,” they note three Division I undefeated teams at the time of recording—Tennessee, Florida, and Alabama—and discuss SEC strength and ongoing top-team dominance. The city of the week is Hunt...

More on field coaches in college / Sports Illustrated Article / Sara Mosley Interview / Batting Practice 18.02.2026

Coach Tory and Coach Don welcome you to Episode 408 of Everything Fast Pitch. In “Did You Know,” they cover an NCAA rule change allowing all institutional staff in baseball/softball to provide technical and tactical instruction through the end of the current season, noting it may widen the gap between well-funded “super schools” and smaller programs.  A listener question  addresses a Sports Illust...

Prioritize Player Development / Sara Mosley Interview / Anna Nickel of GameChanger Interview / Practice the difficult 11.02.2026

In this action-packed episode of Everything Fast Pitch by Fast Pitch Prep, Coach Tory and Coach Don cover multiple topics. They introduce the City of the Week and Player of the Week and discuss the feedback from a listener about the importance of prioritizing player development over playing games. In their lead-off segment, they highlight the Professional Softball League's new minor league sy...

Coaching a skill you are weak at / Skipping Practices for Games / Backing Up is not optional 04.02.2026

In episode 406 of Everything Fast Pitch by Fast Pitch Prep, Coach Tory and Coach Don delve into several listener-driven topics and provide insights into effective softball coaching and team management strategies.  The lead-off segment tackles a query from a high school coach looking to improve his pitching coaching skills. The hosts advise taking advantage of online resources, developing a collabo...

College Camp Challenges for multi-position players /Interview with new podcasters / Model Good Behavior 28.01.2026

This episode of Everything Fast Pitch by Fast Pitch Prep features Coach Tory and Coach Don discussing several engaging segments. They cover the 'Did You Know' with preseason D1 softball rankings and emphasize the dominance of teams like Oklahoma, Texas Tech, and Texas. The episode also highlights Houston, Mississippi as the City of the Week and a Player of the Week. The equipment tip foc...

Judging Coaches / D1 Softball with Justin McLeod / Coaches, you can't do it by yourself 21.01.2026

In this week's episode of Everything Fast Pitch by Fast Pitch Prep, Coaches Tory and Don record their 404th episode, packed with insightful content. The warmup segment reveals news about AUSL professional softball team locations, including the Durham Blaze, Portland Cascade, Chicago Bandits, Utah Talents, Texas Volts, and Oklahoma City Spark. Additionally, they celebrate Ames, Iowa, as the Ci...

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