Moms and Baseball

Today we discuss mental performance training with Jay Thooft . Jay is a mental performance expert from Denver, Colorado. He is the owner of PERC (Performance Excellence and Recovery Consulting) and also has an active YouTube channel - Train with PERC . Jay discusses 4 important aspects of youth training, including the often-overlooked mental aspect, and offers a telltale sign that an athlete could...

Have you ever heard, "The pitcher threw a Maddux ?"   What about what this means: 6+4+3= 2 or a 6-4-3 play? Or, do you know why an easily-catchable fly ball is called a can of corn? We discuss this baseball jargon in today's episode, along with several others. People who are brand new to baseball should appreciate learning a lot of baseball terminology, and long-time baseball fans w...

Today we discuss the intangible benefits, or non-baseball benefits, of travel ball. (We will save the benefits of community rec ball and little league for another day :)  We thought it would be fun to have a veteran travel ball mom join us to speak about long-term benefits she has been able to observe over a long period of time.  So today we are joined by guest Sue Wood. Sue is a mom of 4 kids, ag...

Today we discuss wiffle ball and are joined by some special guests to give us the down low on Major League Wiffle (MLW). We are so excited to finally be joined by Stephanie's son, Keegan, and Diana's son, Xander (both 13-years-old), who recently competed in the Wiffle in the Mitten tournament and are fans of the MLW YouTube channel. You can follow our guests on their baseball Instagram a...

This week we have another Dads Takeover episode as Patrick and Trevor discuss the  USA Baseball NTIS system.  From State Tryouts, to Regional Tryouts, to the Champions Cup in Cary, North Carolina, the dads look to shed some light on the process. Follow Moms and Baseball: Keep up with Moms and Baseball on our website: https://momsandbaseball.com Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter Join...

In episode 54, we discuss the PBR Junior Future Games in Emerson, GA. Diana was not available for this episode, so we have a special guest. We are joined by Stephanie's husband, Patrick Malley,  to discuss his experience at this PBR Showcase . This invite only event was PBR Junior Future Games at LakePoint Sports Complex in Emerson, GA on July 28th- August 1st. In this episode we discuss: Wha...

In episode 53, we discuss all things about the Ripken Experience at Myrtle Beach. Note that Stephanie is absent from this episode as she is currently traveling for yet another baseball experience with her oldest son. This is your "unofficial" guide to Ripken Experience to help you prepare and make the most out of your time in Myrtle Beach. We are also joined by a special guest, Brian Ste...

In episode 52, we discuss all things about Ballparks of America in Branson, Missouri. This is your "unofficial" guide to Ballparks of America to help you prepare and make the most out of your time in Branson, MO. We are also joined by a special guest, Steve Beson. Steve stayed with our boys 24-7 in the dorms at Ballparks of America and gave us some insight on his experience. The tourname...

We recently attended the Ballparks of America tournament and the Ripken Experience in back-to-back weeks. First, Stephanie and Diana travelled to Branson, Missouri for the Ballparks of America Show Me Shootout tournament with our 13u team July 16-22, and then Diana's family left Missouri the following day to travel to the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach with our 12u team for the Wave Rider...

USSSA Major Illinois State Championship June 25-27 11u Location: Louisville Slugger Sports Complex Rating Facility:  5/ 5 points  Tournament Management: 5/ 5 points Fees: 4/ 5 points  Restrooms: 5/5 points  Umpires: 1.5/ 3 points Concessions: 1.5/ 2 points  Miscellaneous: 3.5/ 5 points TOTAL RATING: Rounds up to 26/ 30  (HOME RUN) Mentions Bullpen Tournaments at Grand Park Review YouTube Video: Co...

In this episode, we discuss how to prepare for a travel team tryout, what to expect, tryout "Do's" and "Don'ts" for players and parents, things that parents should be looking out for at a tryout, and what to do in the worst case scenario--if your child doesn't make the team or is cut from a team. We are joined by return guest host, Dr. Trevor Grice. Trevor is goi...

Michigan Monster - Hawks Gold & USSSA Tournament June 7-9 -- 13u Locations: Hidden Springs Church - Howell Our Savior Church - Hartland Ore Creek MS - Hartland Rating Facility:  2.5/ 5 points  Tournament Management: 4/ 5 points Fees: 4.5/ 5 points  Restrooms: 2/5 points  Umpires: 1.5/ 3 points Concessions: 0/ 2 points  Miscellaneous: 3/ 5 points TOTAL RATING: Rounds up to 18/ 30  (BASE HIT) No...

King of the Ring Tournament hosted by GFABSA June 4-6 -- 13u Location: Bicentennial Park Grand Blanc, Michigan Rating Facility:  2/ 5 points  Tournament Management: 4.5/ 5 points Fees: 5/ 5 points  Restrooms: 3.5/5 points  Umpires: 2/ 3 points Concessions: 1.5/ 2 points  Miscellaneous: 2.5/ 5 points TOTAL RATING: 21/ 30  (DOUBLE) Note: Our reviews are completely based on our own personal opinions,...

On this episode we are discussing strength and conditioning training with special guest, Alex Puskarich. Alex has spent time with the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League, a Reds Rookie Level affiliate, with the Class A-Advanced Daytona Tortugas in the Florida State League, with the Greenville Reds of the Appalachian League, and interned at Cressey Sports Performance in Hudson, MA. Alex is curr...

USSSA Super Select 30 Super NIT Review May 21-23, 2021 17- 12u teams Location: Dayton, Ohio US Action Sports Center Special Guests: Brian & Jenny Stephens Rating: Fields/Facilities: 4/ 5 points Tournament management: 4/ 5 points Fees: 4.5/ 5 points Restrooms: 4/ 5 points Umpires:  3/ 3 points Concessions: 2/ 2 points *Miscellaneous: 4.5/ 5 points Overall score: 26 (HOME RUN)  *Update, it looks...

Perfect Game Summer Super 25   May 28-30th -- 11u & 13u Location: Joliet, IL Inwood Sports Complex Rating Facility:  4/ 5 points  Tournament Management: 4/ 5 points Fees: 3/ 5 points  Restrooms: 5/5 points  Umpires: 2.5/ 3 points Concessions: 1.5/ 2 points  *Miscellaneous: 3/ 5 points TOTAL RATING: 23/ 30  (TRIPLE) *Update: The Runner-Up trophies do say "2nd Place" Note: Our reviews...

Bullpen Tournaments at Grand Park 11u & 13u Location(s): Grand Park Sports Campus Westfield, Indiana Championship Park Kokomo, Indiana Today we talk about Bullpen Tournaments at (primarily) Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana. We have attended four of these tournaments so far: May 7-9 - 11u May Slugfest May 14-16 - 13u Super Select May 21-23 - 11u USSSA Rocks Grand Park June 4-6 - 11u Freedom Cla...

This episode we discuss over 20 baseball myths, or commonly misunderstood baseball rules. These are things that you will hear bleacher coaches (aka parents or family members) often getting wrong at baseball games. Here are a few of the myths we mention: Myth: If a batter does not swing and is struck by a pitch, the batter automatically is awarded first base.  Myth: The runner must turn to his/her...

4th Annual Beaver Bash Review (12u): May 7 - May 9, 2021 Locations: Reed Park Ithaca, Michigan Maple Park Maple Rapids, Michigan Grading Scale: Fields: 3/5 points Tournament Management: 5/5 points Fees: 5/5 Restrooms: 3.5/5 points Umpires: 2.5/3 points (We did not mention in the review but umpires at Reed Park were great. Umpires at Maple Rapids were less great and seemed like they didn't wan...

Mother's Day Classic TBR State Championship Review (13u): May 8 - May 9, 2021 Location: Bailey Park Battle Creek, Michigan Grading Scale: Fields: 4/5 points Tournament Management: 5/5 points Fees: 4/5 (There is also a Stay-to-Play requirement for this tournament that is not mentioned in the review) Restrooms: 4/5 points Umpires: 1.5/3 points Concessions: 1.5/2 points Miscellaneous: 4/5 points...

How expensive is it to play travel baseball? How many times have you been asked this and then taken a deep sigh before explaining? In this episode we discuss how the increasing costs of sports are pushing lower income, or single income, kids out of sports. The typical American family spends about $700 per year on their child's sports activities, but some parents shell out as much as $35,000 ...

Legacy Opening Day Classic : April 23-25, 2021 Locations: Legacy Center Brighton, Michigan Tefft Park Saline, Michigan Fowlerville, Michigan Grading Scale: Fields: 4/5 points Tournament Management: 4.5/5 points Fees: 4.5/5 Restrooms: 3/5 points Umpires: 2.5/3 points Concessions: 1.5/2 points Miscellaneous: 3/5 points TOTAL RATING: 23/30 (TRIPLE) Note: Our reviews are completely based on our own pe...

Total Baseball Earlybird Tournament (13u Only): April 30 - May 2, 2021 Location: Total Sports Complex Wixom, Michigan Grading Scale: Fields: 4/5 points Tournament Management: 4.5/5 points Fees: 4/5 (We did not mention that kids under 18 were supposed to be free, but Stephanie was charged for her child!) Restrooms: 2/5 points Umpires: 1.5/3 points Concessions: 2/2 points Miscellaneous: 3/5 points T...

Moms and Baseball is going to start releasing bonus episodes with reviews of baseball tournaments! Keep checking back to see if we've reviewed a tournament that your team is considering!  As of right now, we are only offering reviews/ratings for tournaments that our current 11u, 12u, or 13u teams have attended. Our reviews are completely based on our own personal opinions, and we are not rece...

Today we are joined by guest Mark Hammond II from the Motor City Hit Dogs 11u Majors team. The Motor City Hit Dogs are known for producing some of the best teams in the state, and we have mentioned their name in previous episodes, including Episode 12 when we talked to Lale Esquivel from the Texas Canes and Episode 20 with Mark Jebb. Coach Hammond shares some insights into how and why his team is...