The Car Ride Home with the Alliance Fastpitch

In this episode of The Car Ride Home Podcast, host Jami Lobpries sits down with Jazz Jackson Vesely—President of Impact Gold, former LSU standout, and one of the most influential leaders in youth fastpitch—to talk about the moments that shaped her journey from player to program leader. Impact Gold, led by Jazz, is a two-time Club Champion with the Alliance Fastpitch (2025, 2023 seasons) and has pr...

Join the car ride home with CJ Beatty — The Baseball & Softball Motivator, former college and professional athlete, music artist, and proud girl dad — for a powerful, heart-driven ride on this episode of The Car Ride Home Podcast. Hosted by Jami Lobpries, this conversation dives deep into what fuels today’s youth athletes — from confidence-building and family connection to the mindset that tur...

UCLA star infielder Jordan Woolery joins the Car Ride Home to give youth softball parents and travel-ball athletes real, actionable advice on the journey from travel softball in the Alliance Fastpitch to elite college softball. An Alliance alum, AFCS National Champion and Alliance All-Star, Jordan explains how the habits she built in travel ball translate to success in college softball —plus the r...

Buckle up! In this Car Ride Home, host Jami Lobpries chats with Coach Rene Ciccarello of the Tampa Mustangs about how a small, boutique club in Florida grew into a travel ball powerhouse in the Southeast. We talk about the history of the Tampa Mustangs organization, the culture and coaching philosophy inside the organization which started with Ray Seymour, and player development inside their organ...

Buckle up! In this Car Ride Home, host Jami Lobpries talks with Ray McDonald , the leader of Warrior Academy in the San Francisco Bay Area . Ray shares how his club trains hitters, sharpens defense, and builds strong mindsets so players can grow on and off the field, and teams can compete at the highest level. Ray's 16u Warrior team won the 2025 AFCS National Championship, the second AFCS Nati...

Hop in for this special episode of The Car Ride Home, where we sit down with Andrew Biele, founder and CEO of AthletesGoLive-the official live scoring and streaming partner of Alliance Fastpitch. If you’re a parent of a youth softball player, this is the episode you can’t miss! Andrew shares the inspiring story behind why he created AthletesGoLive, tackling the real challenges families face in you...

Car Ride Home Podcast: How Ryan Taylor Built a National Softball Powerhouse in the MidwestIn this episode, we sit down with Ryan Taylor, founder of Aces Fastpitch, who shares how he transformed a single softball team into a nationally recognized organization. From his wrestling background to coaching philosophy, Ryan reveals the development strategies that elevated midwestern athletes to compete w...

Ever wondered what it takes to lead a movement that transforms the world of youth sports? In this special episode of Car Ride Home, we flip the script and interview our usual host, Jami Lobpries, CEO of Alliance Fastpitch. Jami shares her inspiring journey from athlete to leader, diving deep into the challenges and triumphs of building a thriving community in fastpitch softball. Join us as we expl...

In this special Women’s History Month episode of the Car Ride Home Podcast, host Jami Lobpries sits down with Jill Crawford Higdon—former collegiate softball star, co-founder of Connect Sports and Fury Platinum, and a trailblazer in women’s sports leadership. Jill shares her inspiring journey from a local athlete in Louisiana to entrepreneur, detailing how she broke barriers in the male-dominated...

Hear some of the most memorable car rides from our guests in Season I. Every episode begins with the question "what is your most memorable car ride home?" Athletes, parents, and coaches share their stories. Can you relate to any of these parents or athletes? Are you THAT Dad as Ryker Chason shares?!Current pro players like Sis Bates, Aliyah Andrews, Sierra Romero and Amanda Lorenz as well as curre...

Ever wondered what it takes to go from playing baseball with the boys to becoming a pro softball star? On this episode of 'Car Ride Home,' we talk with Rachel Folden about her unconventional path, the challenges she faced, and the mindset that fueled her success. Rachel shares stories from her childhood in Southern California, her time at Marshall University, and her standout career in the...

In this history-driven episode of the Car Ride Home Podcast, host Jami Lobpries sits down with Tony Rico, the visionary President of the Firecrackers Softball organization, for an unfiltered deep dive into the heart of youth travel sports from then to now. Episode Highlights: An insider's perspective on the evolution of travel softball Candid discussion about developing athletes beyond the game In...

In this episode of the Car Ride Home podcast, host Jami Lobpries sits down with Brandon Guyer, a former Major League Baseball player and the founder of Major League Mindset. Join us as we delve into the critical role of mental strength training for youth athletes and their parents. Brandon shares insights from his journey in professional baseball and discusses how mental resilience can significant...

Join us as we sit down with three-time All-American pitcher and former USA National Team member, Dana Sorensen. Dana shares her incredible journey from Stanford to her work today as the founder of Sorensen Elite, where she coaches the next generation of athletes. Dana offers fascinating insights into why softball pitching is unlike any other sport and why overuse in youth pitchers can lead to long...

In this special "National Champions Edition" of The Car Ride Home Podcast, host Jami Lobpries is joined by Scott Smith, head coach of the Texas Bombers 18U, to dive deep into their historic run at the Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series (AFCS). Fresh off their 18U national championship victory, Scott shares behind-the-scenes insights into the team's journey, recounting everything...

Chef Megan shares her recipe for success in this latest edition of The Car Ride Home. Megan Grant, a standout player for UCLA softball, boasts an impressive list of accolades including two-time Pac-12 First Team selection, two-time All-Region honoree, 2023 All-American, Top 10 Finalist for National Freshman of the Year, and member of Team USA program. In this insightful conversation, Megan reflect...

Teagan Kavan, a standout pitcher for the University of Texas, had an impressive freshman season, earning accolades such as Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Top 10 finalist for National Freshman of the Year, and a spot on the Women's College World Series All-Tournament Team. In this insightful conversation, Teagan reflects on her journey from Iowa travel ball to becoming a key player for the Longho...

In this episode, we sit down with Eileen Canney Linehan, former Northwestern All-American pitcher and professional player in both Japan and the NPF. Eileen shares her personal journey with the yips. Now, as the founder of ECL Consulting, she helps athletes overcome performance anxiety and mental blocks. Eileen discusses her struggles and triumphs, emphasizing the importance of resilience, self-acc...

Dena Tyson-Slye, three-time Women's College World Series participant and All-American at the University of Washington, as well as a successful coach within the Corona Angels organization, shares her insights on softball, personal growth, and leaving a positive legacy. Dena opens up about her own struggles as a college player and how vulnerability has shaped her coaching style. She emphasizes t...

Ali Newland, LSU senior outfielder and catcher, SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year, and outfielder extradordinaire, dives into this episode of The Car Ride Home. In this wide-ranging conversation, Ali shares insights from her softball journey and discusses the importance of serving others and leaving a positive legacy. Ali jumps into her experience playing travel ball, championship moments with her t...

In possibly the funniest episode yet of The Car Ride Home, host Jami Lobpries engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Sam Fischer and Haylie McCleney. The conversation delves into the challenges and triumphs of pursuing a career in professional softball, with Sam and Haylie sharing their experiences and insights on the importance of adaptability, personal growth, and the continuous pursuit...

In this episode of The Car Ride Home, host Jami Lobpries is joined by Maria Jennings, the mother of softball stars Tiare and Tele Jennings. Maria shares her experiences as a dedicated softball mom, discussing the sacrifices and joys that come with supporting her daughters' athletic careers. Throughout the conversation, Maria reflects on her daughters' unique journeys, from their early days...

In this episode of the Car Ride Home Podcast, we sit down with Morgan Stuart, the powerhouse behind Defense Club and a renowned infield coach. Stuart, a national champion from the University of Washington with a rich professional and international playing background, examines her passion for developing softball players and how her own experiences shaped her coaching philosophy. From the fundamenta...

In this episode of the Car Ride Home Podcast, we buckle up with Suzy Willemssen, a trailblazer in women’s fastpitch softball, as we navigate her influential roles as the founder of Glory Fastpitch, head coach of the 18u and under Virginia Glory team, and a hall of fame inductee. We delve into Suzy’s early experiences in softball, starting off in baseball, and the evolution of her passion into a co...

In this episode of the Car Ride Home, join host Jami Lobpries as she rides shotgun with Amanda Lorenz. As they cruise through conversations about confidence, preparation, and memorable car rides, Amanda shares insights from her time as a four-time All-American at the University of Florida and her journey in professional softball. From breaking down her 'see ball, hit ball' philosophy to di...