The Rundown

This week on The Rundown we give you a recap of the Minnesota Senior Men’s Adult Baseball Association World Series and the performance of our beloved Lakeville Lobos. We are also joined by Kirsten Verdun, Wisconsin Badgers Associate Head Coach to talk pitching, and pitch calling with one of the Big 10’s best. Fall Softball is also upon us and we give a brief purview of the Labor Day weekend Fall S...

On this episode of The Rundown Tori and Mike recap our time spent away from the game and share some inside info on our whereabouts and what we did to relax and get ready for another exciting fall club season. We are also joined by Northwestern University Head Coach and 2022 Big 10 Coach of the Year, Kate Drohan! Kate gives us some great intel on the success of her program and how crucial team lead...

On this week’s episode of The Rundown Mike and Tori recap the end of the 2022 summer season and share a bit about our experience playing the top competition in the nation at the 2022 Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series in Kokomo Indiana. We also get a quick story from Tori on his near death experience with a fence! Our guests on the show include Midwest Speed pitching and hitting extraordinaire...

This week on The Rundown a very busy Tori and Mike bring you the newly named assistant coach at the University of St. Thomas, and fastpitch guru, Nat Wagner! Nat gives us great insight into his coaching career, philosophies, and gives us a bit of an “under the hood” look into his exceptional "student of the game" approach. We are also joined by Midwest Speed 15U National Head Coach, Don...

In this week’s episode of The Rundown Tori and I give you a full report on the epic journey and saga of the Triple Crown Sparkler and the IDT in Denver Colorado. We also bring you along for the highs and lows of the USSSA Minnesota Top Tier State Tournament and give you a recap and highlight the great teams and programs that took home the titles in each age bracket! For our guest this week we are...

On this week’s episode of The Rundown we take you on the road to the Windy City for the HFL/Alliance National Championship qualifier. It was a wild week highlighted by a tournament victory, a bid to Nationals, time spent with an old friend, and a chance to meet Eddie Vedder! We also had a great conversation with 2019 National Champion head coach, Gretta Melsted of Augustana. Coach Melsted provides...

This week on The Rundown Mike and Tori bring you two amazing guests and bring into focus the most impactful legislation ever written for the protection and advancement of women's sports - most commonly known as Title IX. On the 50th anniversary of this landmark legislation we find ourselves reflecting upon the growth of women’s athletics and yet recognize the reality that there is still a lon...

In this week’s episode of The Rundown Tori and Mike recap an amazing weekend at the 2022 Lexi Kretsch Summer Showdown! We spend time with Co-Director of the Midwest Speed Jeremy Chell and preview the S&C Summer Showcase. The next big event of this new and fast moving summer club ball season is upon us!! In our final segment we recap the MSHSL State tournament and find out just how accurate we...

On this week’s episode of The Rundown Mike and Tori bring a fully packed episode to you with guests Mike Carter and Emily Hansen. Mike Carter of the Minnesota Vortex/A’s chats with us about the Lexi Kretsch Summer Showdown and shares the impact that Lexi’s beautiful life left on him, his program, and now via her namesake tournament, the greater fastpitch community in our area! Emily Hansen of the...

This week on The Rundown Tori and Mike talk recruiting and program building with 22 year head coach, Greg Jones of Winona State University. Greg gives us some great insight into the recruiting process and advice on how to handle what is supposed to be an exciting and fun time for the player and family. Tori and Mike hit you with the latest updates on MSHSL section play and give a couple of shout o...

In this week’s episode of The Rundown we cover the dynamic position of catcher, and connect with former Minnesota Twins Bullpen Catcher, Twins Youth Academy Clinician, Augsburg Baseball Alumni, and current Midwest Speed Catching Instructor, Bryan Ludwig. Bryan breaks down the paradigm shift in catching instruction and brings to light the foundations behind this new era of the position. As always,...

This week on The Rundown Tori and Mike catch up with Penny Foore, Head Coach of the 2022 MIAC Champion Bethel University Royals! We talk with Penny and wish her squad the best of luck as they represent their University in their first appearance in the NCAA Championship tournament. Penny talks about her approach, coaching background, and the fun times coaching with her husband Roman, and Tori and M...

On this week's episode of The Rundown Tori and Mike connect with Jim Hanson, Director of Clutch Hitters, and Commissioner of the Pine to Prairie women’s adult fastpitch league! Jim reviews his earlier career and how coaching filled what he felt was “missing” in his life. We cover the roots and mission of Clutch Hitters, talk pitch calling, the club fastpitch scene, and the creation and succes...

This week The Rundown catches up with former Prior Lake and Auburn Tiger great, Justus Perry, and chat about her unparalleled journey to the top level of College softball and the next step in her career as a coach with St. Catherine's University and the Midwest Speed. Mike and Tori update you on another great week of MSHSL softball and feature commentary on a few big matchups in the South Sub...

This week on The Rundown Michelle Tafoya visits with Mike and Tori about her illustrious career in broadcasting and touches on what she has planned for the future. Michelle gives some great insights on the secrets to her success and stresses the importance of hard work. Athletes, parents, coaches, and friends of the podcast…you don't want to miss this one! We can all take something from the e...

On this week’s episode of The Rundown Mike and Tori have an important talk about the current shortage of umpires in the game of fastpitch softball with Jeremy Shibley. We share a couple of stories from our not so proud moments, but more importantly discuss how we can all work to better our game and ensure we have the much needed umpires our athletes and the game deserves! We also talk with John Ke...

This week on The Rundown Tori and Mike cover a few of the early season MSHSL softball games and offer a bit of commentary on results that stood out. This episode catches up with MN Vikings great, Superbowl XLVII Champion, and current Lt. Governor candidate Matt Birk. In conversation with Matt, we tackle some of the big issues facing Minnesota and discuss the importance of protecting women's s...

 In this episode of The Rundown we are joined by All-American pitcher from the Minnesota Gophers Amber Fiser! She talks about leading the Maroon and Gold Women’s Softball team to their 1st College World Series, her mentality and strategy in the circle, and much more. Mike and Tori are also joined by Sean Hall, Co-Director of Midwest Speed and Co-owner of S&C Sports Services. Sean sits down and...

On this week's episode of The Rundown we go “around the horn” with a standing update from division 1 NCAA, NCIS, UMAC, and MIAC. We talk teams on the rise and give a shout out to some local coaches and programs that are making things happen in the UMAC and MIAC. Director of the Minnesota Force club softball program and Hall of Fame shortstop of the Arizona Wildcats, Julie Standering talks abo...

On this episode of The Rundown Tori and Mike bring three amazing guests “into the circle!" US Olympic Hockey Champion and former Warroad “softball" player Gigi Marvin leads us off talking about multi-sport athletes, her time playing fastpitch and her 5 trips to the MSHSL State Softball Tournament, and patience in the recruiting process. Batting in the 2 hole for The Rundown will be Chels...

On this inaugural episode of The Rundown you'll meet show hosts Tori Holt and Mike Orth - coaches with Midwest Speed Fastpitch and directors with S&C Sports Services. Tori and Mike will give you the inside scoop on the direction and focus of this exciting look into the fantastic game of fastpitch softball in Minnesota and beyond. On this episode, you will hear from former All-American Gol...