YBMcast

We are going to reveal the schedule for the upcoming Game 7 Baseball season. We will talk each month and tournaments you don’t want to miss. We also take a look at the venues and what is new, and some brand-new venues coming to Game 7 Baseball. We also get a chance to hear from the directors of these different venues from around the state talking about their amenities, city, and upgrades to each p...

We look at some teams that finished in the top 20 in 2025 and the impact of players in the 2027 class that could keep these teams in the preseason top 20 for the 2026 season. Staley HC Dionandre Josenberger joins us again to talk about these players and how deep these two divisions of the KC Suburban Conference are again this season. Who will make an impact on the Gold and Red divisions for their...

Well, we hope that Shane Eames gets well soon, and we will get him back on the show soon. Until then you get the producer of Youth Baseball Midwest and host of Baseball Talk here talking with Mitch about the World Series, and an array of topics. How Socioeconomics should not affect the opportunity for kids to play the game of baseball and how we can create solutions for kids from every background....

Once again Brett Graves brings his playing perspective to the table and talks about being in high pressure moments and what that means and how players can thrive. Looking at the mental approach to physical execution whether you are in the playoffs or just a big game with any big moment. How an athlete deals with failure — from the standpoint of the team, coaches, and players — can help you continu...

We Coach Cissell welcomes 2nd-year Head Coach of Staley High School, Dionandre Josenberger, to the show. They discuss the expectations that come with taking over a successful program from a Hall of Fame coach — and what it means to lead with purpose after finishing 2nd in Class 6 during his first year at the helm. From setting standards to leading with faith and connection, Coach Josenberger share...

We want to discuss with Coach McGee some of the players that could make an impact on their respective schools and those who take the next step into that elite status as high school players. The southwest is going to be loaded again and the COC will be wide open as we see who will take hold of the southwest in the MSHSAA large school classifications. East and West, who will take charge and emerge a...

On this episode of The Hitting Zone, Mitch Thomas is joined by Brian French to ask the question every baseball player and coach should be thinking about — “What the Fluff?!?” Baseball today is full of “sexy stats” and highlight-reel numbers — but what’s real, and what’s just noise? Mitch and Brian cut through the flash to find the substance: ⚾ Where are the failures in the game of failure? ⚾ Wha...

On this episode of Keep Klimbing with Brett Graves , Brett sits down with Cody Fick, Director of Pitching at Premier Pitching Performance, to talk about one of the most important times of the year — the early offseason. They break down how to approach the first stages of throwing after a long season, including: The importance of deloading the arm and recovery strategy Knowing when and how to ramp...

In this episode of Baseball Moms, Jenny Mayberry opens up about something every baseball parent faces — the balance between what we expect as parents and what our athletes expect of themselves. ⚾️ Jenny shares her thoughts on how to navigate those emotional crossroads — especially when a player decides not to move forward with baseball. It's real, honest, and a conversation every sports parent ca...

In this episode of Baseball 101, host Darin Cissell sits down with the Head Coach of Nixa High School Baseball to talk about his journey from serving as an assistant coach at Drury University to leading one of Missouri’s most competitive high school baseball programs. Drawing on his college experience, Coach shares how he’s built a system at Nixa that’s rooted in preparation, player development, a...

Chris Copeland, the Director of Kirkwood Legion Baseball Post 156, joins Baseball Talk to discuss how the landscape is changing within American Legion Baseball programs. Not only focused on building successful athletes but also on developing community-minded people, Chris brings a unique perspective on leadership and growth within Missouri Legion Baseball. As the Chairman of District 10, Chris wor...

We are going to take a look at five conferences that primarily consist of Class 4 schools throughout the central and north-central parts of Missouri. From recent state championships to programs that have developed a legacy, Central Missouri has played a pivotal role in the development of many high school athletes. Many of these athletes are multi-sport competitors who represent their schools year-...

Mitch Thomas is joined by Brett Graves, former MLB pitcher and host of Keep Klimbing, for a deep dive into one of the most important connections in baseball — the pitcher and catcher relationship. Together, they talk about how that bond is built, tested, and refined through every level of the game: ⚾ How to establish trust between pitcher and catcher ⚾ The role of communication, emotion, and min...

• On this episode of Keep Klimbing with Brett Graves , Brett welcomes Nolan Rappe , Physical Therapist and Performance Coordinator at HQ with Premier Pitching Performance , for a deep dive into Defining the Performance Equation . Nolan shares how Premier approaches development by blending physical care with data-driven analysis — helping players not only perform better but also stay healthier over...

The Coach’s Seat: Culture, Legacy & Fatherhood In this episode of Baseball 101, Darin Cissell sits down with Coach Justin Towe, former Head Coach of Rock Bridge High School, to unpack how he transformed the program’s culture—and how his role continues even after retirement. Together, they explore: How Coach Towe shifted Rock Bridge’s mindset and standards during his tenure What supporting the...

We have the Head Coach of Forsyth High School, Alex Weathermon, joining Baseball Talk. Coach Alex Weatherman has posted twenty-plus win seasons in each of his first five years as a head coach. He began at his alma mater Marionville Comets in 2021 and 2022, winning the Class 2 State Championship in his first year. From there, he made the jump to Class 6 at Lebanon High School before returning to Cl...

Our first look at a very top heavy conference in the StL Suburban we see the Yellow and Red divisions are going to be very competitive in 2026. The Green conference has two teams that could be tough teams in District 1 when the playoffs come. They will be the two teams vying for the conference title in the Green division. With Ladue and Pattonville we are going to have to wait and see who can step...

On this episode of The Hitting Zone, Mitch Thomas is joined by Shane Eames, founder of Premier Hitting Development (PHD), to talk about the changing culture inside the St. Louis Cardinals clubhouse now that John Mozeliak (“Mo”) is leaving. What does this mean for the organization moving forward? Mitch and Shane dive into: ⚾ Culture change — how leadership transitions impact the clubhouse and beyo...

On this episode of Keep Klimbing with Brett Graves , Brett welcomes Anthony Silkwood, Pitching Coach at Jacksonville State, to discuss The Impact of a Strong Culture. Anthony shares how his experiences in the military and college have shaped the identity and culture of JSU’s baseball program. Together, they explore: Lessons learned in the military that translate to team mentality Building an envir...

What does it take to build a lasting, winning high school baseball program? On this episode of Baseball 101, Darin Cissell welcomes Coach John Sipes of Platte County High School to break down the foundation of success they’ve built together. Coach Sipes has guided Platte County to a 130-68 record during his tenure, and has captured two Missouri state championships (2022 & 2025) under his leade...

The Baseball 101 Podcast w/ Darin Cissell recently hosted former Francis Howell HC Terry Kasper, current HC Tony Perkins, Together, they discussed some history of Vikings baseball and talked about the different approaches to coaching and what made Howell such a success. With 4 State Championships, 3 second place finishes, 1 third and 1 fourth place finish gives them a total of nine final four appe...

We have the second-year head coach of the Staley Falcons joining us today on Baseball Talk to discuss the two and a half years of dominance in the state. We could be talking about the best baseball conference in the state of Missouri. We will discuss this subject with Coach Josenberger and get his thoughts on the subject as he and his squad finished second play in Class 6 behind Blue Springs South...

On this episode of The Hitting Zone, Mitch Thomas welcomes Diego Solares of Scout Connect for a deep dive into the world of showcase baseball—a piece of the game that continues to grow in importance for players, families, and coaches. Showcases can be exciting opportunities, but they also come with plenty of questions: ⚾ Why is showcase baseball such a big deal? ⚾ When should an athlete start at...

On this episode of Keep Klimbing with Brett Graves, Brett dives into the offseason grind and what players need to understand to be ready when spring rolls around. From high school to college to professional baseball, the offseason looks different at every level. Brett breaks down how to: Understand and manage offseason schedules Build strength and conditioning for long-term success Balance rest, t...

When Coach Cissell was playing high school baseball, the head coach at Francis Howell was Terry Kasper, with Tony Perkins as his assistant. The Francis Howell program has been a powerhouse for decades, and Coach Perkins is now on track to become the all-time winningest coach in Missouri high school baseball. This episode dives into the legacy: how it started under Kasper, the elite talent that has...