ABCA Podcast

Cary, NC has been the premier home of the NCAA Div. II Baseball National Finals since 2009, hosting the championship event nearly every year at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. This will be part I of on-location episodes we will hear from Catawba’s Jim Gantt, Point Loma’s Justin James, UT-Tyler’s Brent Porche and Tampa University’s Joe Urso. Congrats to Tampa University’s Joe Urso for winning his eighth NCAA Div. II Championship and an unprecedented 3-Peat. As always, I appreciate the coaches for taking time out of their schedules to sit down with me. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more. Download & Subscribe to the Podcast:https://abca.castos.comhttps://www.abca.org/podcastOnline: https://www.abca.orgABCA Member Benefits: https://www.abca.org/benefits Become a Member: https://www.abca.org/apply X/Twitter: https://x.com/abca1945 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abca1945 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABCA1945 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/abca1945

Next up on the ABCA Podcast is Driveline Director of Youth Baseball and the Driveline Academy, Deven Morgan. At Driveline Academy Morgan integrates individual skill development, nutrition guidance, and physical therapy. The intention of Driveline is to address what Morgan has seen in the past 15 years. Players who were all too often underdeveloped on the fundamental skills that would help them stay competitive in the game as they transitioned from youth to High School. Anything that Morgan has done in terms of developing programs and systems to improve youth baseball development has been done with an intention to positively impact all the players in the organization, including his own. Morgan has been an instrumental part of the ABCA with his involvement on the Youth and Travel Committees, and the Youth Summit. Morgan is a published author, publishing Skills that Scale, a youth baseball training manual. We had a lot to cover since we last recorded in 2020, so this will be a 2-part episode. This is part II of our conversation. We dive deeper into what the ABCA Youth and Travel Committees are trying to get accomplished to help retention and health of amateur baseball players. Baseball is a story told across generations — through the players, the moments, and the gloves that shape the game. Now, that story comes to life in Rawlings’ "The Finest in the Field" book, available now for pre-sale at Rawlings.com! Each of the 50 gloves is presented through detailed photography and paired with immersive essays that place the artifact within its historical context. Captivating imagery, period advertisements, and additional memorabilia further illuminate the era each glove represents.Reserve your copy today at Rawlings.com and be among the first to experience baseball’s evolution as told through the story of these iconic gloves. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more. Download & Subscribe to the Podcast:https://abca.castos.comhttps://www.abca.org/podcastOnline: https://www.abca.orgABCA Member Benefits: https://www.abca.org/benefits Become a Member: https://www.abca.org/apply X/Twitter: https://x.com/abca1945 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abca1945 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABCA1945

Greg Goodwin has served as a leader in youth baseball for more than 30 years. During his 12 seasons as the head baseball coach at Redan High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia, he compiled a 228-96 (.704) record, earning Region Coach of the Year honors four times and the title of DeKalb County Coach of the Decade. In addition to his coaching accomplishments, Goodwin took on the role of principal at Redan from 2006 to 2015, during which he was recognized as DeKalb County Principal of the Year in 2013. In 2005, he founded Mentoring Viable Prospects (MVP), a nonprofit organization focused on providing opportunities for minority and underserved baseball student-athletes. MVP has helped over 500 young men secure scholarships, emphasizing character development and academic success. Goodwin’s dedication to the sport and community has garnered him numerous accolades, including the Atlanta Braves Unsung Hero Award in 2019 and the Georgia Dugout Club Lifetime Legacy Award in 2022. He was also honored with the "For the Love of the Game" award from the Georgia Professional Baseball Scouts Association and became the youngest and first African American coach inducted into the Georgia Dugout Club Hall of Fame in 2000. Goodwin was honored in 2025 with the ABCA Youth Service Award. Baseball is a story told across generations — through the players, the moments, and the gloves that shape the game. Now, that story comes to life in Rawlings’ "The Finest in the Field" book, available now for pre-sale at Rawlings.com! Each of the 50 gloves is presented through detailed photography and paired with immersive essays that place the artifact within its historical context. Captivating imagery, period advertisements, and additional memorabilia further illuminate the era each glove represents.Reserve your copy today at Rawlings.com and be among the first to experience baseball’s evolution as told through the story of these iconic gloves. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more. Download & Subscribe to the Podcast:https://abca.castos.comhttps://www.abca.org/podcastOnline: https://www.abca.orgABCA Member Benefits: https://www.abca.org/benefits Become a Member: https://www.abca.org/apply X/Twitter: https://x.com/abca1945 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abca1945 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABCA1945

Next up on the ABCA Podcast is Mike Sabatino, assistant coach at Edwardsville High School and the 2025 ABCA/Soldier Sports High School Division I Assistant Coach of the Year. Sabatino joined the Edwardsville staff in 2018, beginning with the freshman team before taking over as Varsity Pitching Coach in 2019. Since then, the Tigers have built one of the most dominant runs in Illinois high school baseball, posting a combined 198-42 record, capturing three state championships, and adding a third-place finish. Edwardsville has averaged 33 wins per season during Sabatino’s six years guiding the pitching staff. On the mound, the Tigers have been exceptional. Since 2019, Edwardsville pitchers have compiled a 2.17 cumulative ERA, producing multiple double-digit game winners, including Matt Boyer (2019), Spencer Stearns (2022), Logan Geggus (2023), and Chase Milburn (2024). Beyond the high school field, Sabatino serves as Director of Athletic Performance at Maximized Pitching Lab, bringing cutting-edge development strategies into his program. In this episode, we take a deep dive into blending modern pitching modalities with traditional coaching principles—covering workload management, in-season maintenance, off-season development, and how to keep arms thriving year-round. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

We have a very special ABCA Podcast this week as we are joined by five successful coaches’ wives. Joining us this week are Maggie Corbin, wife of Tim Corbin (Vanderbilt University, Clemson University, Presbyterian College), Jayma Hitt, wife of Rick Hitt (South Florida State College), Katrina McCormack, wife of John McCormack (Florida Atlantic University), Mary Napoleon, wife of Dusty Napoleon (University of Iowa, Western Illinois, Concordia, Northwestern University, New Trier HS) and Candy Brownlee, wife of Jim Brownlee (University of Evansville, Illinois State). All have been part of successful programs and have raised great families. Those of us in the coaching industry know how hard it is to raise and keep together a family in athletics. All five have been very successful in their own right as well. This episode is about giving inexpensive experience to families that are trying to navigate the coaching journey. This is a very impactful and entertaining listen. Growing up in a coaches’ house and having gone through it myself with my own family this topic is near and dear to my heart. If you run a baseball facility, Swift is the only piece of software you need to manage & grow your business. From scheduling and payments to memberships and retail - Swift takes care of it all. Your coaches can use the app to manage their schedule on the go. And your customers have a sleek & fast way to book online. Lessons, rentals, camps, packages, and more - all in one spot. That’s why hundreds of the best baseball facilities across the country rely on Swift. And now, with their upcoming “AI Front Desk”, you can literally put your business on auto-pilot. Get started in minutes at runswiftapp.com/abca. Spend less time behind the screen, and more time on the field. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more. Download & Subscribe to the Podcast:https://abca.castos.comhttps://www.abca.org/podcastOnline: https://www.abca.orgABCA Member Benefits: https://www.abca.org/benefits Become a Member: https://www.abca.org/apply X/Twitter: https://x.com/abca1945 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abca1945 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABCA1945

We continue our previews this week on the ABCA Podcast with NCAA Div. III. We are joined this week with Jim Dixon and Lance Marshall. Dixon is the managing editor of D3baseball.com and has been the go-to source for NCAA Div. III baseball for over 30 years. Marshall has been the head baseball coach at Franklin College since 1997, the Director of Athletics since 2023 and currently serves as the ABCA NCAA Div. III Committee Chair. If you run a baseball facility, Swift is the only piece of software you need to manage & grow your business. From scheduling and payments to memberships and retail - Swift takes care of it all. Your coaches can use the app to manage their schedule on the go. And your customers have a sleek & fast way to book online. Lessons, rentals, camps, packages, and more - all in one spot. That’s why hundreds of the best baseball facilities across the country rely on Swift. And now, with their upcoming “AI Front Desk”, you can literally put your business on auto-pilot. Get started in minutes at runswiftapp.com/abca. Spend less time behind the screen, and more time on the field. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more. Download & Subscribe to the Podcast:https://abca.castos.comhttps://www.abca.org/podcastOnline: https://www.abca.orgABCA Member Benefits: https://www.abca.org/benefits Become a Member: https://www.abca.org/apply X/Twitter: https://x.com/abca1945 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abca1945 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABCA1945

We continue our season previews this week on the ABCA Podcast with a wide-ranging look at NJCAA, 3C2A, and NWAC baseball. Joining us are two voices deeply connected to the JUCO landscape: Noah Sharp of the JUCO Ball Blog and Troy Sutherland from Perfect Game. Together, they break down key teams, trends, and what to watch as the junior college season gets rolling across multiple regions. With challenging weather impacting schedules across much of the country and plenty of early-season cancellations, we also discuss how programs are navigating the start of the year. If you run a baseball facility, Swift is the only piece of software you need to manage & grow your business. From scheduling and payments to memberships and retail - Swift takes care of it all. Your coaches can use the app to manage their schedule on the go. And your customers have a sleek & fast way to book online. Lessons, rentals, camps, packages, and more - all in one spot. That’s why hundreds of the best baseball facilities across the country rely on Swift. And now, with their upcoming “AI Front Desk”, you can literally put your business on autopilot. Get started in minutes at runswiftapp.com/abca. Spend less time behind the screen, and more time on the field. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.

Joining us this week on the ABCA Podcast is Danielle Martin, elite mental performance coach, speaker, and founder of True Mindsets. Martin works with some of the highest-performing athletes in the world, including competitors from MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, MLS, MLR, the Olympics, NCAA programs, and elite high school athletics, helping them sharpen their mental edge when the pressure is highest. Martin’s philosophy is simple—and demanding: Weaponize. Drill. Train. Compete. Her system is built around developing elite mental habits, responding to adversity with clarity, and performing consistently at the highest level when it matters most. This isn’t motivational hype—it’s rigorous, tactical mental skills training rooted in real-world competition. Through True Mindsets, Martin delivers mindset training that transforms how athletes approach pressure, failure, confidence, and execution. Her work bridges the gap between talent and results, helping athletes and teams break through psychological barriers and embed winning behaviors that last far beyond game day. Her impact also extends outside of sports, with businesses, leadership teams, and high-performance organizations adopting her methods to improve focus, resilience, and decision-making in high-stakes environments. This episode is a must-listen for coaches, athletes, and leaders looking to better understand the mental side of performance—and how to train it with the same intent as physical skills. If you run a baseball facility, Swift is the only piece of software you need to manage & grow your business. From scheduling and payments to memberships and retail - Swift takes care of it all. Your coaches can use the app to manage their schedule on the go. And your customers have a sleek & fast way to book online. Lessons, rentals, camps, packages, and more - all in one spot. That’s why hundreds of the best baseball facilities across the country rely on Swift. And now, with their upcoming “AI Front Desk”, you can literally put your business on autopilot. Get started in minutes at runswiftapp.com/abca. Spend less time behind the screen, and more time on the field. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, bp screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.