CornbeltBaseball.com: Recent Episodes
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Heartland Community College finished third in the NJCAA D2 World Series in Enid, Oklahoma this past week. Along the way, they tied last season’s record of 54 wins, finishing the season…
This is the inaugural episode of the official podcast of the Lexington Snipes summer collegiate baseball team. The Snipes are a member of the Chicago Suburban Baseball League. Join host…
Michael Kellar: A brighter shade of Siena A Cornball favorite and FOCB (Friend of CornbeltBaseball) stops by Boo Boo’s to chat with Tom and Jack on his way back to…
Cribbin’ with the Krieg The month of May is Normal CornBelters’ month at Cornball, with several of the front office and management folks stopping by. This week it’s General Manager Kyle Krieger.…
Heartland Community College traveled to Springfield this past week and came out with the NJCAA Region 24 championship for the second straight year. In the final they defeated rival Parkland College…
CornBelters’ manager Chad Parker: The Snowman Cometh The month of May is Normal CornBelters’ month at Cornball, with several of the front office and management folks stopping by. This week it’s new…
Heartland Community College faced Kankakee CC in a single game and North Central College in a doubleheader midweek before taking on Region 24 foe Shawnee Community College in a twin bill.…
The Season of Solvie The month of May is Normal CornBelters’ month at Cornball, with several of the front office and management folks stopping by. This week we’ve got the Director of…
Heartland Community College faced probably their biggest rival this week in Region 24 and conference foe Parkland Community College. The Hawks took both ends on Saturday, with Parkland taking both on…
An Audience with the CornBelter King The month of May is Normal CornBelters’ month at Cornball, with several of the front office and management folks stopping by. Kicking off the…
Heartland Community College had a very unusual week by their standards: 2-2 record, with three of four games determined by one run and the fourth by two. The Hawks are going…
Committed to the Comets Eric Laffey is to the Comets youth baseball organization what Billy Dubois is to the Lexington Snipes — that is, just about everything. Eric coaches the…
Heartland Community College is coming off the first week in a long time in which coach Nate Metzger will have to discuss a loss. the good news, however, is that the…
Redbirds Mid-Flight Illinois State University head baseball coach Mark Kingston stops by Boo Boo’s Dawghouse to give a mid-season assessment of his Redbirds to this point. About two-thirds of the…
Heartland Community College experienced their first real impact from weather this last weekend, moving Saturday’s doubleheader to Monday, giving them only four games on the week. On Wednesday the Hawks…
In the Panther Den with Wayne Meyer This is why we do these podcasts. Tom and Jack have a passion for baseball and love to have guests who share that…
Shhhhhh! Don’t tell anyone, but Heartland Community College is 25-1 and on a 21-game winning streak. Baseball coaches being superstitious and all don’t really like talking about this kind of thing.…
Land of the Freed Another Lexington legend joins Tom and Jack. This time it’s Oakland Athletics scout Dan Freed. Dan made his name while pitching, hitting, and fielding for Lexington…
Heartland Community College once again went 4-0 in conference play on the weekend to run their record out to an outstanding 20-1. The Hawks also traveled to Southeastern Iowa Community College…
The thrill of the grass Well, it’s always one of our favorite shows when we get the go-to baseball grounds guy in Central Illinois, Andy Ommen, to come sit in…
Public Relations Director for the Normal CornBelters, Ashlynne Solvie, talks to CornbeltBaseball.com feature editor Tom Jackson to talk about upcoming events. Individual ticket sales begin this weekend and there’s a…
Heartland Community College began conference play this week, going 4-0 against Lewis and Clark Community College. Overall, they went 5-0 on the week to bring their record to 15-1. This week…
PONY Expressed with Brad Thede The single biggest baseball organization in our area is getting ready to kick off their 2012 season and Brad Thede sits down with Tom and…
Heartland Community College has just returned from their spring break trip to Florida. On the trip they went 8-1, losing only to Polk Community College. Only three games were close.…
Eureka’s own Ben Zobrist Yeah, the “small town boy makes it big” story does happen on occasion — and this is one of those times. Ben Zobrist came out of…
Here Come the Hawks – 2012 The majority of the Heartland Community College coaching staff joined Tom and Jack at Boo Boo’s Dawghouse this week to discuss the upcoming season.…
Talkin’ on Titan Turf The Illinois Wesleyan Titans are back in familiar territory — that is, favored by the CCIW coaches to win the conference. Coach Dennis Martel says he…
The Wings of Warbird Tom and Jack are joined by friend of CornbeltBaseball.com and frequent contributor Dan Blewett. Dan operates Dan Blewett Sports Performance and the Warbird Throwing Academy. On…
Illinois State University 2012 preview Illinois State University baseball coach Mark Kingston and hitting coach Bo Durkac join Tom and Jack at Boo Boo’s Dawghouse to discuss the 2012 season.…
Farewell to the Shah Asif Shah has played his final game with the Normal CornBelters and is on his way to Winnipeg to play for the Goldeyes. He’s been hanging…
Raising the Stakes with Jake Tom and Jack are joined by new LeRoy High School basketball coach Jake Kennedy. Believe me — this is about baseball. Jake has just finished…
Jamie Williams – Umpire for all seasons Jamie Williams joins Tom and Jack once again and, as usual brings along a bucket load of opinions. Jamie talks about instant replay,…
PONY Baseball – The Life of Brian Tom and Jack are joined by the mayor of McLean County PONY Baseball, Brian Thede. If you’ve been out at the McLean County…
Our man, Lucas, was selected to umpire the hot corner in this year’s Pantagraph High School Baseball Game. It was an exciting time for everyone and, as usual, Lucas was…
Fantasy Fatcats Tom and Jack are joined once again by Jason Halm, this time not to discuss his beloved White Sox, but instead it’s all about his radio show and…
Hal, Hal, the gang’s all here! Former Major League player, coach, and manager and current manager of the Normal CornBelters, Hal Lanier, joins Tom and Jack on this episode of…
Author Ed Achorn talks Old Hoss Tom and Jack are joined today by Ed Achorn, the author of the wonderful book about Baseball Hall of Famer and Bloomington native, Charlie…
The rumors you heard are true. Lucas G Miles, much like Brett Favre before him, has returned. In episode 6 of Three Mediocre Minutes with Lucas G Miles, Lucas addresses…
Coach Hawk and the Hurler of the Year Tom and Jack are joined by Normal Community West High School baseball coach Chris Hawkins and the 2011 CornbeltBaseball.com High School Pitcher…
Hittin’ hard in their own back yard It about broke our collective Cornball hearts when Billy Dubois said he couldn’t make it in to talk Snipes with us. He is…
Wise beyond his years, yet blinded by loyalty to the St. Louis Cardinals, Michael Kellar shows that he is tough enough to stand up to the challenge of the CornbeltBaseball.com…
To Catch a Kellar Anyone who’s seen Michael Kellar on the mound, whether at Ridgeview High School, Lakeland College, Niagara University, or with the Lexington Snipes, knows he has a…
All about Ashlynne The Normal CornBelters are getting ready to kick off the 2011 season this weekend. On the heels of a special podcast with ‘Belters Asif Shah and Brad…
No Ordinary Choe Normal CornBelters Asif Shah and Brad Agustin sit in with Tom Jackson on this special edition of Cornball. Recorded live in the home locker room at the…
Blue for a day On the occasion of Bostonian John Choe winning the Normal Cornbelters’ Player for a Day fundraiser auction, guests Brad Thede and Jamie Williams discuss what it…
Let’s Hear it for Dubois! Lexington Snipes’ Mr. Everything (and Lexington legend), Billy Dubois, joins Tom and Jack to talk about the history of the Lexington Snipes. The Snipes are…
Crib Talk with Brad and Asif Tom and Jack are joined by second year Normal Cornbelters Asif Shah and Brad Agustin. Brad and Asif talk about how they made it…
Jason bears his Sox Jason Halm is a Renaissance Man — well, at least a Renaissance Geek. He loves pop culture, comic books, movies, and fantasy baseball. But most of…
CornbeltSOFTBALL.com Extraveganza! Joining Tom and Jack for today’s podcast is the editor of the newly launched Cornbeltsoftball.com, Jeff Collins. After playing youth and high school baseball, Jeff forged a successful…
Working Blue Tom and Jack are joined by veteran umpire and VP of the Bloomington-Normal Officials Association, Ken Studebaker, and second year umpire Jamie Williams. Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes.…
Springer has sprung Tri-Valley High School baseball is only one of the entries on Howard Springer’s resume. Typically, once the grass starts growing, he’s one busy man. Howard talks with…
High on U-High New Normal University High School baseball coach Jim Collins stops by Boo Boo’s Dawghouse to talk with Cornball hosts Tom and Jack about Towanda, fast pitch softball,…
Our Man Dan Hate to say it just this way, but our guest today is former Normal Cornbelters’ pitcher Dan Blewett. Dan was recently traded to the Lake County Fielders,…
Our own Tom Jackson talks to new Chicago Cubs’ radio color man, Keith Moreland. Moreland was recently announced by the Cubs and WGN as the successor to Ron Santo in…
Hail the Titans! Illinois Wesleyan University Baseball Preview Head coach Dennis Martel and pitching coach Tim Siegworth of NCAA DIII baseball champions Illinois Wesleyan University join hosts Tom and Jack…
Heartland Community College Baseball Preview Despite temperatures still in the 40′s, the gang from Heartland Community College made it outdoors to practice. Of course, they’ve got the all-turf playing field…
Baseball Field Maintenance with Andy Ommen They say that in the Spring, young men’s thoughts turn to..dirt and grass. Local baseball field groundskeeping guru Andy Ommen is the guest today…
Former Cubs slugger — and good pal of CBBB favorite Kevin Mallehan (left) – Keith Moreland (right) is returning to the North Side as the new voice for the Chicago Cubs!…
Illinois State University Baseball Preview It’s hard to believe that the NCAA DI baseball season starts in just one week. We kick off our series of previews for the local…
Cub Camper Kevin Local umpiring legend Kevin Mallehan, who’s umpired many IHSA state baseball tournaments and was Umpire-In-Chief at the last IHSA Class 1A/2A tournament, stops in to chat with…
There’s only a select few names on the outfield wall at Duffy Bass Field on the campus of Illinois State University. Buzz Capra occupies one of those special spots. Buzz…
Cornbeltbaseball.com’s Brian Thede caught up with former Illinois State University pitcher Ryan Copeland at the Chicago Pitch & Hit Club’s annual banquet. Copeland, who now plays in the St. Louis…
Cub reporter Brian Thede made his way to the Chicago Pitch & Hit Club annual awards banquet on Sunday night and had a chance to talk to Illinois State University…
The Boo Boo’s Experience Cornbeltbaseball.com officially kicks off our weekly sessions at Boo Boo’s Dawghouse with a visit from Boo Boo’s owner Todd Maynor. Todd sits in with hosts Tom…
Talking hitting with Jermaine Allensworth
Cornbeltbaseball.com contributing photographer Alex Shaw sits in with Tom and Jack as they talk hitting with former major leaguer Jermaine Allensworth. Jermaine is currently teaching…
cornbeltbaseball.com editor Jack Warren sits down with new Normal University High School baseball coach Jim Collins. Collins talks a bit about what has led him to his first high school…
Season Wrap
The Cornball season is not over, but this is the last of the weekly episodes until next March. Tom and Jack look back on the season that was…
Extra Innings
Tom Jackson and guest host Alex Shaw make a visit to Bloomington-Normal’s newest baseball and softball workout facility, Extra Innings. Extra Innings 0wner Steve Eckhoff and pitching instructor…
Corn Cribbing, Tom’s Hitting, and Yankees Splitting
Frequent guests John Harris and Jamie Williams join Tom and Jack in the cornbeltbaseball.com studios on a glorious October day to discuss the…
Old Guy Rookie, Playoff Pitching, and Unwritten Rules
Tom and Jack are joined for Episode 15 by frequent guest Jamie Williams, who will heretofore be known as “The Opinionator”. Joining…
Fake Blood, Bautista Bashes, and Nerdy Numbers
Episode 14 finds co-host Jack Warren pulling a Kirk Gibson and vocally limping in at the last minute to save the day. Okay,…
Ballparks, Burns, and Der Bingle
Old friend and cornbeltbaseball.com photographer, Brad Thede, wanders by the studios in the nick of time to plug a hole in the Cornball lineup. In…
Chalk it up to coincidence, but we secured our second Lexington legend in a row. After the stellar performance of Billy Dubois, we headed Uptown (Normal, that is) and down…
Diamond Aeration and Summer League Obligation
Episode 12 sees the return of local baseball groundskeeping guru, Andy Ommen. Tom and Jack also welcome first-timer Brian Auer, PONY man-of-many titles and…
Umps, Apps, and Hall of Fame Plaques
Tom and Jack are joined for episode 11 by first-timer Jamie Williams, who shares how he got into umpiring. Cornbeltbaseball.com photographer Brad Thede…
Tom and Mom go to the park
In this special episode of Cornball, Tom and his mom, Terry Jackson, hop a motor coach for a road trip to St. Louis and take…
Cubs and Cards play each other this week! No better time to pull out the remaining Cubs-Cards Legends Banquet Interviews! Today’s: Keith “Zonk” Moreland roamed right field for the Cubs…
Ball caps, survey stats, and livin’ the dream
In Episode 10, Tom and Jack are joined by Bill Graden. Bill shares a few survey results from McLean County PONY Baseball’s…
It’s a wonder a man could stand up under the pressure, what with being a Lexington legend and all, but this guy’s gotta make sure the folks of Lexington have…
Fabulous flicks and rookie league WHIP
In Episode 9, Tom and Jack are joined by frequent guest John Harris, who brings along a list of his Top 10 favorite sports…
“Mr. PONY”, Brian Thede, takes on the CBBB Fast Five, showing that he is definitley Old School when it comes to baseball. He also demonstrates that he’s not afraid to take…
It’s been a GRAND year!
In Episode 8, Tom and Jack are without guest panelist for the first time since episode 2. Tom is decidedly mellower and Jack isn’t in…
Long before Mark Kingston stepped foot on Duffy Bass Field at Illinois State University, his reputation as a recruiter preceded him. We sat down with him recently and talked about…
Turk Wendell‘s known for six years with the Cubs and having a contractual obligation to wear 99 with the Mets and Rockies. Did you also know he’s a Massachusetts native who…
The fact that Ryan Copeland hasn’t pitched in nine days didn’t appear to bother him one bit. Copeland came into the game in the sixth inning with his Johnson City…
Illinois State University baseball head coach Mark Kingston recently maneuvered his way through the five question lightning round we like to call the CBBB Fast Five. Okay, so this one’s…
So is the 1998 Cubs all-star second-sacker Mickey Morandini still rockin’ the mullet? CornbeltBaseball.com’s Tom Jackson and Jax White knew YOU’D wanna know — so they asked the man! Find…
St. Louis Road Trip, Babeee!!!!
In Episode 7, Tom hits the road with Stat Man Jax in the very first Cornball podcast recorded in the luxurious Cornbeltbaseball.com mobile studio. The…
Short Grass and High Strikes In Episode 6, McLean County PONY head groundskeeper Andy Ommen joins Tom and Jack on the panel to discuss his huge responsibility in taking care…
Premier Pitchers and Polyester Pirate Pullovers In Episode 5 of Cornball: Diamond Chatter with Tom and Jack, John Harris is welcomed back to the panel. John and the boys discuss a…
Old Man Baseball In Episode 4 of Cornball: Diamond Chatter with Tom and Jack, we’re joined by panelists one of Tom’s fellow Old Guy ballplayers, Bill Graden, and veteran umpire…
In episode 5 of Three Mediocre Minutes with Lucas G Miles, Lucas discusses a recent ballgame in which the catcher misses tagging home plate twice. Subscribe to this podcast in…
Donkey Field and McGraw Park In Episode 3 of Cornball: Diamond Chatter with Tom and Jack, we’ve gathered our first panel of the new podcast. Guest panelists John Harris and…
In episode 4 of Three Mediocre Minutes with Lucas G Miles, Lucas discusses his strange, unexplained absences and talks about the benefits of exercising to 3MM. Subscribe to this podcast…
In episode 2 of Cornball: Diamond Chatter with Tom and Jack, the boys discuss the Major League Baseball All-Star game, George Steinbrenner, baseball statistics, and is weekend’s Cornbelters’ series.…
Don’t let his recent gig for a team called the Beach Bums fool you — John Twork takes his sportscasting seriously. The Bloomington native and recent Eastern Illinois University graduate just…
How do you wear your stirrups? Cornball: Diamond Chatter with Tom and Jack is a new weekly podcast from Cornbeltbaseball.com. Tom Jackson and Jack Warren will anchor a panel each…
MSBL League director Brian Thede announced that registration is underway for Men’s Senior Baseball at the PONY complex. Take a look at the details below and have a listen to…
In episode 3 of Three Mediocre Minutes with Lucas G Miles, Lucas answers a letter from Lance in Lexington, who asks about Lucas’ fine umpire shirt collection and also has…
In episode 2 of the audio podcast Three Mediocre Minutes with Lucas G Miles, Cornbeltbaseball.com editor Jack Warren talks with McLean County PONY Baseball‘s most interesting man, Lucas G Milesâ„¢,…