Move the Mound Back: Recent Episodes
Montana Nicholls
Baseball continues to grow and develop at an alarming pace across all facets of the game. Join the "Move the Mound Back" crew as they interview leading proponents of the games evolution. Each episode provides insights and information designed to help athletes and parents along their baseball journey.
This podcast is proudly presented by Australian Pitching Development.
Despite travelling from places far and near, the NSW Development features talent that should make the team competitive at the 2023 Women's National Championship. Head Coach Chantelle Cornick visits the pod to discuss her team and some of the challenges come with training remotely including getting to know your players!
Reigning champs, NSW head into the tournament looking to make a statement. Balancing experience with an influx of youth, Head Coach John Gaynor is excited about his teams prospects, particularly the power bats he has at his disposal.
WA skipper Kurt Russell visits in studio to break down his team and the work they've done to be ready for WNC23. Russell shares his view that this is the most prepared WA team he's ever taken away and lays credit to his plays who have shown unbelievable work ethic and dedication.
Home team Victoria head into the 2023 Women's National Championships with a team primed to compete, combining experience with youthful exuberance. Head Coach Sam Hamilton dials in to discuss her career in baseball, including her experience representing Australia as well as her teams preparations in the lead up to the event.
Baseball Queensland have taken a unique approach with the 2023 Women's National Championships, sending two teams to compete. The development team, known as Qld White is skippered by Neil Ragau who stops by to discuss his teams preparation, the reasons for having a development team and the importance of team building, especially when you have geographically dispersed players.
Head Coach Lisa Norrie visits to discuss her team and some of the players that she hopes will lead her team to success in the upcoming Women's National Championships in Melbourne. As an assistant coach to the Australian Emerald's, Lisa also provides an insight into team selection in the lead up to World Cup in August. On top of all that, she shares the recent news of her employment by the Oakland A's, making her Australia's first female professional baseball coach!
South Australian Head Coach Austin Gallagher drops by to discuss his team in the lead up to the Women's National Championship 2023. While the team is young, Gallagher believes the squad has put in the hard work over the last 12 months to be fiercely competitive.
Two men with the longest titles in Australian Baseball - Michael Crooks (GM Performance Pathways and Player Development) and Andrew Riddell (National Player Development Manager) stop by to discuss the recent AYC's. Drilling into why these events exist and the opportunities they create, Crooks and Riddell share insights into National Team, College and Professional pathways.
2023 AYC U18 winning head coach David Badke from Queensland drops in to discuss his teams run through the tournament, outstanding performances along the way and the value of team culture
NSW U16 Head Coach and AYC victor, Matt O'Neill visits to discuss his teams tournament run including key contributors, match ups, KPI's and early morning dream state decision making.
WA's U18 Head Coach Leigh Moyle stops by to discuss his squad including managing his own son. 2023 marks Moyle's first stint as a head coach at a national tournament after numerous years as an assistant coach and he delves into the nuances of being the head man looking after a team of talented young men.
WA U16 Head Honcho Dan Calverly swings by to break down his squad from selection to tournament proration. Calverly assesses his teams strengths and shares his views on what it takes to win on the national stage
Victorian U18 skipper Marshall Skinner stops by to discuss his team and their preparations in the lead up to AYC 23. Covering selection through to culture and planning, Skinner shares his views on what it takes for a team to win it all.
Ben Laux stops by to discuss his U16 Victorian team and the upcoming AYC 23 tournament. After recent stints as an under 18 coach, Laux dives into the differences in management required as well as shaping a team of youngsters as they prepare for a big event.
Fresh off coaching South Australia's U16 team in July, Chris Sims goes again as Head Coach of the SA u18 team for AYC 23. Sims discusses the busy work load his players have had leading up to the tournament and where he believes his teams strength lies.
SA U16 Head Coach Andrew Sperling joins the podcast to deep dive his squad and their preparations for AYC 23. Sperling details the challenges U16 tams face with mandatory playing requirements as well as managing players through the sometimes difficult Blacktown weather where this years tournament will be held
Queensland U18 skipper David Badke stops by to dive into his team, detailing how they went about selecting the squad and the preparations in place to set the team up for success at AYC 23. Badke spends time detailing culture, leadership and how to get the best out of players in a tournament stetting like the AYC's.
We talk about mental toughness and resilience - Qld U16 Head Coach Phil Overlack shook off a heartbreaking means league loss to join the pod to cover off his team and its chances in the upcoming AYC. Overlack dove into team selection, culture development and what it will take for his team to win the whole thing.
What do you do for an encore when you win the first tournament you've ever been a head coach at? Move up to the next age group and have a crack at that! NSW U18 Head Coach Gavin Fingleson stops by to discuss the differences between U16 and U18 teams, team building approaches and where his teams strengths lie heading into AYC 23.
NSW U16 skipper Matt O'Neill dials in from the road on the way to a quick pre Christmas break to discuss his team and how they'll go about winning AYC 23. As a first time coach at this level, O'Neill is keenly aware of his teams culture and ability and feels they're taking in a balanced squad that certainly has what it takes to compete.
Grizzled veteran, Ian Hook takes charge of a NSWC team for approximately the 20th time and joins us to discuss the building of his U18 team and their unique preparation in the lead up to AYC 23. With players from across the state, Hook details how the team came about and the steps taken to ensure they're competitive.
ACT U18 Head Guy Matt Alt swings by to discuss his team in the lead up to AYC 23. With a smaller player base to choose from the ACT teams face unique challenges when assembling a squad but Alt feels the team is competitive and the preparations hold them in good stead.
ACT Head Coach Erni Rauter stops by to discuss his squad for the upcoming AYC including the challenges of blending players from other states and the unique approach they're taking in 2023 to ready the team.
Team Australia co-captain Tim Kennelly joins the podcast as the squad prepares to jet out to face Team Japan in November. With international baseball ramping up again, Kennelly shares his experiences representing his country, how things change from being a rookie to an established veteran and how Australia tackles tournament baseball. Tim shares insights into his preparation and how his understanding of his own game has evolved over time as well as the meal he is most looking forward to in Japan.
Baseball Australia Director Jessica Goddard joins the podcast to discuss her career as a sport administrator and to dive into the new national participation plan. Jess shares insights into driving female participation and why it is important to have female leaders in sport.
Australia's first female (and youngest ever) inductee to the Baseball Australia Hall of Fame, Simone Wearne visits to discuss her baseball career. Simone details career defining advice that only a dad can deliver (your future is on the mound), the support she felt from the baseball community and playing baseball on the biggest stage.
As Baseball Australia rolls out its new National Participation Plan, Carla Pinder drops in to discuss her journey as a female umpire in a male dominated landscape. From her early days umpiring junior baseball to participating in national Tournaments, Carla provides humorous and endearing insights into umpiring as well as explaining why she doesn't have a carefully curated "strike 3" call.
Baseball Australia CEO Glenn Williams drops into discuss the brand new national participation plan being rolled out across the sport. Glenn dives into why such a plan is important and how we can grow the sport in Australia.
Max Stagg and Nick Bertucci have had a whirlwind month. Both represented Australia at the under 18 Baseball World Cup and followed that experience up by committing to Junior College powerhouse, Central Arizona. Both join the podcast to discuss their pathway to college baseball, what the world cup experience was like and how they prepared (including a 75,000 pushup effort). Max also breaks the record for most phone vibrations during a podcast.
Australia's under 23 National team sets sail for the World Cup in Taipei next week so no better time for Head Coach Dave Nilsson to stop by. Nilsson discusses preparation, tournament play and team selection and sheds light on the inner workings of a national team, particularly a team like this - the next wave of green and gold talent!
Gareth Jones (Baseball Queensland) and David Hayes (Baseball WA) stop by to discuss the inaugural Barclay Cup - a national participation event for junior female baseball players. Named after uber athlete Jacinda Barclay, the tournament ensures fun, camaraderie and exposure to the best parts of the game.
Australian U18 World Cup Head Coach, Andrew Kyle visits to discuss his squads preparation in the lead up to the world cup, how team selection is shaping up and the ways in which his team will compete.
If they do a great job you shouldn't even know they're there - umpires, an integral part of the game that we often take for granted. For Mark Gilmour, 25 years of learning and hard work has culminated in the opportunity of a life time, representing Australia as an umpire at the Little League World Series. Mark stops by to discuss how he got into umpiring, how his approach has changed over time and what a thrill it will be to work the plate on a grand stage.
As a previous AYC winning head coach, Queensland skipper Dan Wilson is uniquely positioned to discuss what it takes to win a championship. Dan dives into his teams preparation since their December showcase and talks about how playing a "home" series brings its own set of challenges.
NSW Country Head Coach Ian Hooks, heading towards his 20th National Championship campaign stops by to discuss building a team heavily impacted by distance and what it takes to compete at this level when you train twice as a full squad!
Victorian U16 Head Coach Scott Meager stops by to discuss his team in the lead up to the U16 AYC Tournament discussing his teams depth and what it is that energises and excites him about working with players of this age group. With strong representation on the mound and in the box, Meager is challenging his team to make the top 4 because from there, anything is possible!
ACT Head Coach Matt Alt stops by (twice) to discuss his squad and the challenges involved in coaching and preparing a team that incorporates both locals and "friendlies". Matt outlines where he thinks his team's strengths lie and touches on the challenges of taking a team on the road for a tournament.
Coming off a Freshman All American season, Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana joins us to discuss his first season as an Aussie college baseball player. While many would naturally take the summer to play in a wooden bat league, Travis has headed into the lab at Driveline to tinker with and build parts of his game, ready to go to the next level.
Western Australian U16 Head Coach Kent Fitzgibbon's joins us in studio for a deep dive into his squad as they prepare to head off to Queensland for the Australian Youth Championships. Kent touches on the teams preparations including building up the arms and readying the hitters to see velocity as well as discussing the managing of workloads across a busy week.
Fresh off a mid week game and in the midst of a long car ride home, NSW Head Coach Gavin Fingleson dials into discuss his team, the mental preparation that goes into getting a squad ready for a tournament and the fine art of coaching your own child.
South Australian U16 Head Coach Chris Sims stops by to detail his teams preparation, some of the players expected to shoulder heavy loads across the tournament and what preparation looked like in the lead up.
We're Back! After a well deserved hiatus, the podcast springs to life in the lead up to the Under 16 Australian Youth Championships to be held in Queensland. Andrew Riddell from Baseball Australia stops by to discuss the tournament, the reason for it being in July and what players can expect. He then dives into the Under 18 World Cup experience and closes things out with a college update.
NCAA Division 1 Pitching Coach and recruiter, Brandon Harmon of Gonzaga University joins us to discuss the evolution of pitching at the college level including the value in player a good game of catch! With a starting rotation of potential high draft picks, Coach Harmon explains the balancing act between the "win now" mentality of top level college baseball and the future development of his players.
Australia's only college baseball head coach - National Park's Rich Thompson joins us to talk junior college baseball, building a program from scratch and what it takes to get on his radar when recruiting. Oh, and he played in the big leagues!
Adelaide Giant and Philadelphia Phillies minor league Manager Chris Adamson checks in just before jetting back to the US to detail his journey into professional baseball management while offering some unique perspectives. Culture building and people management are critical to success and Chris dives into his approach.
Shayne Watson, Baseball Queensland's High Performance Manager stops by to put an East Coast spin on player development. Discussing the programs structure and framework, Shayne details how baseball and specifically Queensland, is positioned to succeed now and into the future.
With the D1 College baseball season kicking off for 2022, what better time to check in with Aussie freshman, Travis Bazzana as he gets ready to strap it on with powerhouse Oregon State. Travis details his journey to college baseball and how he prepared to be the best version of himself from the very first pitch.
Long time professional and college manager and coach, Gary Van Tol joins the pod to talk about Independent baseball and how the leagues have evolved and developed. With MLB reducing the number of minor leagues teams, "Indy Ball" looms as a viable option for many players keen to keep the dream alive!
Baseball Australia's Andrew Riddell drops by to discuss the Perfect Game partnership and its ramifications across the game including increased exposure for our young players and enhanced preparation in the lead up to tournaments. He then provides a quick run down on Aussies heading to college
Perth Heat Manager Andrew Kyle stops in to provide an update on the ABL before diving into the WA showcase program and how these type of events help to shape talent management and national team selection.
Director of Pitching and Pitching Coach of the KBO Giants and former big league coach, Ricky Meinhold stops in to discuss his evolution in coaching and player development. Ricky discusses working with elite talent like Jacob DeGrom and offers tips to young Australian pitchers
Fresh off a promotion, it was an opportune time to catch up with Allan De San Miguel as he embarks on life as a Major League coach. Allan discusses the evolution of run prevention and adeptly manages 16 part questions from the bumbling host.
Gary McCoy rolls through for round 2 to discuss youth strength and conditioning, juggling strength work in the big leagues and the next wave of sports science initiatives (hint: open your eyes)
Australian National Baseball Team Strength, Conditioning and Performance Coach (one of many roles!!) Gary McCoy joins us to talk sports science, its ever expanding role in baseball and what he'd do if he was given a blank sheet of paper to set up a Major League program.
36 Australian men have reached the Major Leagues. The 36th guy, Alex Wells who made his debut for the Baltimore Orioles in 2021 joins us to discuss the moment he received the call, the perks of big league life (hint: travel and food) and the adjustments he needed to make to succeed.
A global odyssey spanning multiple countries resulted in Grant Kerry landing his Division 1 college dream. What could go wrong? Covid 19. As the pandemic took effect, his baseball program was shuttered, throwing plans and study into the air. Kerry details his journey, his learnings and his two strike approach.
Our main guy Tyler Anderson joins us at the conclusion of his first full season minor league coaching stint to discuss what went down during the season, how they measure development and what he'll be doing during instructional leagues. Finally we discuss some of the offerings available to players on the Australian Pitching Development Platform.
It's commitment time for college players but unlike in love, words are not always enough - its needs to be in writing baby! Andrew Riddell, Australia's resident college baseball expert steps us through some of key factors in committing to a college baseball program.
We use a lot of strange terms and tools nowadays in baseball (Rapsodo, Edgertronic, Trackman to name a few) so it was time to bring in an expert to explain how data and new technology is being used across the game in language we can all understand. Jake Stone, the creator of "Simple Sabermetrics" calls in from the US to talk analytics and optimising data - NERD ALERT 15 minute to 25 minute mark!!
Sports Psychologist Paul Penna joins the pod to take a closer look at the impact of mental health on athlete performance as well as detailing how and when ball players should look to engage a mental health practitioner.
Join physiotherapist and former professional pitcher Scott Mitchinson in a wide ranging conversation covering his remarkable early success, devastating injuries, rehabilitation and the evolution of arm maintenance. Did you know that ice isn't that great for you (or training like a body builder for that matter)?
The mental side of baseball plays such a huge part, yet it's an area rarely discussed and barely understood by many players. Former professional Brad Harman joins us in a candid discussion about mental health, specifically the impact it had on his career and advice he has for aspiring baseballers.
Baseball Australia's National Player Development Manager, Andrew Riddell joins the pod to discuss college baseball. Diving deep into an area of passion, Andrew details college baseball life (including academics, demanding schedules and eligibility) and common misconceptions young athletes and parents often have.
Stu and Liam run through baseball's "unwritten rules" trying to figure out what needs to stay and what needs to go. Its a conversation that has taken place in clubhouses and dugouts for years and will continue to be debated!
Sports Dietitian, David Bryant joins us to discuss nutrition, optimising athletic performance and.....milk. Yep, you wouldn't believe how useful it actually is to athletes!
CEO of Baseball Australia, Glenn Williams joins the podcast to discuss his early days in the big chair, the state of the game, what the ABL looks like in these COVID impacted days and provides advice to his younger self (and other aspiring professional athletes)
The MLB trade deadline played havoc on the podcast schedule, fortunately we had Andrew Kyle in the house to talk about the latest in international junior baseball tournaments as well as a detailed run down of preseason training approaches and ideas for coaches across the country.
Perth Heat Manager and Under 18 National Team Coach, Andrew Kyle stops by to discuss offseason high performance training, preparing for a national team camp in uncertain times and insights into what makes a young player a professional prospect.
Its a complete amateur hour yet again as Stu forgets to hit "record" with Australian Baseball Royalty, Peter Moylan for a wide ranging conversation about the evolution of baseball, the impact of sticky substances, differences in junior development in Australia vs. the US and what we can expect from him as a manager in the ABL. Rest assured, Pete is the professional one!
Strength and conditioning is more than just "pushing weight". Encompassing resistance training, flexibility/mobility and soft tissue work its now a key element to all pitching development work. Owner of Diamond Fitness, Dean White joins us to talk about the evolution of performance coaching
In the lead up to the launch of the Australian Pitching Development platform, we talk to founder, Tyler Anderson to get a better understanding of what baseball players, parents and fans can expect
The MLB draft is upon us so what better time to speak to Australia’s best draft prospect in 2021 - Liam Spence