River City Hardball: Recent Episodes
Andrew Gibson
Andrew Gibson covers baseball in Jacksonville, Florida at the high school, college, and professional levels.
🚨LINEUP🚨⚾️ First Coast HS catcher, Florida State signee Hunter Carns⚾️ Trinity Christian Academy head coach Jonathan Murphy⚾️ Jacksonville University head coach Chris Hayes⚾️ University of North Florida head coach Joe Mercadante⚾️ Virginia LHP Bradley Hodges⚾️ Auburn RHP Tanner Bauman
First Coast HS head coach Stephen Barnes + 2024 Florida State commit Hunter Carns
-Carns has hit 4 HR in 5 games
-Coach Barnes was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2004
-First Coast won their first playoff game in 25 years in 2022
Jacksonville University freshman DH Chandler Howard
-Howard has hit 3 home runs in 2023
-2 of his 3 HR have been vs. Florida State and Florida
-He hit a home run OVER THE SCOREBOARD at JU vs. Gators
University of North Florida OF Cherokee Nichols
-Nichols is a Jacksonville native
-Played his high school baseball at Fletcher
-He has hit 2 of UNF's 25 HR
12-year MLB veteran Brett Myers
-Jacksonville native
-1999 state champion at Englewood HS
-Philadelphia Phillies 1st round pick in 1999
-2008 World Series champion with Philadelphia
Bartram Trail head coach Ryan Fitzpatrick + 2024 Florida Gators commit Schuyler Sandford
-Bears have 5 Division I commits on their 2023 roster
-Sandford is 6"6, 210 lbs and his fastball is up to 96 MPH
-Sandford was initially committed to Florida State but flipped to Florida
River City Hardball presented by 925 Partners Insurance and Collins Builders: 12-year MLB veteran pitcher Brett Myers.
⚾ Winning state title in 1999 at Englewood HS
⚾ 1st round draft pick in 1999 (12th overall) to Philadelphia
⚾ Stories from pitching 12 years in the big leagues
⚾ Toughest hitter he faced? Should steroid users be in the HOF?
⚾ Winning the World Series in 2008 with Philadelphia Phillies
Terrific stuff from Brett. One of my favorite podcasts I've ever done.
Fletcher Senators LHP Gabe Moorer tossed back-to-back no-hitters to start his 2021 season.
Senators head coach Mike Grillo: "He's on a different level right now. Something I've never seen before. He's a special kid doing something special."
2022 Jacksonville University commit Justin Nadeau had one of the top performances of the week in the Jacksonville area with a double, HR, and 5 RBIs vs. Fletcher.
"He has done an outstanding job. One of the best so far..." - Bears head coach Ryan Fitzpatrick
Episcopal head coach Mike Jones enters his 19th season as Eagles head coach.
LHP Dillon Haines is committed to Stetson University to play college baseball.
-Jones was drafted in the 1st round by the Kansas City Royals in 1977 and won a World Series in 1985.
-Prep Baseball Report ranks Episcopal as a Top 25 team in the state of Florida.
-What makes Dillon Haines one of the top pitching prospects in the Jacksonville area?
Florida Gators star freshman C/DH Nathan Hickey and his high school coach Mac Mackiewitz from Providence join Andrew Gibson:
-Hickey hit the first HR at Florida's new ballpark
-Why this is the most talented team he has ever been on
-What's it like playing for Kevin O'Sullivan?
-Hickey played on varsity as a 7th grader?
-This Gators team is loaded with talent from the Jacksonville area
1010 XL host Rick Ballou joins us to discuss the Baseball HOF:
-Are the writers letting their personal agenda interfere with voting?
-Bonds, Clemens, and Schilling should ALL be in
-Chances for A-Rod and Big Papi in 2022
Former Jacksonville Suns owner Peter Bragan Jr. remembers the life and career of the late, great Hank Aaron.
-What it was like for Aaron playing in Jacksonville in 1953
-Stories from his personal interactions with Aaron
-Bragan's personal story of Aaron break Babe Ruth's HR record in 1974
Jumbo Shrimp owner Ken Babby joins Andrew Gibson to discuss the team's move up to Triple-A, and what it means for Jacksonville.
The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are moving up to become the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins.
Will fans in Jacksonville get to see the team play in 2021? "100%. There is no doubt in my mind." - Owner/CEO Ken Babby
What's new with the Jumbo Shrimp in 2021?
-Triple-A affiliate of Miami Marlins
-New stadium naming rights: 121 Financial Ballpark
-Brand new playing surface on the field
Babby says the hope is FSU vs. Florida will be the first collegiate baseball game on the new field
What does Triple-A mean for Jacksonville?
"It's incredibly exciting news. The city of Jacksonville deserves it. I think the city really belongs in that grouping of AAA clubs." Among the Triple-A affiliates JAX will compete against:
-Braves
-Rays
-Yankees
-Red Sox
2022 FSU commit Jordan Taylor and head coach Tom Lucas from St. John's Country Day talk about a personal message Taylor received from Dodgers star Mookie Betts, and his commitment to play baseball at Florida State.
Clay Blue Devils head coach Josh Persinger and 2022 Alabama commit OF/1B Max Williams join Andrew Gibson to discuss his recent commitment to the Crimson Tide baseball program.
Adam Schoenberg, the owner of Atlas Physical Therapy, and Tom Gormely, the Director of Tork Sports Performance, join Andrew Gibson to explain the injuries to Padres pitcher Mike Clevinger and Braves pitcher Mike Soroka.
Jessica Blaylock from FOX Sports Florida previews the MLB postseason and the first playoff appearance for the Miami Marlins since 2003.
Atlas Physical Therapy owner Adam Schoenberg and Director of Sports Performance Tom Gormely join Andrew Gibson to explain the increase of injuries during the shortened MLB season.
Former Trinity Christian and Florida State star J.C. Flowers joined Andrew Gibson to remember his high school baseball career in Jacksonville, his memories from FSU, and being drafted last year in the 4th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Jumbo Shrimp GM Harold Craw joins Andrew Gibson to discuss the cancelation of the 2020 season, an update on the team, and what to expect for the 2021 season in Jacksonville.
Creekside 2021 RHP Colby Frieda and head coach Kris King join Andrew Gibson to talk about Frieda's commitment to the University of Kentucky, his career at Creekside, and his love of fishing in the Jacksonville area.
Hegan recently committed to the University of North Carolina after a productive summer of playing in showcase tournaments.
6'5" and 210 lbs going into his junior year at Providence.
Learn why Hegan "checks all the boxes" MLB scouts look for on this edition of River City Hardball.
Ridgeview baseball coach John Sgromolo joined us to discuss the FHSAA decision to cancel spring sports.
Emily Waldon, National Prospect Writer for The Athletic, joins us to talk about raising money for minor league players during the shutdown of baseball, her favorite prospects going into 2020, and more.
Part 2 with sports data analyst Mark Spencer on why measuring data analytics in baseball matters.
Story of measuring data with Matt den Dekker (:40)
Measuring data with some of the best HS baseball players in JAX (6:40)
What is FlightScope? Trackman? (12:16)
Mark Spencer, data analyst from The Data Cage joins us to discuss why data analytics matter in baseball.
COVID-19 has forced a cancellation of the 2020 college baseball season. Jacksonville University baseball coach Chris Hayes joined us to share details of an experience he has never dealt with as a coach.
Rays outfielder Austin Meadows, pitcher Tyler Glasnow, and beat writer Marc Topkin joined me at Rays spring training in Port Charlotte, FL.
Orioles OF Austin Hays shared his experiences playing college baseball at Jacksonville University, and why he’s poised for a breakout season in 2020.
Nease SS Gavin Abrams (Clemson commit) and Chase Toonk (JU commit) joined RCH at High School 9:12 spring sports media day.
Bishop Kenny SS/RHP Colby Halter, 2020 Florida Gators commit, joined us at High School 9:12 spring sports media day in Jacksonville.
Braves TV play by play Chip Caray joined us to preview the 2020 season for the Atlanta Braves at spring training in North Port, FL.
Paxon head coach George Wahl breaks down Lebarron Johnson, Florida commit, one of the top prospects in the Jacksonville area.
Channel 4 sports editor Justin Barney joins RCH to preview the 2020 HS baseball season in Northeast Florida.
Clay HC Josh Persinger and Nease HC Jeremiah Klosterman join me to preview their upcoming seasons and their championship matchup against each other in the High School 9:12 Baseball Classic benefiting WalkOff Charities!
Ridgeview head coach John Sgromolo and St. John's Country Day head coach Tom Lucas join River City Hardball to preview their upcoming seasons and their championship matchup in the High School 9:12 Baseball Classic on Saturday.
Bishop Snyder head coach Zack Osbeck and Ponte Vedra head coach Tom Stanton join River City Hardball to preview their upcoming seasons and their championship matchup in the High School 9:12 Baseball Classic on Saturday.