NJCAA, 3C2A & NWAC Season Previews

[00:00:04] Speaker A: Welcome to the abca's podcast. I'm your host, ryan brownlee. If you run a baseball facility, Swift is the only piece of software you need to manage and 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 and 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@run SwiftApp download. That's runswiftapp.com ABCA spend less time behind the screen and more time on the field this episode is sponsored by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time. Netting Professionals specializes 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. Netting Professionals is an official partner of the ABCA and continues to provide quality products and services to many high school, college and professional fields, facilities and stadiums throughout the country. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time. Contact them today at 627 oh7 or infoettingpros.com. visit them online at www.nettingpros.com or check out NettingPros on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for all their latest products and projects. Make sure to let CEO Will Minor know that the ABCA sent you. Now on to the podcast. We continue our previews this week on the ABCA podcast with NJCAA 3C 2A and NWAC. We are joined this week with Noah Sharp from the Jucoball Blog and Troy Sutherland from Perfect Game. With Current weather in the US We've had quite a few games canceled. Here's hoping Mother Nature cooperates here shortly. Let's welcome Noah Sharp and Troy Sutherland to the podcast. [00:02:45] Speaker B: All right here. [00:02:46] Speaker A: Noah Sharp, Juco Ball Blog it's at Underscore the jbb I think still or at the Underscore Noah Underscore Sharp. [00:02:55] Speaker C: Yeah, both of those. Both those work. I've been trying to get a little bit more on the JBB1, but hey, it's stuff changes over time. But I'm glad to be back on. This is at least year eight or nine, I think. [00:03:06] Speaker A: Yeah, seven, seven or eight. [00:03:08] Speaker C: It's up there. It's it's always fun. My wife's crazy thing, it's almost 10. Oh, it's, it's. Yeah. Because I think this whole thing started the first year of marriage and yeah, it's been almost 10 years. So it's, it makes me feel old. Especially when there's now guys that I covered the first couple years that are now like Division 1 recruiting coordinators and I'm like, this is like a weird kind of like feeling. But hey, that's, I mean, I guess that's what happens when you're getting older and people grow and, and all of that. But thanks for having me on again. [00:03:38] Speaker A: I got a text from you over Christmas break. You're at a. You were with your brother in law, I think, and you're ask about Gary Ward's interlocking sequence of parts. [00:03:47] Speaker C: It was, gotta love being part of the Oklahoma State baseball family because we, we were sitting in my garage and we were just like, like our names both went blank and we're like, I. Why we are terrible people that we cannot think of this specific video. But it's this massive, you know, video that changed hitting for forever and. But it was fun. It was like, wait, I know one person. No one's mentioning this a billion times. [00:04:11] Speaker A: It was ingrained. [00:04:11] Speaker C: And I know it's like one in the morning. Yeah, but I'm going to send this anyways. [00:04:15] Speaker A: It was. Yeah, we watched it for four straight years in high school, so. And that's how I've said it multiple times. That's why my setup looked like Ventura and those guys. Tighter. Shorter elbows, shorter knees. But it worked. I mean, I had almost 300 hits in college with that setup. So it worked. Shout out to Gary Ward. It worked. So when are you excited here with Enid and Grand Junction eventually going to eight teams? [00:04:42] Speaker C: So when I got told this, I had to do my own little kind of digging. And the, the people I asked are the people that would know. And I kind of got the like, it's not happening yet, but it's in the right direction. And I think from my understanding of how it's going to work, I'm excited for it because one of the biggest things I've done over the last few years, even I think the first year I started this, I kind of did like a theoretical field to 64 where like, hey, what would it look like if you took the junior college model and those teams and kind of like, you know, modeled after Division one? And basically from my understanding they're still ironing out a few of the details. But it is going to be kind of, I think it's a 36 team deal and the at large bids, like every region gets one automatic bid for sure. But then it depends on how big your region is and it depends on how like many teams. Some might get two, some might get three. But then the at large bids kind of go down as I guess your normal at large bids would be. And then it's four or not four. I think it's eight. Four team kind of super regionals I think is what my understanding is. And then it would be eight teams make it to Grand Junction, eight teams make it to Enid. So like in theory a lot of years you could have two or three teams from Florida make it, which you're in and you're out. We're not going to really argue that. [00:06:03] Speaker A: Yeah, Jeff Willis talked about it on the postcon. We did a post con recap this year for the first time and Jeff Willis kind of talked about it a little bit too. So for anybody that wants to dive in on that, go back and listen to Jeff's on the. The post con recap. Did a good job with it. He's Talking about maybe 700 mile radius for this. [00:06:20] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean supers, I think it's. I don't think they're going to go necessarily like the nai route where you have kind of. It's really random on like where teams end up going or like you're not going to really have like a Florida team. Like Division 1 might end up in California somehow. So I think there is going to. [00:06:37] Speaker A: Be some restrictions for budget purposes. [00:06:40] Speaker C: But. But you're still going to have, I mean like some teams from North Carolina somehow making it to like Illinois, which hey, that, that would be awesome. Like, or you're going to have, you know, you could potentially some of those years when you had Rarden and Forney over at Wabash and Iowa Western, you're going to have them. Those two teams could make it to Grand Junction. And how many years was it those two were just yelling at each other and now they're teaming up at Western Kentucky and everyone's confused why they're having success. And I'm like, y' all have missed the last 20 years of, of the Midwest. If you're wondering why they're being successful now. But I think it's going to be awesome. I think. I know I've heard some complaints from coaches, especially with. It's more on the D2 side with how one of the districts is set up with region two and region one having to play because it's the end of the year, then you're having a team from Oklahoma having to go to Arizona and then drive right back to Oklahoma if they win. So I think they might be excited about that. But I get Arizona's kind of way, way out there and I get why they added them into an at large bid situation but. Or a combined kind of district. But I think if it's done right and they, they, they figure out some of the large bid stuff because that was a big issue last year down the stretch with the D2 stuff. There was a huge, huge. I don't want to say argument but there was a huge disagreement about who the large teams should have been. So if we can kind of get that figured out, I think it'll be good. But I know each time it's every year it's a new. [00:08:11] Speaker A: You're never going to be able to make everybody happy. [00:08:14] Speaker C: Yeah. But it's. [00:08:15] Speaker A: You look at any playoff format with at larges, somebody's going to get left out that probably deserves to get in. That could have an argument for getting in. [00:08:25] Speaker C: But it's. I mean this is what it's. You're going to say it's each district. So there's going to be 10 districts. So you say there's 10 at large bids there or 10 automatic bids there. So you have 16, 16 theoretical at large bids. So I think you're going to get teams that might have gotten got. I mean the D3 at large bid last year. I mean I've said it for years. They've always seemed to have picked the right team when it comes to that large bid because I think eight or nine of the last at large bids have won the whole thing. Like they lost that one last weekend and then go to the World Series wherever it is. I think it's back in Tennessee now. [00:09:01] Speaker B: It is. [00:09:02] Speaker C: But I mean Gloucester lost to Brookdale in the last game of the season last year and then gets yet large bid and goes on and wins it like it's. It's at Herkimeer did it. I think Tyler got it one of their last times. I think Gloucester might have been one of the ones two years ago. So it's the D3. Whoever the D3 committee is, they've always seemed to figure it out the D2 one. I mean it's the second year of it so. But I'm excited if it does go to that like they're saying it will. I'm here for it because I Think it's going to make a little bit more entertaining games per se because you're gonna, you might have, I mean look at last year's field and Grand Junction. You might have a Lakeland and a John a Logan meeting again. And they're. How close are they in proximity in reality? Maybe like 50, 60 miles apart. But now they're meeting in Colorado for the ninth time that year. You can't tell me that wouldn't be must see tv like. And that's just because I know those two staffs really well and I know they completely respect each other, but they also like hate each other in like a competitive sort of way. So like you're gonna have stuff like that that could happen or you know, a northwest Florida and Chipotle meeting up again down the road or three Texas teams or I mean two Arizona teams. Like it's, you're going to have a lot of cooler possibilities that I think will only help. I mean both World Series end up being more viewed and I mean with them on ESPN the last two years, especially this last year with they kind of figured out a bit more of the broadcast side of things. Those games were awesome. I mean Zach did a great job. Kind of the, the NJC's in house guy did a great job with having just all the information and it was just like, I mean I was getting texts during the games, hey, where's this guy going? What's this guy doing? And I was like, okay, this is here, this is here, there's the storyline there. But it was, I mean it's awesome having them especially like I can watch on my phone and I'm at one of my kids games and I'm like, have my phone on the thing. They're like, what are you watching? I was like, schools you've never heard of but you should. And so then I have three dads like sitting there like, oh. I was like, yeah, no, this is. Welcome to the game. We've got the snacks. This is going to be fun. But yeah, it's, I'm excited for this year too. I think this year's gonna be back. I'm getting a lot of vibes of like I don't know, five, six years ago, probably the last pre covered year where it was just like teams seem to be loaded and having a lot of fun and it's gonna be chaos the entire year. I don't think there's, I think all three divisions. I had to argue with myself on who I was putting number one and I could have five or Six teams that could, probably could justify it. And I think that only goes to show. I think we talked about it last year, the year before, but with the trickle down and with the roster limits and with all that happening, more talent's going to end up here because it's, it's, it's an option to then get to that next level and actually contribute there. Versus like, hey, I'm coming here and well, I got to figure it out now. There's still going to be those guys, but you're going to have a lot of guys like, hey, I want to get drafted sooner or do I want to go sit the bench at power five for two years, not play and then have to fight it? Versus, hey, let me go get 400 bats, maybe be an All American, maybe play for a national title and then go and okay, I'm going in like starting immediately. So it's going to be, it's going to be a lot of fun this year. [00:12:14] Speaker A: And I think NJCA's kind of had a curve here where they feel like some schools that don't have baseball could add baseball now because of the roster caps coming back for Division 1. [00:12:25] Speaker C: It's, and I mean there's been, I know, and this is just me being in the area. I've heard rumors of UNT bringing their team back. I heard rumors I would not. [00:12:34] Speaker A: Arkansas has been adding, you know, that the Arkansas system's been adding teams. [00:12:39] Speaker C: There's, there's been so many. There's been a new one. I think it's in North Carolina maybe Robin. Robinson. Robinson. I know it's regional. Let 10, but like they're coming back this year. There's a, there's a couple more that are, have like, I guess JV or club teams for this year and then next year they're like jumping full go. But I know every year when I'm like going and updating the my like emails and going and updating all that, I'm like, wait, there's. There's more schools. Holy cow. Like, I did the math the other day. I think the system I have that helps me kind of go through schedules, I think now it's just NJCAA alone, it's like 420 and it's like this. I mean, it's great for doing what I do because there's always going to be a plethora of teams and it's, I mean you're seeing kind of their transition of like your traditional big blue bloods kind of switching just a bit. Like they're still going to have, you know, your, your big, big schools, but, like, Tennessee is a prime example. I like to think last year, like Pellissippi State, brand new school. Last year they were one one away from going to Grand Junction last year, like, or going, I guess, to the district finals. And this year they returned 30 sophomores that were all contributors last year. And it's like, well, if you're going to say Tennessee's low, you're not really paying attention. Like, it's. There's talent everywhere and you just kind of have to dig for it a little bit or like, got a lot of, a little bit of slack. Like Frederick. I have Frederick number one. They're not your traditional power region. 20 hasn't had, you know, the traditional success in Enid, but when you return eight of your offensive guys from last year's World Series team, you return three starting pitchers. I'm like, looking on paper, it's kind of hard to argue with, like, with this. I mean, you could go. Your traditional pro river is going to be good. Heartland, I mean, they have a preseason player of the year for me, shortstop who's killing it, which, that's no, if, you know, Heartland, having a toolsy shortstop is like, par for the course for them. But I think he was drafted in like the 15th round last year and he said, nope, I'm coming back. [00:14:32] Speaker A: Is he coming out of Kentucky? [00:14:34] Speaker C: Yeah. So it's, you know, it's just, it's gonna be fun all over. And like you said, new schools are coming in. I think there's a ton in Arkansas. There's a ton up in the Northeast, kind of on the east coast, too. There's a couple I think might be popping up, like in the, the West Ish area. But it's always fun of like, oh, new school, cool, new person to talk to. Hey, I'm kind of crazy. Nice to meet you. Let me talk to you about your school. But it's, I mean, it's going to be, it's going to be awesome. [00:15:04] Speaker A: And you and Robbie and Wayne, something new this year people probably don't know about. Small ball Player of the Year award, you know, And I love it. You guys been working on this for a while. It seems like maybe two, three years you've been talking about wanting to do this to shine a light on, on some of the players that maybe don't get into the Golden Spikes conversation, but have an opportunity to create another award for players, which is always great to add another award. [00:15:31] Speaker C: Yeah, it kind of started, I think it was probably two years ago. Me and Robbie kind of were just. Because if anyone knows me and Robbie have been friends, basically. [00:15:37] Speaker A: He's talking about Robbie Gutierrez, by the way, Nai Ball. And then Wayne Cavatti, D2. [00:15:41] Speaker C: So it. It ended up being me and him. And we. I mean, we struck up our friendship over baseball, but then we both found out, like, oh, we're ridiculous Cowboys fans. So like, that's going to bond anybody. And so it. It was probably two years ago. It was kind of like a. Why isn't there as much of a representation, you know, with the golden spikes? And we love the golden spikes. It's awesome. But then it just kind of. That kind of started like an idea. And I think I'm driving home last year after work and I get a call from Robbie and I'm like, he never calls me. I was like, yo, what's up? And it. It was basically like, I have this idea. You're crazy enough to figure it out quick. What do you think of it? And I was like, honestly, if you did it right, I think it could be. Could be something cool. And then basically it turned into. I guess we joked, it's the. The infinity gauntlet of small ball media guys. So, like, you have me over on the junior college side. You've got Robbie and the whole Nai Ball team. You've got Wayne for the. Was it D2 report. You have Ryan or Robert Frey, I think D2 ball online. And then the guy over. Is it Jim over? [00:16:45] Speaker A: D3 baseball. [00:16:46] Speaker C: D3. And it was kind of like it started probably last April and it was just us in an email chain and we're all kind of going back and forth. But then we kind of were like, you know, it says it's a amateur award, but it's. It's. It's Division one. You have a couple guys here and there that might get the shine. But we were like, look, if we. Because the whole point is to shine the light on, you know, your best small. [00:17:11] Speaker A: I want to say the only non D1 we've ever had is maybe Bo Mills when he was at Lewis and Clark State. [00:17:18] Speaker C: I mean, Harper won it at Harper in. I think it was. [00:17:22] Speaker A: And Bryce Harper. [00:17:24] Speaker C: And then there was a guy in the 80s, maybe, maybe 90s, from Miami Dade, Fernando Some. I can't think of it off the top of my head. But basically it's a. At the end of the year, we kind of all pull everything together. So, like every. The finalist will be one from all the divisions. So you'll have at Least one representative from Division two, one from Division three, one from junior college, one from nai. I think there might be two or three total. So it's not just like a five person list, but then it's, it's kind of a voted by us kind of thing. Like, it's like, okay, we're looking at it. Let's take divisions out of it and let's look at it stat wise and how your team did and, and kind of looking at it that way took a lot of kind of like figuring out. I mean, we're still ironing out, I think some of the little bitty, I mean, minute detail, but we're like, you know what? No one really asked us to do all this other stuff that we do. So let's like combine our combined craziness and love for small college baseball and kind of like put it together and then blast it out to the world and see what happens. I think as of recording right now, I think it technically is going live in like an hour, like the official announcement. But it's, it's been a lot of fun. It's been a lot. It's kind of been a fun, I guess, side project. Robbie asked me the other day, he's like, hey, I need like a serious quote from you. I go, robbie, you know me like that. Those two words don't mix. Like, I, I can, I can speak it, sure. But when I have to put like the serious thought on paper is kind of when, like stuff gets a little wonky. But it's going to be fun. It's going to be. I mean, I'm a D2 junior college guy, so it's like, love the D2 side, love the junior college side. Like, both have the benefits and putting it all together, it's going to be fun. I mean, I don't know the Division 3 side as well. I mean, I've helped some with like the NAI Ball poll and like, I have a bunch of friends that are like admin guys in the NAI level. So it's like, I don't know, it's small college baseball. And what's awesome about college baseball, it's like, it's all the same. I think got me in a little bit of trouble in college. Was in a room with boosters when I worked for a football team and they were complaining about how our quarterback isn't getting any draft love. And it's stupid. Division 2 athletes never get any love. I was like, well, looked at baseball and they're like, well, it's the same. I go, no, 97. And San Angelo is 97, and Big Spring is 97 and Austin is 97 at Yankee Stadium, like, 97 is 97. But 5,000 yards in Division 2 is not 5,000 yards in Division 1. And they were like, they looked at the trainer who I was with, and he's like, who's this kid? And I'm like, I'm sorry, but, like, I kind of have to, like, stick up a little bit. But it's going to be fun. I think once it gets a little bit traction. Obviously, like any first year thing or any time you start something new, there's a little bit, I think, a pushback. But everyone, I think. I think I talked to you about it when we kind of got the idea of rolling. [00:20:08] Speaker A: I love it. [00:20:09] Speaker C: And then, like, I've talked to a few guys with like, the. And so is Robbie and so is Wayne. We've kind of all, like, done our own. Kind of just reaching out to coaches, reaching out to other organizations. Like, do you think this would be liked or do you think this is a smart idea? And basically everyone's like, nope. Yep, like, about time someone or some people decided to kind of put it together. And I think it's. Obviously, it's going to grow, it's going to morph, it's going to change over time. But hopefully it puts, you know, that shine on the level. It's. There's a ton of people that came from all these levels that are crazy places in the world of, I guess the world world. But in baseball in general and, you know, helping shine and, you know, a little bit brighter light on that is like the ultimate goal. [00:20:56] Speaker A: How many games got canceled last weekend? [00:20:59] Speaker C: Too many. I. I was supposed to go to the New Balance. The New Balance Future Stars Deal with you on Arlington. [00:21:05] Speaker A: I saw they canceled that. [00:21:07] Speaker C: I was so upset because. [00:21:09] Speaker A: Yeah, but you can't have teams traveling right now. Correct. Ice is a different deal. Correct about that. Like, ice is a different deal. [00:21:16] Speaker C: It's a whole different deal. [00:21:17] Speaker A: Ice is. That's where you get into trouble with. With buses on the road. [00:21:21] Speaker C: But it. I know he might hate for me for saying this, but got a call from last year's wonderful Cinderella story of the Division 1 College World Series or Junior College World Series in Lakeland. And he's like, yo, we're going down to Florida because we can't come down to Texas. And I go, oh, sweet. When are y' all leave? He's like, I left yesterday at noon. I'm still eight hours out I go, I forgot how far y' all were up there and I forgot how far South Florida Southwestern is. But a lot of those teams ended up switching things up. I know Blakelyn Flodar and Florida Southwestern all drove down to Fort Myers and played a kind of a four, three team kind of double, at least three games. I think Lakeland got four because it was a longer travel day. Like, I know Sanjack didn't play, but I know. I think they're hoping to have that thing back next year. But so for those that don't know, it was going to be basically for the first time I think ever, basically take if you know the, the Gulf coast deal. But they took teams from. And there's Wabash Valley, Lakeland, Florence Darlington from North Carolina or South Carolina. I always get that confused. You had two Florida teams coming over and a handful of Texas teams all coming up and playing in Arlington in the Ranger Stadium for like four days of just last year, I think it was like scrimmages or they still played them, but they didn't count. This year they were going to count. And so you had. I think it was four of the 10 teams from Grand Junction last year were all going to be in Arlington, all in one spot, which that doesn't usually happen. I know Gulf coast kind of has done a bit of that and their, their deal is even getting shifted this next week. I just got an update. Instead of it being, I think, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, like two teams had to drop out because of travel and now it's just like a Thursday, Friday deal. So it's going to be a lot of games got canceled. I know going through, I was like, oh, there's going to be all this stuff. It's like, oh, wait, no, there's like, not as much as like usually. But I mean, like we said, ice is the issue and us Texans don't know how to deal with ice. Like, we like to think, oh, it's ice and snow and I've got a big truck. Yeah, no, ice is ice is completely different story. I've got a sheet of probably an inch of ice down my driveway and I'm like, nope, I'm not going to risk that. Granted, I drive a little Fiat, little fancy coupe deal, so they. I'm going to get taken advantage of by any ice. But it's. No, it's going to be. There's a lot of games. A lot, a lot of games. I'll say that because it hit it everywhere. [00:23:50] Speaker A: Yeah, it was everywhere. I think one of the Things that you do a good job tracking is guys that move on to the next level too. So what, we haven't done the D1 preview yet, but are there any impact play players out there that went to junior college to are playing at the next level? [00:24:08] Speaker C: So I wish you would have told me this because I have a whole, whole list. Because I have a whole list because I've been seeing a bunch of other previews and shout out to the. Oh gosh, I'm a butcher. This bunch of other Division 1. I don't want to say small ball media people, but kind of the same deal, right? Noah Darling's one of them. The guys over 11.7 but they basically. I think it's Diamond Connect, diamond something, giant preview. I mean they sent it to me and I'm going through it and I was like, this is amazing. I mean, previews for all these teams. But I text them, I go, hey, if y' all ever need some like junior college insight, because there's a few guys that I know that are gonna be good, that like y' all don't have in there and they're like, well, they're junior college guys. I go, yeah, so just give me a call next time. But Wichita State flipping around. I mean, they were good last year. I said they have. Oh gosh, Josh. I think it's Josh. I get him and his brother mixed up. His brother was the third baseman for Oklahoma State for a bunch of years, but he's was going to be a redshirt sophomore this past year. Ended up. Or this year, but ended up going to Wichita State in the outfield. There's one guy in Arizona I'm. Granted, I'm a little bit more personally connected, but he broke Bryce Harper's single season hit record last year at Southern Nevada. And Chaz McNellis, he's going to be an outfielder at Arizona. I think he's gonna be kind of one that not a lot of people are gonna know about because his story is also a little. It's a really cool story. I'm kind of connected to it in like a personal way with, with my wife and how her college story kind of went. But I'm not gonna get that. That's his story to tell. Go listen to my show. We had him on in the fall or in the summer. Awesome, awesome dude. But he's one. I haven't seen Oregon's roster, but they got a dude from El Paso, Julian Sosi was. I said he was one of the best third basemans in the country. Last year, but because he played at El Paso, like, no one really went and looked at him. But went to Oregon, was committed earlier. Oregon too, and I believe he's there. I just haven't seen their updated roster, which is weird that it's this late, but I guess I get. I understand now in the world of transfer portal and all that fun stuff, you're not going to have all that stuff completely out. But like, Kansas has got a bunch of dudes, as always. Western Kentucky's gonna have a bunch of dudes. I'm trying to think other names off the top of my head, but there's. There's going to be a few that I think really surprise some people. Oklahoma State's got an interesting dude. Who a lefty. He's gonna be a sophomore, I believe Kai Fike, I think is his name. He's Canadian, was at Central Arizona last year. Kind of was like a last second get for him. And I mean, as we said earlier, like, I'm an Oklahoma State kind of like, I, I'm a fan, but in baseball I can, I can separate the fandoms. So like, when we play, I told one of the guys that I'm closer with. I was like, hey, I'll come to the game and I want you to go five for five with five home runs, but I want y' all to lose six to five. Like, just know if you're playing my team, I want you to do good. I want your team suck. And he was like, I can respect that. But it's. Those are probably three names off the top of my head that are going to be really. Oh, there's a dude. Gossip Gonzaga. [00:27:19] Speaker B: I'm. [00:27:20] Speaker C: I'm blanking on his name. He's a California guy that should be really, really good again this year. Kind of surprised a bunch of people. Last year was from Chaffee, which isn't your, like traditional California Junior College. That is usually pretty good, but he like killed it. I think California is going to be an interesting one. This is a whole different kind of branching it, but the 3C 2A. I think there's going to be a bunch of interesting stuff kind of going on out there this year. I'm hoping I've figured some stuff out to where I can cover that a bit easier. I've. I've figured out some automation stuff which hopefully makes my life a way, way easier. Instead of manually going through 500 schedules every single Monday, Sunday, Monday, I. It goes a little bit quicker. But it's. All in all, like I said, kind of the start of this. It. It feels kind of like 2018, 2019, where stuff was just clicking and got it. It just seemed like there was talent everywhere and it was like, take your pick. And I think I've said this every year, take your pick on a given junior college and go because you're. It's going to be talent. Up, down, left, right. Like it's going to be everywhere. It's just kind of find the field and sit back and enjoy the ride. Like Mississippi is going to be deep and deep deep as it always is. Tennessee is going to be really interesting. Georgia is going to be really interesting. Alabama, I think the Division 2 side is going to be really, really interesting. I think the best team, which is against a lot of people's normal like Bishop State. I really like Bishop State in Alabama, which is not like your usual Alabama school. And was talking to some coaches over there and they're like, actually that's what we've been saying. I was like, oh, okay. So like I'm looking at this, right? Cool. I feel feel a little bit smart now. I don't think I'll feel as smart as the World Series picks last year because I felt like the smartest person alive after the two calls that panned out. Century is going to be good again this year. They lost some big, big guys, but like their main offensive guys back. And so for anyone that doesn't know Century Minnesota school, Minnesota does not get a lot, a lot of love. [00:29:16] Speaker B: With. [00:29:16] Speaker C: How deep and how good like that junior college system is. I mean, you coach in Iowa like you should. I mean, you know, like it's, it's. [00:29:22] Speaker A: Kind of like a hidden gem play baseball in Minnesota. [00:29:25] Speaker C: It's. I, I was joking. Was on a call with Gosh, the new head coach of Eastern Oklahoma, Josh Merrill, was at Northern Iowa for a bunch, bunch of years. And I made a joke to him. I was like, I've never claimed to be the smartest person, but I always was wondering why so many Iowa schools played so many Minnesota schools. Because like those states aren't even close. [00:29:44] Speaker A: Yeah, they are. [00:29:45] Speaker C: And then, and then like one day it clicked and I was like, I'm an idiot. Yeah, they're right next to each other. And he's like, yeah, where Niagara is. [00:29:53] Speaker A: In that area, it does not take long to get to the city from Nyack. [00:29:59] Speaker C: So it was just like, he's like, no, like, we know you're not like the sharpest crane in the box sometimes. I go, I know I've never claimed to be. It but it was just like that, like, oh, wait, looked at a map and finally was like, oh, like bulb thing. But century is going to be good. Division three. I really like Brookdale. It's a lot like Frederick. They've got a bunch of returning back region 19 in division three. I mean you have Gloucester, who's what, two, three time defending champs? Heard they're. They're going to be the same Gloucester, but it's. They lost some guys at break. They're. They're not as flashy, I guess as like the years pass. They're going to be good. Like they're always good. [00:30:36] Speaker A: They'll get them going. [00:30:37] Speaker C: But it's kind of one of those things where I've got this very weird. How do I put this. I've got this weird mental thing where I say I'm not going to put the defending champs as number one unless it is like it is definite. It is. I can look at it and can't argue it because there's so much turnover every year with junior college baseball. So to say the number one team last year is the number one team this year. Like that's, that's not the case now. It is sometimes chipotle in 17 and 18. Gloucester last year, I think I even then last year didn't even say they were one. I think I said Niagara grows number one like that. And that was one of the storylines. I was so upset. I was so upset that they didn't finish it. I really wanted them to, but I. [00:31:26] Speaker A: Mean I got to that tournament last year. [00:31:28] Speaker C: Oh, it's. Oh, it's. I'll say last year. And I listened to the NAI preview and I had, I had Tyler on and we were talking about the LSU units thing and I was like, I got dragged into that because I'm the one that held, held the Howard colleges has the 63 and one with the 57 game win streak and I'm the one that can freaking bring that sucker out. But I was. That was one. I know. And I know this is, this is a junior college preview, but I was. That's one of those games where I'll remember exactly where I was watching Shreveport finish that. Like exactly where I was at a friend's bachelor party or night before his wedding, like watching it. And they're like, this team's about to go undefeated in baseball. It never happened. And they're like. So I have these guys from Mississippi who are like no clue who any of these schools are. And they're like around my phone and we're all just watching this and we're like, oh, I guess guys being dudes. I guess. But that's again, that kind of goes back to the small ball college player thing. It's like, it's awesome everywhere. And probably they would have had the player of the year. You could have made the argument last year for Tyler Myatt at Walter State. I think he hit five something with like 30 home runs. You could have made the argument for. Gosh, he was the pitcher, the ace for Mount San Antonio last year. I think he was like 10 and oh with like a sub one era, which in California, like it's not easy to do. So it's circling back to that. Like it's going to be that award, I think is going to be a lot of fun to kind of follow throughout the year. I think we're going to have mid March ish a player watch list kind of. I don't know what. What the length is going to be, but guys from all divisions. [00:33:04] Speaker A: Nice. [00:33:06] Speaker C: But it's going to be a lot of fun. College baseball is awesome. If anyone knows me, I mean, you know me well enough. I'm like, I think about it probably way too much than the normal person, but having the fun hobby of what this is. I guess you kind of have to at times, but. No, it's all right. [00:33:23] Speaker A: I want you. You're going to have to give me. Before I let you go here, you're going to have to give me your national champions for all three JUCO levels. And then NWAC and Pacific. I want your national champs. [00:33:35] Speaker C: Okay. Okay. So Division One. I'm going to go see. This is so hard. I don't. I want to go back and see what. What mine were the last couple of years to see if I was ever close. I know there's only been one year my number one team ended up being the champ and that was Blynn when they won it two years ago or three years ago. But like, I really like Weatherford. They've finally gotten the Grand Junction the last couple years and Judd might hate new coach. I guess the assistant got promoted because Jeff got the. [00:34:10] Speaker A: He took the ag job. [00:34:12] Speaker C: He took the ag job. And then Judd, basically. I text him. I was like, so like, is he. Are you. Technically, he goes, Rooney rule. I go, okay, gotcha. Like, understood. But I guess. And that's me being, I guess a bit of homer because Weatherford's an hour down the street, maybe two depending on Dallas traffic. But I mean Weatherford, Florida, Southwestern State. Like, I think both those two coming out I mean if, and here, here's a very weird thing I've noticed. If a team from Florida goes back to back years winning the region, they generally win the World Series the next year. Chipotle did it. I mean granted they went back to back and then when Central Florida went, they lost the first year, went back the next year, they won it that year. So Florida Southwestern can finally get over that. They got over the getting a Grand Junction last year. So if they can go back, I really like them. Johnny Logan, another team been so close but have fallen so short. Division two, man, that one's going to be. I like Heartland even though I had the number two to start the year. Heartland is really good. I could see East Central or Pearl River. Gosh, you asked for one answer. Now I'm like saying 16 for each one. So I'm gonna say the combination of a Weatherford Florida Southwestern for Division 1. I'm gonna say Heartland or probably. Because Pasco could go back to back but they lost a few big pieces but kind of like, I mean Pearl, East Central, I would be, I'd be really excited to see each Central win it. They've kind of, since Eunice left, they kind of have taken that especially with that large bids but Pearl River, East Central, Heartland, kind of that combination. Would love for Frederick to go, but I think no Region 20 team has like won any games in Enid in like the last like 10 years. So like that's kind of hard. Division three wise, I mean that it's going to be deep as always. I think Texas as a whole is down, so I wouldn't say them. [00:36:21] Speaker A: I just saw Garza left to go to George Washington. [00:36:27] Speaker C: So it's. I'm gonna say probably I'll go Brookdale. I really like Brookdale. I'm gonna stick my head there. My preseason number one, um, it ruffled a couple of feathers. I did get a coach from Jay over there or John. John. John, yeah. Great. Great dude. He was like, is that why you asked for pictures? I go, yes. If I'm asking for a picture of your guys, usually I'm doing something. The nwac. Ah, this, this is where it gets hard because I usually get some NWAC stuff, but not a ton. I know last year who won it live. I can't think of who won it last year, but it was not like your normal team. [00:36:57] Speaker A: Lynn Benton looks like they're getting some love. [00:37:00] Speaker C: I really like Lower Columbia, but that's just because I have their pitcher as my piggy season pitcher of the year, which that Ruffled a lot of feathers because I had a closer. I was like, guys, he's like. He was like 13, 0 in saves and pitched. I think it was 16 innings, 15 saves and like 15 strikeouts. I was like, you came in and you did a job. I don't care who you are, you can't be that efficient and not like, get it and then who. I think it's Rivers. It's either Riverside because Mount Sack lost a bunch. They returned too big. I think a pitcher and a second baseman, but I think it's Riverside. I don't want to like, hold on. I don't want to say the wrong team because there's like a Riverside and there's a Riverdale. Yeah, no, it's Riverside is what I'm thinking of. Okay. But I mean, they came out and they destroyed Cuesta in the first week. They're kind of not your. I think they're NorCal school. I think I get that all confused. But I really like Riverside. Sac City seems to be getting stuff going again. But I might say West Valley. Might. Nah, screw it. I'm say West Valley. West Valley. If you haven't seen their field, oh my gosh, it, it is ridiculous. And the fact that they don't have lights is a crime to humanity because they're in freaking Silicon Valley in a neighborhood. And so like, they're like, you can't have lights past this time. But they've got this like 3 million dollar baseball field that's all turfed with giant Jumbotron. All these stands, all this fancy stuff and no lights. And their coaches were like, yeah, it's upsetting. And their, their head coach, I believe is like, played on the Miami teams in the 80s. But West Valley has been, I think, in the final Four the last three years and have fallen just short or lost in the finals. But I might say West Valley or Riverside, Kind of a combination of those two. Yeah. So what is that? Riverside, West Valley, Columbia, Brookdale, East Central, and like Weatherford. Okay, yeah, no, I might get some slack for that. But hey, I'm me. And that. That's what. What happens. [00:39:03] Speaker A: It's all good. All right, sir, everyone, some final thoughts before I let you go. [00:39:09] Speaker C: I don't know, I think I've said it about a dozen times, but this season's going to be awesome. I say that I think every year, but I think this year is going to be a lot, a lot of fun, a lot of moving parts, a lot of just stuff seems to be clicking everywhere. Very thankful as always to Come on. The show. It is a blast. If you would have told me nine years ago when this started, like this would be, I guess, an annual thing, I, I would probably have laughed. But I'm ready for the season to get going. I'm ready for there not to be an inch of ice outside my house so I can kind of move a bit and get out and about and, and go see some games and not be stuck in a house with four kids, because that's a nightmare in itself. Love them, but being stuck in a house for was. It's now six days. [00:39:51] Speaker A: They're crazy. [00:39:52] Speaker C: It's. It getting a little, little crazy, but. Nah, man. Thank you again for having me on. As always. The small college baseball player of the year thing, I think is going to be hopefully a big hit. I think it's officially going out, I think in like 30 minutes. [00:40:04] Speaker A: Awesome. [00:40:05] Speaker C: There's. There's been some hints. Robbie said, hey, here's the, the account information. You, you do your fun joking thing. I said, okay, I can do that. That's not going to be too hard. [00:40:14] Speaker B: For me to do. [00:40:15] Speaker C: But. But yeah, thanks again, man. It's always a blast and an honor and hopefully this thing keeps growing and going and see you this time next year maybe. [00:40:23] Speaker B: Yep. [00:40:24] Speaker C: Maybe I'll see you at one of these World Series. [00:40:26] Speaker A: Yes, sir. [00:40:26] Speaker C: One of these days. [00:40:27] Speaker A: Thank you, sir. [00:40:29] Speaker C: No problem. All right. [00:40:32] Speaker A: Here with Troy Sutherland, PG national scouting coordinator was on with me last year. And thanks for jumping back on with me. [00:40:39] Speaker B: Thanks, Ryan. [00:40:41] Speaker A: How much has the weather affected? [00:40:44] Speaker B: Early stuff, obviously, with PCB moving up a day and then kind of banging the weekend because it's going to be 30 degrees outside. It's been a scramble, but we're going to get there. I'm happy we're going to get any baseball in. [00:40:56] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:40:57] Speaker A: And you guys just put out your. Your preseason top 50. [00:41:01] Speaker B: Yep. Top 50 releases here. Yep. Two minutes ago. It is live. [00:41:05] Speaker A: I pulled it up. So do you want to kind of go through. I like that it's. It's all levels. [00:41:10] Speaker B: Let's do it. [00:41:11] Speaker A: I really do like that it's all level if you want to just kind of rip through that. [00:41:15] Speaker B: All right, here we go. Leading us off, Walter State. I mean, multiple power five arms, multiple SEC arms, multiple impact returning bats, middle of the infield returning with Cole Fenton going to North Carolina next year. I think project him being one of the top middle infielders in the country this year. National champion, Salt Lake, obviously at the JUCO level. When you're good one year, that generally means that you're going to lose most of your impact guys, but they return. Easton Davies, power right hander, and Tyler west, who is all World Series team. Blend's going to be a wagon this year as well. Multiple power, arms of the front, front of the rotation. Florida Southwestern, you could say the same. And multiple returning bats. They add Bishop Quarles, who tomorrow, by the time this airs, I'm sure will be our number two player in the nation. Looking a little bit further down the board, you have multiple Texas teams at Weatherford and McLennan, Shelton State, who's just an installation in Grand Junction, and they bring in some nice, nice freshman pieces that will be aggressive on John A. Logan. Gulf coast, Pearl River, 13, 14, 15, all exciting teams, all going to PCB. So we're going to get a fresh look at them right off the bat. A little further down the list, we're really aggressive on California this year. We really wanted to dig into 3C 2A and turns out there's a lot of prospects. You know, Tyler Pescke at Cerritos, going to UCLA is a really exciting bat. He'll be really high up there for us. And Grant Gray, a transfer from UCLA who played football in the fall for them, will be at Riverside working a little bit further down list. You know, a lot of the usual suspects. You know, you have Sanjack, you have Central Arizona, you have Lakeland coming off of a miraculous World Series run. Then you know, Indian River, Tyler, just perennial teams that are going to field a solid ball club year in and year out. [00:43:16] Speaker A: Do you feel like the trickle down from Division 1 is going to help junior college baseball here? I know we're probably maybe year two with the, you know, the DSAs for D1. [00:43:28] Speaker B: I think the DSAs at the break did affect the talent coming, coming down the pike. Did it affect it that much? I don't know if it was, if it was marginal, but I was fielding a lot of calls saying, hey, we need an arm, like we're ready at the break, let me know. And then that just kind of like fizzled, you know, there's, there's a couple, couple stragglers out there late in the process, but it wasn't the designated student athlete. Definitely changed the game a little bit. [00:43:57] Speaker A: Yeah, I'm just interested to see how that all shakes out. [00:44:00] Speaker B: No question. It's really interesting and I don't know for the player that if it's, if it's really the best course of action. You get better by playing. You don't get better. [00:44:09] Speaker C: I agree. [00:44:10] Speaker B: You Know. [00:44:12] Speaker A: Where are you going to be early. [00:44:15] Speaker B: As far as just. Yeah, I'm going, I'm going to pcb. It's probably shortly after we finish this. I got laundry in the dryer, fold that up. You know how it goes. I was just came from a 10 day road trip, California to Arizona and back home and go to pcb. Roll that and then, you know, we'll hammer the stuff in the deep South. And I got Blaine Peterson in Kansas and he's going to be running around the Midwest trying to get as much juco content as we can. [00:44:43] Speaker A: What were you doing out in California and Arizona? [00:44:45] Speaker B: We had a showcase in Irvine and then MLK west, which is one of, one of my favorite stops of the year. You get some, some of those late draft hype guys. You know, you always see one from the Pacific Northwest. It's kind of a late riser, so it's fun. [00:45:00] Speaker A: Anybody pop out to you? [00:45:02] Speaker B: Yeah, Sawyer Nelson, actually a 2026 from Oregon. It's a left hand hitter, really polished field hit, controlled the zone all weekend. Like I was, I was impressed and just with the amount of area guys and cross checkers surrounding his at bats that with multiple other like rock star names going, I was like, all right, this is one. We need to keep tabs on any. [00:45:25] Speaker A: Any teams like Lakeland this year that might be surprises. [00:45:29] Speaker B: I think Mineral Area is going to be really good again. You know, Missouri is always kind of a tough one for us to tough one away out because I just don't know if they're at the consistent level of competition that, that you know, the Jayhawk Conference is per se. But I think, I think they're going to be really good. I think Crowder could be really good. They're returning some, some big arms, mainly Eli Cresselius who played at Valley View with Slade Caldwell a few years back. That was a pretty. [00:45:57] Speaker A: With teams starting this early and you've seen a lot of early season stuff. Are arms ready? Do you feel like arms are ready? [00:46:04] Speaker B: I think all the coaches nationwide do a really good job, especially the cold weather guys because that's just what they're accustomed to. You know, we got to throw indoors. We got, we got to get you ramped and then you have like some of your cold weather Jucos, Wabash Valley in particular, that is gonna go hunt out warm weather and go play, you know. So that, that's the number one way to get your squad ready if you have the budget for that is to go find competition, warmer weather, any other. [00:46:30] Speaker A: Preseason tournaments. [00:46:33] Speaker B: Not not for a perfect game, but I know there's been other ones kind of around the nation. I know future stars runs one. I think they might have had some inclement. Yeah, that's a bummer. That's not good for anybody. [00:46:47] Speaker A: I know. What year is this for pcb? [00:46:50] Speaker B: Oh, it's been going on since I've been with PG and I think maybe two or three years before that. So it's, it's been rolling almost a decade now, I'm sure. [00:47:01] Speaker A: I love it, Love it. What else are you looking forward to this season? [00:47:06] Speaker B: PCB in particular? Yeah, I'm looking forward to watching Makai Grant throw. He's gonna throw a game one for Northwest Florida, Mississippi State transfer. And everything we've heard throughout the fall and early spring is it's going to be 95, 98 with like serious stuff. So that's, that's on my marker. I look forward to seeing a Florida like kind of unfurls because I think there's a lot of. Yeah, this, this is every year, but I think Florida is as competitive as it's ever been. So you know Texas as well. Like there's, there's no clear cut runaway top team in either of the two power states. So that's, that's really fun for, for us on this end that we get to kind of maneuver teams around. But you know, you're gonna ruffle some feathers long. [00:47:55] Speaker A: Where would you put some of these guys? Would you draft some of these guys in the top 10 round? [00:47:59] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, Carson Bailey, who will be number one tomorrow, you know, big 12 arm that pitched for Baylor, went to Texas A M and stuff didn't work out there for, for whatever reason, but you know, he's there. Bishop Corals, I mean it's, it's always tough to throw the position player in there, especially an outfielder because, you know, if someone's going top 10 round juco, I imagine it's the top middle infielder generally. But Bishop Coral is being uncommitted this far in the process and that those level of tools across the board is a good chance. Holden Herring was an all American for pg. Makai Grant's probably going like, I, I don't really see a way where, where he doesn't go. And then Anson Siebert, transfer from Tennessee who is also an all American for PG a couple of years back, just turned up recently at Johnson county, so he'd be one to watch as well. [00:48:55] Speaker A: So if you had to pick, go ahead and pick some national champions. [00:49:00] Speaker B: All right, let's do it. Let's do it. Division one. I'm going with Blim. I think. I think they're my favorite team this year, followed by Northwest Florida and Walter State. I would say those are my three title contenders. Obviously, if Florida, Southwestern, Northwest Florida are going to be battling it out all year long. And Blends gonna have to shave off Weatherford and McLennan. But Walters has the easiest road. Right. Like, and it's not an easy road, but it is an easier road that they'll probably face off against Georgia Highlands as we've seen in years past. And I think Highlands is going to have a really good squad again. And they debut at number 17 for US Division 2. I think this could be closer. I think obviously with Pasco Hernando winning last year, they. They kind of snuck up on us. This is going to be a closer gap than years past when I think Pearl was a runaway favorite. I think East Central is going to be really good. Really, really good. Ryan Nelson's going to be our top prospect in Mississippi. He's going to Oklahoma. It's going to be power fastball, and he's going to bat in the middle of the order and play shortstop for them. And they returned Pablo Roque, who's a Dominican hitter. Like, the guy is gonna. Is gonna do damage all year long. And then Pasco is going to be good again. So all. All three of those teams debut inside our top 30 here. Division three, hard to go against Gloucester. I'm gonna pencil that one in right now. [00:50:29] Speaker A: Then would you pick Riverside then for 3? [00:50:32] Speaker B: California. California might be. It might be closer than that. I think. I think Palomar's got a good shot. I think oh loan's got a good shot. I think oh alone's gonna be. I think oh alone could rise up this list. They're going to debut at 38, but with multiple. I think they have six prospects inside our top 500, including their shortstop, Chewy Vasquez, who's a transfer from Laney, who hit 400 last year. [00:50:57] Speaker A: So then what about NWAC? [00:51:00] Speaker B: NWAC? We got lower Columbia at 35. That'll be our top NWAC team. Lynn Benton is obviously a powerhouse. Watch out for Lane College. You know, NWAC always kind of not a mystery, but it's always a little bit tougher to gauge just with. With weather stuff and info that comes out of. There's sporadic, so. [00:51:24] Speaker C: Well, cool. [00:51:24] Speaker A: Anything else you want to cover before I let you go? I know you're trying to get somewhere, and I am, too. [00:51:28] Speaker B: Yeah, I'm just happy you had me on. I'm always happy to talk about teams and, and players. So much effort goes into this on our end, so we're happy. [00:51:36] Speaker A: You guys do a phenomenal job. Like, I, you know, PG does a great job, and you guys have a lot to cover, but you guys do a tremendous job. It's always. [00:51:45] Speaker B: Thank you. [00:51:46] Speaker A: Great. [00:51:46] Speaker B: Thank you. 206 junior colleges in the nation, and we try to pick out the top 500 players. It's not. It's not a perfect process, but we give it our best shot. Yeah. [00:51:54] Speaker A: Love it. All right, we'll get down there. Enjoy. All right, go see baseball. Hopefully the weather holds off for you. [00:52:00] Speaker B: Sounds good. Thanks, Ryan. [00:52:01] Speaker A: The game of baseball has grown at all levels, in large part to what our sports writers are doing to shine a light on every level. Thanks to all of our sports writers for all their hard work and covering the game of baseball. This is your yearly reminder to get out there and support all your local colleges. Thanks again to John Litchfield, Zach Hale, and Matt west and the ABCA office for all the help on the podcast. Feel free to reach out to me via email rbrownleca.org, twitter, Instagram or TikTok@coachbabca. Direct message me via the MyABCA app. This is Ryan Brownlee signing off with American Baseball Coaches Association. Thanks and leave it better for those behind you. [00:52:42] Speaker C: And your life is not for turn and you know that way Yep Wait for another day and the world will always and your lives ever for yearning and you know that way Wait for another day.