New England Baseball Journal’s The Base Path

Dan and Pat Donnelly offer a comprehensive recap of the MIAA State Baseball Tournament as it heads into its final weekend. They delve into notable performances and players from the tournament, discussing state championship matchups across divisions, including standout teams like Braintree, Chelmsford, and Walpole. The discussion also covers predictions for the finals, player injuries, and candidates for MIAA Player of the Year. The episode closes with a segment on stolen bases' value in modern baseball and personal reflections on memorable rookie seasons. Additionally, a touching tribute to Cape Cod League Hall of Famer Sol Yas.   Topics 01:10 Division 1 Tournament Recap 03:32 Braintree's Journey to the Finals 06:24 Chelmsford's Impressive Run 11:58 Division 2 Tournament Highlights 17:24 Division 3 Tournament Surprises 20:56 Division 4 and 5 Tournament Insights 25:26 MIAA Player of the Year Discussion 25:53 Shoutouts to Top Performers 26:44 State Tournament Highlights 29:54 Narrowing Down the Finalists 35:07 Three Up, Three Down Segment 35:43 Memorable Rookie Seasons 39:34 Underachieving Teams Discussion 44:53 The Value of Stolen Bases 47:56 Heartfelt Tribute and Closing Remarks

Todd Mathewson, the champion coach of the Western New England Prep Baseball League from Canterbury School, joins to discuss his team's recent championship victory over Cheshire Academy. Mathewson shares insights into the emotional journey of achieving the win after years of close calls, breaking down game strategies and key moments of the season. He also talks about the selection process for Post-Graduate players, the rising interest in Canterbury's baseball program, and the impact of a strong supporting community. The episode wraps up with a fun segment, 'Three Up, Three Down,' where favorite baseball stances, intimidation on the mound, and fiery managers are discussed. Topics 00:32 Championship Game Emotions and Highlights 02:23 Western New England Prep Baseball League Overview 04:25 Tournament Strategy and Key Players 06:54 Celebration and Community Support 08:29 Recruitment and Program Growth 11:15 Postgraduate Year Insights 16:32 Coaching Philosophy and Personal Journey 22:49 Three Up, Three Down Segment 30:47 Closing Remarks

Dan and guest Pat Donnelly provide immediate and in-depth reactions to the freshly released MIAA baseball brackets. Recorded just half an hour after the brackets were unveiled, they discuss teams to watch, potential upsets, and who they believe will make it through to the later rounds, including final four predictions and eventual champions across various divisions. The episode particularly focuses on Division One and Two, with key insights on teams like Taunton, Xaverian, St. John's Shrewsbury, Plymouth North, Redding, and several others. Lesser-covered divisions like Three, Four, and Five are also briefly discussed.    Topics 00:00 Introduction and Instant Reactions to MIAA Baseball Brackets 00:54 Division One Breakdown: Top Seeds and Key Matchups 03:11 Teams to Watch: Dark Horses and Potential Upsets 08:55 Final Four Predictions and Key Players 14:34 Division Two Overview: Defending Champions and Top Contenders 15:06 Top Teams and Key Players in Division One 15:55 Underdogs and Lower Seeds to Watch 18:04 Predictions for Final Four and Potential Upsets 22:41 Division Three Highlights and Contenders 28:15 Division Four and Five Overview 31:14 Closing Thoughts and Podcast Wrap-Up

The guest is ISL champion Lawrence coach Chris Margraf. Dan and Chris discuss his team’s journey to winning the ISL tournament, the strategic decisions made during games, the evolution of high school baseball with more specialized athletes, and the importance of team chemistry. They also delve into the nuances of field management, decision-making under pressure, and the changing landscape of youth sports. The episode concludes with a 'Three Up, Three Down' segment featuring baseball dilemmas and Hall of Fame debates. Topics 00:14 Reflecting on the ISL Championship 01:01 The Evolution of Prep School Baseball 02:13 Challenges and Strategies in the Playoffs 03:56 Pitching Decisions and Game Dynamics 05:06 Coaching Decisions and Game Management 06:24 The Impact of Key Players 06:56 Navigating the DH Rule and Game Scenarios 08:22 The Emotional Rollercoaster of the Championship Game 13:27 Post-Game Reflections and Umpire Decisions 17:44 Player Development and Future Prospects 21:41 The Changing Landscape of High School Sports 26:30 The Importance of Nuances in Baseball 27:33 The Evolution of Multi-Sport Athletes 28:38 Specialization and Its Impact on Players 29:19 The Role of AAU Programs 30:39 Team Dynamics and Baseball IQ 34:19 Three Up, Three Down Segment Introduction 34:51 Hall of Fame Dilemmas 40:15 Ethical Dilemmas in Baseball 46:29 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts

Dan and co-host Pat Donnelly provide a comprehensive mid-season review of prep baseball in New England. The discussion focuses on various leagues, including the ISL, NEPSAC, and independent teams. Key highlights include favorited teams like St. Sebastian's, Roxbury Latin, and Lawrence Academy and predictions for awards and championships. The podcast also explores noteworthy statistics and emerging talents, offering in-depth insights into the current prep baseball scene.     Topics 01:06 ISL Favorites: St. Sebastian's, Roxbury Latin, and Lawrence Academy 06:13 ISL Contenders: Nobles, Tabor, and Belmont Hill 10:48 ISL Bubble Teams: Milton Academy, BB&N, and Others 14:19 ISL Awards Predictions 18:02 NEPSAC Founders League 20:21 Central New England: Deerfield's Dominance 21:48 Western New England League Dominance 22:58 Fairchester Athletic Association Showdown 23:58 Independent Teams Spotlight 26:53 Three Up, Three Down: Baseball Insights

A midseason review of New England high school baseball with beat reporter Pat Donnelly. Dan and Pat discuss the performance of Catholic conference schools, standout teams, and key players. Topics include the unpredictable top 10 rankings, the competitive nature of the Catholic and Bay State Conferences, dominant individual performances, and predictions for state championships.  Topics 00:30 Catholic Conference Teams Overview 02:18 Xaverian's Strong Season 03:49 BC High's Challenges and Comebacks 06:01 St. John Shrewsbury's Performance 07:56 Braintree and Bay State Conference 09:39 Taunton and King Philip Highlights 13:21 Newton South's Turnaround 14:39 Mid-Season Questions and Predictions 20:21 Brody's Recovery and Future Plans 21:03 State Championship Predictions 23:18 Three Up, Three Down Segment 24:00 Catching a Foul Ball at a Major League Game 27:32 Unusual Baseball Moments 34:05 Judging a Ballpark's Quality 36:19 Conclusion and Credits

Dan is joined by legendary prep baseball coach Dan Donato from Dexter Southfield. They explore a range of topics including the evolution of New England prep school baseball, the impact of the pandemic on recruiting, and the increasingly competitive environment with postgraduate leagues. Donato shares insights on his recruitment strategy, the importance of player development, and the unique advantages Dexter Southfield offers its athletes. Additionally, Donato reflects on memorable moments, including successful seasons and key influences in his coaching career. The episode wraps up with a three up, three down segment covering memorable base running plays, trick plays, and favorite baseball seasons.   Topics 00:40 State of New England Prep School Baseball 03:03 Recruitment and Player Development at Dexter 04:32 Coaching Philosophy and Career Journey 12:32 Top Prospects and League Competitiveness 15:02 Challenges and Opportunities in Prep Baseball 17:37 Top 100 Camp and College Recruitment 20:08 Current Season and League Outlook 23:23 Sponsorship Message 24:13 Design Your Own Custom Rawlings Glove 24:40 Flexible Education for Student-Athletes 25:21 Three Up, Three Down: Introduction 25:59 Memorable Base Running Plays 26:50 Trick Plays in Baseball 29:08 Shrewd Base Running Moments 32:13 Favorite Baseball Seasons 37:49 Boston Sports Nostalgia 39:29 Conclusion and Wrap-Up

Dan welcomes Joe Breen, head coach at Bishop Feehan and director of GBG club baseball. They discuss Joe's experience transitioning from club to high school coaching, the recruitment process for high school players, and the motivation of committed players returning to high school teams. They also cover the challenges and strategies in managing high school versus summer baseball schedules. The episode concludes with a 'Three Up, Three Down' segment where memorable near no-hitters and defensive plays are shared.   Topics 00:40 High School Recruitment and Motivation 02:39 Coaching Journey and High School Return 04:06 Star Players and Their Commitment 09:54 Development and Recruitment 14:07 Coaching Strategies and Challenges 18:12 Functional Strength and Meticulous Preparation 18:41 Advice for Aspiring Baseball Players 20:32 Team Strategy and Season Outlook 22:23 Three Up, Three Down Segment 22:50 Memorable Near No-Hitters 25:21 Amazing Defensive Plays 27:05 Unforgettable Baseball Moments 31:29 Conclusion and Farewell

Dan and guest Pat Donnelly preview the upcoming Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) high school baseball season. They discuss key teams and players to watch, with a focus on top teams like BC High, Xaverian, St. John’s Shrewsbury, and others. The episode also features a preseason top 10 team ranking and a comprehensive all-MIAA team roster. The podcast concludes with a fun 'Three Up, Three Down' segment featuring humorous and speculative MLB predictions.   Topics 00:51 Recap of Last Season's Highlights 02:31 Top Teams to Watch This Season 04:56 In-Depth Team Analysis 15:57 Preseason All-MIAA Team 20:23 Top High School Outfielders to Watch 22:02 Standout Catchers Making Waves 22:44 Rising Two-Way Prospects 24:18 Predicting the MIAA Player of the Year 25:21 Three Up, Three Down: MLB Predictions 25:44 Fun MLB Predictions and Scenarios 31:31 Broadcast Innovations and Ideas 38:01 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts

Dan is joined by Pat Donnelly to discuss the upcoming NEPSAC baseball season. The conversation covers the recent transition from hockey season to baseball, the increasing competitiveness of prep school baseball in New England, and predictions for the season. They delve into various conferences, highlighting notable teams such as Lawrence Academy, St. Sebastian's, Deerfield Academy, Dexter School, and Salisbury School. The episode also previews promising players, including several Division 1 college commits and potential future professional prospects. Additionally, the podcast features a fun segment where the hosts create fictional baseball movie plots based on unique titles.   Topics 01:15 Previewing the NEPSAC Baseball Season 03:00 ISL Coaching Changes and Tournament Insights 04:20 Top ISL Teams and Players to Watch 08:24 Central New England Prep Baseball Highlights 11:35 Western New England Prep Baseball Powerhouses 13:59 Founders League Baseball Overview 16:27 Team Transitions and Prospects 16:50 Hamden Hall's Dominance 17:33 Austin Prep's Journey 18:54 Independent Programs to Watch 20:48 Top 10 Preseason Rankings 21:46 Three Up, Three Down: Baseball Movie Ideas