Inside The Show Podcast

On this episode of Inside the Show, presented by Showball, Walter Beede and Bruce Larkin sit down with Pat Bloom, head baseball coach at Washington University in St. Louis and one of the winningest programs in the UAA Conference. Pat reflects on how recruiting has transformed since his first day on campus over a decade ago — from the rise of the transfer portal and NIL-driven "five-for-five" landscape to WashU going test-optional — while the core of what makes a Division III program successful has stayed the same: grassroots development, four-year graduation, and building complete student-athletes. He breaks down exactly what admissions officers look for on a transcript (consistency of high-level achievement beats a single strong test score) and tackles the biggest misconception in college baseball head-on: that Division III players simply aren't good enough for Division I. With alumni like Red Sox third baseman Caleb Durbin and multiple other big leaguers to point to, Pat makes the case that families should widen their lens beyond divisional labels and instead prioritize the combination of elite academics and championship-caliber athletics — something only a handful of schools, WashU among them, can truly offer. He closes with an honest look at his coaching philosophy: direct, competitive, detail-oriented, but always rooted in genuine care for who these young men become as husbands, fathers, and community members long after their playing days end. A must-listen for families who've written off Division III too quickly, students weighing test-optional academic paths, and anyone who wants a coach's honest take on what "fit" really means in today's fractured recruiting landscape.

On this episode of Inside the Show, presented by Showball, Walter Beede and Bruce Larkin welcome Amherst College head baseball coach JP Pyne — a self-described "baseball nomad" who's coached across Division I, II, and III, collegiate summer ball, and two levels of affiliated and independent professional baseball, including a stint with the Toronto Blue Jays. Now in year nine at Amherst, JP demystifies one of the most misunderstood terms in recruiting: "coach's support." He walks through exactly what it means when a Division III coach offers it, how the pre-read and admissions liaison process works behind the scenes, and why Amherst has never lost a supported student-athlete they've backed through admissions. He also breaks down what a competitive transcript actually looks like — rigor and a holistic profile matter more than any single number, though he shares real benchmark ranges on standardized testing — and makes a compelling case for Amherst's need-blind, need-met financial aid model, plus practical advice on chasing outside scholarship money that too often goes unclaimed. JP closes with an honest look at his coaching philosophy: building a player-driven program rooted in mutual accountability, shared ownership of wins and losses, and treating every athlete as a future leader beyond the diamond. A must-listen for families demystifying the Division III recruiting and financial aid process, students weighing test-optional admissions, and anyone curious what it really takes to build a career spanning pro ball and the Ivy-caliber academic world.

On this episode of Inside the Show, presented by Showball, Walter Beede and Bruce Larkin sit down with Sean Leary, head baseball coach at Lehigh University and a true rarity in college athletics — an alum who's led his own program for over thirty years. Sean opens up about taking the job at just 24 years old, the humbling lessons of year one, and why trusting his own instincts (instead of trying to be someone else) became the foundation of his coaching philosophy. He breaks down where the Patriot League fits in the college baseball landscape — an Ivy League-caliber education paired with real competitive power — and how increased financial backing across the conference has helped Lehigh land three big leaguers in the past two years. Sean also speaks to Lehigh's academic breadth beyond its engineering roots, its strong track record of postgraduate job placement, and why Showball has become one of his top pipelines for identifying not just talent, but character. He closes with a powerful reflection on what thirty years of building a "relational, not transactional" program really means — alumni still calling for advice decades later, players flying back for reunions, and a couch in his office reserved just for the guys who need to talk. A must-listen for any family evaluating fit over flash, and anyone who believes the right college program shapes a player far beyond the four years on the field.

Host Walter Beede sits down with Amber Clark-Robinson — Team USA flag football athlete, board member of USA Football, head coach at SVSU, and one of the most dynamic ambassadors the sport has ever had — alongside Showball CEO Bruce Larkin on this episode of Inside the Show, presented by Showball — the standard for academic and athletic recruiting starts here. Amber shares her remarkable story: a UNC Chapel Hill track athlete who didn't discover flag football until 2020 and has spent six years since becoming one of the faces of a sport on the verge of exploding onto the national stage. She breaks down where women's flag football stands right now — sanctioned in 23 states at the high school level, newly a championship sport at the NAIA level, and on track to become an NCAA championship sport by 2028 — and what she looks for in a recruit beyond athleticism: body language, passion for the game, and the ability to deliver a thirty-second elevator pitch that proves you deserve a scholarship. Bruce Larkin announces Showball's inaugural women's flag football showcase on October 4th at Lake Brantley High School in Orlando, Florida — open to ninth through twelfth grade athletes, with up to 25 colleges confirmed to attend — and Amber explains how the event is structured to give every athlete a chance to be seen, coached, and evaluated in live game action. Amber also shares her framework for player development built around the acronym CARE — character, accountability, respect, and effort — and gives a candid update on Team USA's Olympic outlook as women's flag football heads to Los Angeles in 2028. A must-listen for any female athlete, parent, or coach looking to get ahead of the fastest-growing sport in the country. Visit showballflagfootball.com and follow Showball Flag Football on all social media platforms for camp information and updates.

Host Walter Beede and Showball President Bruce Larkin sit down with Holy Cross Head Coach Ed Kahovec on this episode of Inside the Show, presented by Showball — the standard for academic and athletic recruiting starts here. Coach Kahovec has built one of the most respected programs in the Patriot League, winning back-to-back conference championships and earning a trip to the Austin Regional — and he joins the show to pull back the curtain on what recruitment at a place like Holy Cross actually looks like. He breaks down what catches his eye at a Showball showcase, why metrics are just the tip of the iceberg, and why the unique student athlete who refuses to let academics and baseball compete with each other is the only one who truly fits in Worcester. Coach Kahovec also shares his philosophy on building a championship culture — player-led and coach-led at the same time — and delivers one of the most compelling recruiting messages the show has ever heard: that his job is to push every athlete beyond what they think they're capable of, and to be first in line to pick them up when they get knocked down. He also addresses how the new five-year eligibility rule actually benefits Holy Cross athletes and opens the door to playing at the next level after earning their degree. A must-listen for any academically driven baseball family ready to find out if they have what it takes to compete for championships on the hill.