Little League & Travel Baseball: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Update: 2025-10-16

Description

Young baseball players who play with confidence and joy tend to separate themselves from their peers, but the mental side of the game is a constant challenge for players at all levels. The pressure proves to be too much for most kids – the majority of whom quit youth sports by the time they turn 13. Adults often are cited as the reason why. If your son or daughter plays baseball or wants to, this episode is for you. Tune in now to listen to Dear San Diego’s Tony Manolatos discuss all that’s right and wrong with Little League and Travel Baseball. Tony’s wife, Elizabeth Wilberg, and their twin boys, Alex and Nicky, join him on this episode – and their takes are fire!

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe at olasmedia.com also subscribe to Baseball Dad & PR Guy, Tony’s new Substack, and join our FB Group, Travel Baseball Moms & Dads. We’re building a thoughtful community for parents, coaches, and others who love the game.

RESOURCES for Little League and Travel Baseball Parents

Tony: @tonymanolatos; Substack
Elizabeth: @birdiewilberg; Substack

‍Podcasts, Websites

@Mfhannaford host of The Most Valuable Agent Podcast
Talkin Shop with Coach Ballgame
Greg Olson’s Youth Inc.
I Love to Watch You Play
Clearing The Bases - Podcast

SD CAP in El Cajon

Hitting: @sdcaphitting
Hitting and pitching ca_coachtbtbaseball
Hitting and fielding: @jalenfejeran

‍Fielding

‍Hitting

‍Pitching

‍Strength & Conditioning

‍Mental Side of the Game

‍Misc.

Here are some notable moments from this episode:

00:00:00 – Welcome to Dear San Diego
00:01:25 – Tony’s Baseball Journey
00:02:45 – The Twins and the Game
00:04:20 – Falling in Love with Baseball Again
00:06:00 – Little League Politics and Drama
00:10:10 – Talking Baseball with Alex
00:12:30 – Nicky’s Perspective
00:15:20 – Elizabeth on Parenting Through Sports
00:23:45 – Travel Ball and the Balance Factor
00:36:20 – Advice, Resources, and Final Thoughts