Moms and Baseball

Diana and Stephanie do a quick update on life, talk about the upcoming baseball season, and discuss  the hot topic of Alyssa Milano’s gofundme for her son’s Cooperstown baseball trip.Apologies for the robotic-sounding audio on this one -- we were having some technological difficulties on Diana's end!Follow Moms and Baseball:Keep up with Moms and Baseball on our website: https://momsandbaseball.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterJoin our Facebook group, Parents and BaseballYou can also listen to episodes on Moms and Baseball Facebook pageMentions:Alyssa Milano GoFundMe storyNBC News Alyssa Milano Episode 19 Moms and Baseball Fundraising Ideas

Diana and Stephanie discuss The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman.Words of AffirmationActs of ServiceQuality TimeGiving GiftsPhysical TouchThey discuss what love language their teens speak. Take the quiz here to find out your love language, as well as your teens love language to improve the way you communicate.Follow Moms and Baseball:Keep up with Moms and Baseball on our website: https://momsandbaseball.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterJoin our Facebook group, Parents and BaseballYou can also listen to episodes on Moms and Baseball Facebook page

Holiday Gift Guide for Baseball FamiliesYouth Kids Electronic Baseball Pitching MachineCrocs with jibbitzBlitzball Starter PackWebGlove Training GloveSliding mitt, Black Friday deals on elbow guardsBaseball Lifestyle 101 clothesBaseballism clothesPersonalized Number Charm NecklaceSubscription boxes: Plate Crate, Inside the Batters Box, The Baseball Box, Sports Box Co.Camwood training batBaseball cards - holiday mega box at walmart $25, Topps Value box TeenBruce Bolt Batting GlovesWeighted Blanket: Black Friday Deal $34.87Necklace: Iced Out Diamond Chain, $16.88 with 20% off couponVictus No. 2 wooden batOakley Men's Sunglasses: Black Friday Deal $118.95Blenders sunglasses –Black Friday Deal $41.30Number necklace (black friday deal - $7.91)Beats by Dr. Dre Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones: Black Friday Deal $99.95Gym MembershipBatting Cage with HitTrax MembershipAdultsHooded Stadium Blanket: Black Friday Deal $29.58Hand Warmers Rechargeable- Black Friday Deal $24.99Portable Charger-Black Friday Deal $31.99Simple Modern 40oz tumbler $29.99GCI Outdoor Big Comfort Stadium Chair With Armrests $92.39GCI Rocker Chair Black Friday Deal $55.99Baseball diffuser necklace (charm - $8)Large (golf) umbrella Black Friday deal $20.90Weather pod $69.99 after $30 couponSavannah Banana ticketsGifts under $20Bat tape: Lizard skinsAthletic tape in team colorsPine tar grip sprayHydration packets: Prime, LMNT, Liquid IVSilicone wristbands with motivational wordsCustomized arm sleeve with initials or numberEye blackFollow Moms and Baseball:Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterJoin our Facebook group, Parents and Baseball

Stephanie and Diana discuss a poll from Parents and Baseball and share the honest truth about why we started down the travel baseball path.Follow Moms and Baseball:Keep up with Moms and Baseball on our website: https://momsandbaseball.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterJoin our Facebook group, Parents and BaseballYou can also listen to episodes on Moms and Baseball Facebook page

Diana and Stephanie sit down to update a bit about what our summer baseball season looked like and try to examine where the newfound feeling of baseball burnout is coming from.Follow Moms and Baseball:Keep up with Moms and Baseball on our website: https://momsandbaseball.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterJoin our Facebook group, Parents and BaseballYou can also listen to episodes on Moms and Baseball Facebook page

This episode we are reviewing the WWBA 2026 Grads Tournament with special guest, Patrick Malley. The WWBA 15u National Championship took place at East Cobb Complex and surrounding Atlanta facilities.Location(s):PG East Cobb Complex Hog Mountain Sports Complex, Flowery Branch, GA Alpharetta High School, Alpharetta, GANorth Forsyth High School, Cumming, GARatingFacility: 4/ 5 points Tournament Management: 4/ 5 pointsFees: 3/ 5 points Restrooms: 5/5 points Umpires: 3/ 3 pointsConcessions: 1/ 2 points Miscellaneous: 4/ 5 pointsTOTAL RATING: 24/ 30  (Triple)Note: Our reviews are completely based on our own personal opinions, and we are not receiving any compensation or incentives for our reviews (and if we ever did, we would disclose that information).If you have any corrections, please send them to us. -----------------------------------------Moms and Baseball Tournament Ratings Scale (30 possible points)28+: Grand Slam25-27: Home Run22-24: Triple19-21: Double16-18: Base HitUnder 16: StrikeoutFollow Moms and Baseball:Keep up with Moms and Baseball on our website: https://momsandbaseball.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterJoin our Facebook group, Parents and BaseballYou can also listen to episodes on Moms and Baseball Facebook page

We all know how all the expenses from travel baseball can add up over the season, so today we are going to talk about why you are spending too much money on travel baseball, and what you can do to lower the overall cost.Follow Moms and Baseball:Keep up with Moms and Baseball on our website: https://momsandbaseball.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterJoin our Facebook group, Parents and BaseballYou can also listen to episodes on Moms and Baseball Facebook pageMentionsEpisode 019: Moms and Baseball Fundraising IdeasEpisode 026: Interview with Minor League Mom, Debbie Mikolajchak

Today we are talking about the inside scoop of college recruiting from a former Ivy League coach’s perspective. To help us with this topic we invited special guest Kayla Noonan. Kayla was the head softball coach at Columbia University for 14 years and she is sharing her expertise on recruiting, athlete characteristics coaches look for, and expectations as a college freshman.Follow Moms and Baseball:Keep up with Moms and Baseball on our website: https://momsandbaseball.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterJoin our Facebook group, Parents and BaseballYou can also listen to episodes on Moms and Baseball Facebook pageMentions:Highest Degree: Former Bay City All Saints standout Kayla Noonan finishes her ninth season at the helm of the Columbia University softball program

Today we are reflecting on our 15-years-combined experience of being a baseball parent and discussing all the things we have learned that we wish we knew when our kids started travel ball. Listen and find out what made our top 9 list.Follow Moms and Baseball:Keep up with Moms and Baseball on our website: https://momsandbaseball.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterJoin our Facebook group, Parents and BaseballYou can also listen to episodes on Moms and Baseball Facebook pageMentions:Episode 7: Moms and Game Day EssentialsEpisode 100: Baseball and More from a 15 yo Perspective, Part 2"Going Out to Eat" Interview

This is our 100th episode and we want to thank all our listeners for continuing to share and listen to our episodes. We are so proud and happy to create some great content for parents, coaches, youth athletes and anyone else that loves baseball. Today, Stephanie interviews Keegan, her 15-year old son, to hear his perspective on some baseball topics. They discuss his favorite Little League memories, favorite tournament destination, and his thoughts on negative comments on social media, sports anxiety, his view on the new MLB rules, his goal of playing D1 college baseball, and more.You can follow Keegan and his journey on Instagram @Keegan_m.15 or on Twitter @Malley_k Follow Moms and Baseball:Keep up with Moms and Baseball on our website: https://momsandbaseball.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterJoin our Facebook group, Parents and BaseballYou can also listen to episodes on Moms and Baseball Facebook page

We are so excited to welcome back special guest Susana Lluch. Susana is Alek Manoah & Erik Manoah’s mom who previously joined us for Episode 65 back in November 2021. Today she joins Stephanie and Diana to catch up and talk baseball--especially the World Baseball Classic (WBC).Mentioned:Episode 65Follow Moms and Baseball:Keep up with Moms and Baseball on our website: https://momsandbaseball.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterJoin our Facebook group, Parents and BaseballYou can also listen to episodes on Moms and Baseball Facebook page

Today we are discussing the dangers of Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) including anabolic steroids, Human Growth Hormone (HGH), some energy drinks, and also some dietary supplements. We invited special guest Don Hooton, Jr. to talk about this important topic and why it is such an important topic to him. Don discusses the warning signs and the dangers of these drugs to parents and youth athletes.For more information you can visit the Taylor Hooton Foundation and learn about nutritional supplement safety, the All Me Assembly programs, All Me podcast, and the All Me League.And remember, there’s no substitution for hard work!Mentioned:Episode 97NCAA Banned SubstancesMLB Prohibited Substances ListFollow Moms and Baseball:Keep up with Moms and Baseball on our website: https://momsandbaseball.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterJoin our Facebook group, Parents and BaseballYou can also listen to episodes on Moms and Baseball Facebook page

Today we are discussing why nutrition is the most important piece of the performance puzzle for athletes. Our expert is Sports Dietitian, Tavis Piattoly. He's been working in the field of high performance and Sports Nutrition for the past 21 years designing personalized nutrition programs for high school, college, and professional athletes. Additional topics we discuss are:What to eat before, or during, tournament games.Hydration for hot weather baseball, electrolytes, and beet powder.Some of the most  most recommend supplements for athletes include an Omega 3 FA, Creatine 3-5 grams per day, and a multivitamin with Vitamin D.Supplement safety.Eat 2 Win Nutrition App If you have any additional questions for Tavis, you can contact him through our page or by email at tpiattoly@mysportsd.com.Follow Moms and Baseball:Keep up with Moms and Baseball on our website: https://momsandbaseball.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterJoin our Facebook group, Parents and BaseballYou can also listen to episodes on Moms and Baseball Facebook page

Today we are discussing our opinions about travel baseball and whether the travel baseball market is oversaturated with baseball organizations? And if there are too many teams, does it matter? What would that mean?On Deck:We speak with a sports dietician about nutritional needs for young athletes.Follow Moms and Baseball:Keep up with Moms and Baseball on our website: https://momsandbaseball.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterJoin our Facebook group, Parents and BaseballYou can also listen to episodes on Moms and Baseball Facebook pageMentions:- The Shift, by Walter Beede- Episode 14- DadsTakeover - Choosing a Travel Team- Episode 61 - Should I Stay or Should I Go? 10 Considerations Before Leaving your Travel Team

Today Diana interviews Xander, her 15-year old son, to hear his perspective on baseball. They discuss his experience with travel/select ball, rec ball and his thoughts on possible regrets, parent pet-peeves, the possibility of playing college baseball, and more. Follow Moms and Baseball:Keep up with Moms and Baseball on our website: https://momsandbaseball.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterJoin our Facebook group, Parents and BaseballYou can also listen to episodes on Moms and Baseball Facebook page 

Today we are talking about Damar Hamlin, commotio cordis and cardiac arrest, how it is relevant to baseball, and what if anything can be done to help prevent it.We recently witnessed the clip of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsing after a collision with Bengals wide receiver in a NFL football game. People have speculated that Hamlin went into cardiac arrest from commotio cordis. Our understanding is that for commotio cordis to occur, the impact has to occur in the right place (right over the heart), at the right time in the heart’s rhythm, by an object of a specific size. In this case, an opponent’s shoulder. The treatment is immediately administering CPR,  and using an AED (automated external defibrillator) until medical professionals arrive.The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE)is an independent, non-profit organization that funded research to develop the world’s first performance standard to protect against commotio cordis in 2018. The performance standard applies to the protectors worn in the sports of baseball and lacrosse. Today, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and NCAA require all catchers to wear protectors that meet the standard. Some of these products can include a traditional style chest protector but may also include compression shirts and coverings that are more suited for positional players or pitchers. For a complete list of current products that meet the standard, visit Safety Equipment Institute, which is the only entity that certifies equipment to NOCSAE standards.Disclaimer: we are not medical professionals so please consider that anything shared in this episode is NOT medical advice. We are just moms wanting to keep our kids as safe as possible while playing the sport they love, and doing some google research for you.Follow Moms and Baseball:Keep up with Moms and Baseball on our website: https://momsandbaseball.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterJoin our Facebook group, Parents and BaseballYou can also listen to episodes on Moms and Baseball Facebook pageArticles used for this episode:https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/01/05/commotio-cordis-mitigating-risks/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3445066/https://www.sportsmedtoday.com/commotio-cordis-va-88.htmhttps://www.chicagotribune.com/investigations/ct-chest-protectors-commotio-cordis-standard-met-20160408-story.htmlhttps://nocsae.orghttps://www.seinet.org/search.htmsection=SportsAthleticsandRecreation#sections=NOCSAE_collapse3,NOCSAE_Baseball_collapse31

Today we are sharing Stephanie's favorite episode of 2022, which was Episode 83: Moms and Pitch Counts.-----Today's episode we are talking about pitch counts and why parents need to be aware. Tommy John surgery is on the rise and not just for MLB pitchers either. Diana and Stephanie discuss Tommy John surgery, pitch counts and rest days, recommendations for parents to protect their youth players arm, and pitch count apps. One more tip discussed was NOT to use ice for muscle soreness or after pitching/throwing. Your youth player needs active recovery to help rebuild that muscle. If you want to hear more about recovery, check out our episode 24: Arm Care Advice, Part 2 with Dr. Ryan Brown.Recommendations/Guidelines to follow:Make sure to properly warm up before pitchingAvoid playing catcher while not pitchingPlayers should not pitch in multiple games on the same dayMonitor for other signs of fatigueNo pitcher shall appear in a game as a pitcher for three consecutive days, regardless of pitch countsNo overhead throwing of any kind for at least 2 to 3 months per year (4 months is preferred). No competitive baseball pitching for at least 4 months per year.MLB Pitch Smart GuidelinesLittle League Pitching RulesArticles:Tommy John Surgery Saves The Careers of Pitchers, But We May Need To Get Ready For A New Problem…Experts Warn Parents About Recent Uptick In Youth Baseball InjuriesApps:Gamechanger (free)Pitch X -Pitch Counter (free)Pitch Counter & Radar Gun (free)Pitch Locator Pro (fee)Mentioned in Episode:Episode 24: Arm Care Advice, Part 2 with Dr. Ryan BrownEpisode 83: Moms and Pitch Counts

For the last 2 episodes of 2022, we each pick our favorite episode to re-share. This is Diana's Favorite of 2022: Episode 73- College Athletic Recruiting with with Coach Renee Lopez. Coach Lopez is a 20-year coaching veteran, and an expert in the college recruiting process. She has served as the NCAA compliance director and has also learned the recruiting process from having worked as a high school varsity head coach for three years and a college coach for 14, in NCAA Division I, II, III, and NAIA.Coach Lopez has written a book, "Looking for a Full Ride? An Insider's Recruiting Guide," which has been featured on ESPN Radio & SiriusXMI.We found Coach Lopez through the Facebook group, "Educating Parents of HS Athletes on the College Recruiting Process," where she and a group of experts are helping over 50,000 member parents navigate the athletic recruiting process. This episode is jam-packed with helpful advice from Coach Lopez, including the following:Common misconceptions about the recruiting processWhen/how should kids start actively working to get on a college coach’s radarConsiderations when making lists of potential collegesThe "broken leg test"How to contact a coach through social mediaWhat is the NCAA Eligibility Center and why should your athlete start checking his/her high school's core courses now?Follow Moms and Baseball:Keep up with Moms and Baseball on our website: https://momsandbaseball.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterJoin our Facebook group, Parents and BaseballYou can also listen to episodes on Moms and Baseball Facebook page

Today is Part 2 of our mini-series with Lisa Messey.  Lisa is back to discuss college baseball camps, which were vital in the process of her son Drew's verbal commitment to University of Louisville as a 2026 grad. In particular, Lisa shares her son's experience at the week-long camp at Vanderbilt University. In addition, Stephanie shares her son Keegan's experience at the College Day Workouts he did with the Midwest Canes at the University of Cincinnati and Indiana University.Finally, Diana briefly compares those experiences to a camp that Xander attended at D3 Alma College.Follow Moms and Baseball:Keep up with Moms and Baseball on our website: https://momsandbaseball.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterJoin our Facebook group, Parents and BaseballYou can also listen to episodes on Moms and Baseball Facebook pageMentions:Episode 90: Verbally Committing as a Young Player- One Family's StoryEpisode 74: College Baseball Camps

In Part 1 of a 2-part series with return guest Lisa Messey, we discuss her son Drew's recent verbal commitment to the University of Louisville as a Class of 26 shortstop. Lisa walks us through what that process looked like for them, including the "why" and "how" of verbally committing as an underclassman.Mentioned:Episode 74: College Baseball CampsEpisode 73: College Athletic Recruiting with Coach Renee LopezFollow Moms and Baseball:Keep up with Moms and Baseball on our website: https://momsandbaseball.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterJoin our Facebook group, Parents and BaseballYou can also listen to episodes on Moms and Baseball Facebook page