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Ready for an honest look at the smartest path from high school baseball to D1 and beyond? We sit down with Coach Austin Nelson of Cochise College to unpack why junior college baseball often beats jumping straight into a crowded Division I roster. With the transfer portal stacking lineups with 22 to 24-year-olds, an 18-year-old freshman can get buried. JUCO flips that script: you face peers your age, see the field early, and stack real-game reps that drive development and recruiting momentum.

We dive into the biggest myths about JUCO and break down why Arizona’s conference is among the most competitive in the country. Coach Nelson shares concrete success stories, from players moving to Kansas, Mizzou, New Mexico State, Dallas Baptist, and Arizona to arms getting drafted or signing pro deals. The conversation drills into what actually moves a player up: mental makeup, short memory after failure, and a structured environment that rewards consistent work.

You’ll also get a clear look at costs, housing, meal plans, and why JUCO can deliver a full year for a fraction of many four-year programs. For pitchers, the details matter: daily throwing, targeted arm care, prehab and rehab, and conditioning that builds durable velocity gains without overuse. Parents will appreciate the practical guidance on what to ask before committing—playing time reality, communication with coaches, development plans, and financial fit. We even get into hot-seat takes on the transfer portal, a candid play-bench-trade segment, postseason picks, and a memorable story from the JUCO World Series.

If you want playing time now, measurable development, and a proven route to the next level, this conversation shows how JUCO can be the most direct path forward. Enjoy the insights, share it with a teammate or parent who needs it, and follow the show—then leave a quick review to help more baseball families find us.

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• https://www.nettingpros.com

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What does it really take for a small farming community to build a high school baseball dynasty? We sit down with Eaton High School head coach Todd Hernandez to unpack the real blueprint behind 15 Colorado state titles, four since 2021, and a 74-game win streak that turned heads nationwide. No fluff, no gimmicks—just culture you can feel and drills you can steal.

Todd traces the roots back to youth baseball, where kids in Eaton learn varsity habits early and see role models wearing the same hat they do. That pipeline creates continuity, accountability, and pride that shows up on game day: crisp routines, hustle in and out, and players who know their jobs. We go deep on fundamentals—daily base running, bunt coverages, pick plays—and why the “boring stuff” decides playoff games. Todd breaks down his favorite multi-station defensive circuits and how he keeps every athlete moving, even indoors, using gym nets, a pop-up cage nicknamed Big Bertha, rollout carpet for grounders, and indoor mounds in a wrestling room.

Leadership and honesty sit at the center of Eaton’s success. Todd shares hard-won lessons, including a state tournament decision to save a closer for tomorrow and the philosophy that grew from it: win the next out before you plan the next day. He talks candidly about embracing the target on Eaton’s back, teaching “pressure is a privilege,” and staying process-first after a walk-off loss that ended the streak. We also explore empowering assistants to own outfield, catching, and pitching development, and how clear communication helps navigate playing time in a deep roster.

From small-town roots to a modern, resilient system, Todd shows how to build a program that survives graduation, weather, and expectations. If you’re a coach hungry for tangible practice ideas, culture foundations, and a mindset that travels, this conversation is your field guide. Subscribe, share with a coaching friend, and leave a review to help more coaches find the show. What part of Eaton’s blueprint will you try first?

Join the Baseball Coaches Unplugged podcast where an experienced baseball coach delves into the world of high school and travel baseball, offering insights on high school baseball coaching, leadership skills, hitting skills, pitching strategy, defensive skills, and overall baseball strategy, while also covering high school and college baseball, recruiting tips, youth and travel baseball, and fostering a winning mentality and attitude in baseball players through strong baseball leadership and mentality.

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• Follow: Twitter | Instagram @Athlete1Podcast
• Website - https://www.athlete1.net
• Sponsor: The Netting Professionals
• https://www.nettingpros.com

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A Hall of Fame coach with 500+ wins doesn’t hang around by accident. Coach Mike Shade of Gahanna Lincoln High School (OH) opens the dugout door to 41 years of lessons: why relationships anchor a program, how practice—not pep talks—decides results, and what “all in” really means for player standards, culture, and accountability. We trace his journey from early assistant days to a sustained run in the OCC’s gauntlet, where weekly battles sharpen teams for the state tournament.

We dig into his non-negotiables—character, effort, and being a great teammate—and how he delivers tough feedback without leaving players in the doghouse. Mike shares how the game has evolved around travel ball and shifting norms, yet still revolves around three outs, three strikes, and a pre‑pitch plan. You’ll hear why he respects umpires who hustle and prepare, and how empowering energetic assistants keeps a veteran staff fresh. Off the field, a simple tradition—his wife’s annual senior pasta dinner—reveals how small, consistent acts turn a roster into a family.

The stories are the heart: an unforgettable 3–2, bases‑loaded walk‑off that still gives chills, Evan White’s first-base artistry that later earned a Gold Glove, and the all-time trio he’d choose to ride with—Bench behind the plate, Gibson or Koufax on the hill, and Mickey Mantle in the box. If you coach, play, or simply love baseball, you’ll leave with a blueprint for sustainable success: teach clean fundamentals, correct fast and lift faster, respect the craft, and trust your people when the season shrinks to a single pitch.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a coach or parent who cares about culture, and leave a quick review so more baseball people can find us.

Join the Baseball Coaches Unplugged podcast where an experienced baseball coach delves into the world of high school and travel baseball, offering insights on high school baseball coaching, leadership skills, hitting skills, pitching strategy, defensive skills, and overall baseball strategy, while also covering high school and college baseball, recruiting tips, youth and travel baseball, and fostering a winning mentality and attitude in baseball players through strong baseball leadership and mentality.

0:00

Intro & Sponsor Message

2:36

Meet Hall of Famer Mike Shade

3:24

Longevity, Loyalty, and Purpose

4:35

Early Years and Assistant Lessons

7:10

Non‑Negotiables and Player Character

9:18

How The Game Changed, What Hasn’t

11:27

Umpires, Standards, and Professionalism

13:22

Winning, Losing, and Practice First

15:30

OCC Competition and State Runs

17:15

Assistants’ Impact and A Supportive Spouse

19:20

The Unforgettable District Walk‑Off

22:10

Evan White’s Defense and Growth

24:00

Mantle, Seaver, and Baseball Roots

25:40

Hate Losing, Love Seven‑Game Series

27:00

All‑Time Catcher, Pitcher, Hitter Picks

28:30

Closing Thanks & Sponsor Reminder

Support the show

• Follow: Twitter | Instagram @Athlete1Podcast
• Website - https://www.athlete1.net
• Sponsor: The Netting Professionals
• https://www.nettingpros.com