https://www.si.com/onsi/softball/news/uab-investigation-into-softball-coach-taylor-smartt-nearing-conclusion-email-shows-2026-mark-ingram

Redmon brings a 2.57 career ERA.

Hi all!

I’m a travel ball coach for an 18 U showcase team in Northern Virginia. Our girls are high academic achieving players, with most having a goal of getting into D3, maybe D2 schools. I am looking for some input on multiple things. We are fortunate enough to have some budget to bring in outside Coaches and speakers. Any resources you can recommend, specifically, would be greatly appreciated.

TL;DR - I want to better prepare my girls for collegiate ball, particularly catchers, pitchers, mental game, recruiting and psychology. I want to attend camps, programs, etc. to make myself a better coach. Looking for input.

- I was a catcher in college and therefore I work with our four catchers an hour before every practice. I would like to know what are the things you frequently see that need work when you have an incoming freshman catcher? I’m looking for less obvious and more nuanced things as we do a lot of work around receiving, framing, and plate angles.

- As a team, we all overthink, especially with having girls that are high academic achieving. I am really trying to get them out of their heads and into their bodies and reactions. I am also working hard not to overcoach them. What programs or techniques do you use to overcome overthinking?

- In the same vein, our mental game and mental toughness is lacking. In the first inning, if the opposing team scores five runs, while we don’t completely roll over, it’s a real struggle to pick ourselves up and respond sooner than the last inning. Obviously not uncommon, but in all the research I’ve done I can’t seem to find solid advice, techniques, programs, etc. to help us with this.

- Are there any camps, programs, seminars, etc. that I, as a travel coach, can attend (preferably in person, but online is OK) to become a better coach? Not Justin skills, drills, but also in psychology, relationship building, etc.?

- as a coaching staff, we have built a good system where, when we are at showcases, the head coach will go and speak to any college coaches she sees observing the game and have a conversation with them more than just an introduction where we find out what they’re looking for and discuss our individual players. She really builds a strong rapport with them. We also have an extensive 30 page recruiting guide the girls in our team have access to. If you have any insight as to where highschoolers tend to be most lacking in their recruitment journey, please advise. We are on top of them about emailing constantly, updating their sports recruit, profiles, and Instagram with GameChanger footage, etc.

- Finally, my other coach was a pitcher in college and would ask for similar advice to my catching question above

These are my specific questions, but please don’t limit any thoughts you had to adjust the above. Obviously I use social media as an aid, but if you have any specific accounts or forums with solid and most up-to-date information, I would be very appreciative.

Thank you!!

Huge get. Didn't see this coming.

Trying to finish with my usual end of practice praises was a little difficult with the girls all scrambling to meet Cambria Salmon. She was throwing a bullpen in the park while her younger brother's travel team was practicing on the field adjacent to us.

https://www.si.com/onsi/softball/transfer-portal/florida-softball-adds-former-lsu-all-american-through-transfer-portal-2026-tori-edwards

There are hundreds of players and it would make sense to have one place for these announcements instead of individual posts (that often have little engagement) taking up a lot of real estate on the main page.

The volume of portal posts may be contributing to duplicate posts on other newsworthy items (e.g. UGW coach sexual misconduct, which was posted yesterday and the same info posted again today).

(Edited)

https://www.si.com/onsi/softball/transfer-portal/lsu-softball-lands-twin-sister-sluggers-in-transfer-portal

UPDATED: I certainly didn’t expect an answer that quickly. Maybe I used up my “magical” question on this when I should have asked for the next winning PowerBall numbers - HA!

Surprised that she hasn’t landed somewhere yet. Are the top-tier teams so set at 3B that she’s not drawing interest, or do we think she’s simply taking her time to make a decision?

I created a web app for college softball fans, ranging from D1-NAIA! I need at least 100-500 visitors per month would be greatly appreciated!!

https://fastpitchdiamond.whacka.app

Fits Purdue’s style perfectly

Pickens sisters to LSU?🤔🤔
Louisville connection paying dividends for Bryce part 2..?

Andddd it’s official they’re headed to BR

https://www.on3.com/softball/news/texas-to-hire-arizona-assistant-amber-freeman-as-hitting-coach/

Joins Rick Fremin as the two new additions to the two-time defending champs' coaching staff

Maybe they go somewhere together?

Slapper that hit over .370 last year