Why Tough Schedules Build Championship Teams

The player is loading ...

Send us a text Championship programs aren't built on talent alone – they're founded on consistent systems, deliberate culture-building, and a philosophy that develops complete athletes. Coach Ben Evick of Cape Henlopen High School has mastered this formula, leading his program to three Delaware state championships in seven years. What stands out immediately in Coach Evick's approach is his firm belief in multi-sport participation. While many programs push early specialization, Evick actively...

Send us a text

Championship programs aren't built on talent alone – they're founded on consistent systems, deliberate culture-building, and a philosophy that develops complete athletes. Coach Ben Evick of Cape Henlopen High School has mastered this formula, leading his program to three Delaware state championships in seven years.

What stands out immediately in Coach Evick's approach is his firm belief in multi-sport participation. While many programs push early specialization, Evick actively encourages his players to wrestle, run track, and play football. This philosophy aligns perfectly with what college coaches and professional scouts seek: well-rounded athletes who've proven their competitive nature across different environments. With 16 current college players and 5 professionals (including 2 Major Leaguers), the results speak for themselves.

The competitive practice environment at Cape Henlopen separates good programs from great ones. Every drill has consequences – miss your fundamental execution during batting practice, and you'll lose live swings later. This accountability creates players who thrive under pressure because they've faced it daily. Combined with scheduling the toughest possible opponents, Evick's players arrive at championship moments prepared for anything.

Perhaps most compelling is the "Win The Day" mentality that permeates the program. Players focus on finding small victories daily, whether on the field or in their personal lives. Clear communication through regular individual meetings ensures everyone understands their role and value. The result? A sustainable championship culture where players hold themselves accountable and leadership transitions seamlessly from one class to the next.

Ready to transform your baseball program? Listen now to discover Coach Evick's blueprint for championship success, and consider how his player-centered approach might revolutionize your team's culture and performance. Subscribe, share, and join our coaching community as we learn from the nation's best.

Support the show

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

Chapters

00:00 - Meet Coach Ben Evatt, 3-Time State Champion

04:03 - Developing Multi-Sport Athletes Year-Round

06:30 - Creating Competitive Practice Environments

10:06 - Making Every Practice Rep Count

14:46 - Building Team Culture and Leadership

19:05 - Win The Day Mentality

22:01 - Handling Failure and Parent Conversations

24:05 - Coaching Wisdom and Baseball Stories

Transcript

WEBVTT

00:00:00.720 --> 00:00:18.332
Today on Baseball Coaches Unplugged, you'll learn why college coaches and scouts look for multi-sport athletes, the importance of creating an environment that eliminates complacency, and how scheduling the best teams in the state has led to three state titles in seven years.

00:00:18.332 --> 00:00:21.986
Ben Evatt, cape Henlopen High School in Delaware.

00:00:21.986 --> 00:00:24.213
Next on Baseball Coaches Unplugged.

00:00:26.242 --> 00:00:28.850
This is the Ultimate High School Baseball Coaching Podcast.

00:00:28.850 --> 00:00:37.390
Baseball Coaches Unplugged your go-to podcast for baseball coaching tips, drills and player development strategies from travel to high school and college.

00:00:37.390 --> 00:00:45.271
Unlock expert coaching advice grounded in real success stories, data-backed training methods and mental performance tools to elevate your team.

00:00:45.271 --> 00:00:55.752
Tune in for bite-sized coaching wisdom, situational drills, team culture building, great stories and proven strategies that turn good players into great athletes.

00:00:55.752 --> 00:01:02.759
The only podcast that showcases the best coaches from across the country, with your host, coach Ken Carpenter.

00:01:02.780 --> 00:01:06.284
with your host Coach Ken Carpenter.

00:01:06.284 --> 00:01:14.394
Season four of Baseball Coaches Unplugged is proud to be partnered with the netting professionals, improving programs one facility at a time.

00:01:14.394 --> 00:01:18.921
Will Miner and his team at the netting professionals.

00:01:18.921 --> 00:01:23.832
They specialize in the design, fabrication, installation of custom netting for baseball and softball.

00:01:23.832 --> 00:01:25.468
This includes backstops, batting cages, bp turtles, screens, ball carts and installation of custom netting for baseball and softball.

00:01:25.468 --> 00:01:29.114
This includes backstops, batting cages, bp turtles, screens, ball carts and more.

00:01:29.114 --> 00:01:37.271
They also design and install digital graphic wall padding, windscreen, turf, turf protector, dugout benches and cubbies.

00:01:38.072 --> 00:01:40.683
The netting pros are not limited to just baseball and softball.

00:01:40.683 --> 00:01:46.093
They also work with football, soccer, lacrosse, golf courses and now pickleball.

00:01:46.093 --> 00:01:50.986
Contact Will and his team at 844-620-2707.

00:01:50.986 --> 00:01:59.644
That's 844-620-2707, or you can visit them online at wwwnettingproscom.

00:01:59.644 --> 00:02:06.614
Check out Netting Pros on X, instagram, facebook and LinkedIn for all their latest products and projects.

00:02:07.861 --> 00:02:10.531
Are you looking for a unique weekly football podcast?

00:02:10.531 --> 00:02:14.370
Check out the SOB podcast, scarlet, orange and Brown.

00:02:14.370 --> 00:02:30.092
Get a fan's perspective on the Buckeyes, bengals and the Browns, hosted by myself and Chris Huseman myself and Chris Huseman the only podcast that focuses on all three teams and will include special appearances from former players, coaches and fans.

00:02:30.092 --> 00:02:33.147
That's SOB, scarlet, orange and Brown.

00:02:33.147 --> 00:02:33.669
Check it out.

00:02:35.020 --> 00:02:40.769
Hello and welcome to Season 4 of Baseball Coaches Unplugged, where we learn from the best coaches from around the country.

00:02:40.769 --> 00:02:45.650
I'm your host, coach Ken Carpenter, and today will be episode 170.

00:02:45.650 --> 00:02:53.681
I've made a couple small changes and I'm on a quest right now to have a coach on from every state in the country.

00:02:53.681 --> 00:02:55.949
Currently, I'm sitting at 33.

00:02:55.949 --> 00:03:08.974
Today's show takes us to the state of Delaware with Head Coach Ben Evick at Cape Henlopen High School, where he's won a state title this past year and three in the last seven.

00:03:08.974 --> 00:03:13.622
Now to my sit-down with Ben Evick Coach.

00:03:13.622 --> 00:03:16.248
Thanks for taking time to be on Baseball Coaches Unplugged.

00:03:16.248 --> 00:03:17.372
Yeah, thanks for having me.

00:03:17.372 --> 00:03:25.473
Well, three state titles in seven years First off congratulations, thank you.

00:03:25.473 --> 00:03:39.588
Like all the listeners that tune in, what's the secret to not only winning the Delaware State Championship in 2025, but how do you do it on a consistent basis?

00:03:40.710 --> 00:03:44.293
Uh, you know, I think, I think really it is just about consistency.

00:03:44.293 --> 00:04:04.680
Um, you know, from from day one of the school year to day one of tryouts, uh, you know, we have things in place that we do a year round as far as really, the weight room, getting the guys together, um, making sure they're putting in time in the weight room, uh, we don't do on field stuff throughout the fall or winter.

00:04:04.680 --> 00:04:05.385
Uh, you know those guys are.

00:04:05.385 --> 00:04:06.455
We really rely heavily on-field stuff throughout the the fall or winter.

00:04:06.455 --> 00:04:06.871
Uh, you know those guys are.

00:04:06.871 --> 00:04:10.955
We really rely heavily on our senior leadership, especially in the fall.

00:04:10.995 --> 00:04:13.402
Here in delaware, uh, the weather's still nice.

00:04:13.402 --> 00:04:16.696
Uh, usually till, you know, sometime around november, december.

00:04:16.696 --> 00:04:18.461
Then it starts to head south.

00:04:18.461 --> 00:04:25.165
So, uh, you know, we rely on our seniors to, um, you know, make sure that they're getting in work out on the field.

00:04:25.165 --> 00:04:29.791
The guys that aren't playing multiple sports that's a big piece for me too.

00:04:29.791 --> 00:04:32.588
I really try to stress for my guys to play other things.

00:04:32.588 --> 00:04:44.540
Some of these guys specialize early and I think that sometimes has a detrimental effect on their ability and what they end up doing with the game of baseball.

00:04:44.540 --> 00:04:52.326
I really try to push them to do other things, and we have guys that play football, we got guys that run track, we got guys that wrestle.

00:04:52.326 --> 00:04:56.067
They're doing a lot, so I really encourage that.

00:04:57.079 --> 00:05:01.651
How much do you think that helps them as far as becoming a competitor on the baseball field?

00:05:02.540 --> 00:05:06.252
I think it helps tremendously For me personally.

00:05:06.252 --> 00:05:26.266
Growing up I was a football, basketball, baseball guy and I think playing other sports gives you different avenues of becoming an athlete and then specifically being more competitive, and I just think it helps your game and the more you know.

00:05:26.266 --> 00:05:30.612
Over the years I've talked to college coaches and pro scouts on many levels.

00:05:30.612 --> 00:05:34.845
You know a lot of times that's one of the questions that's asked Do they play other sports?

00:05:35.081 --> 00:05:52.740
And a lot of guys want that as well and I think it's important you know to show that they're a well-rounded athlete athlete, when you have big games, like you've played in quite a few, it seems like how do you get your staff to prepare players for the pressure that comes with playing in those high pressure games?

00:05:53.362 --> 00:05:53.682
Yeah.

00:05:53.682 --> 00:06:00.134
So what we try to do is we try to make our practices all year long competitive.

00:06:00.134 --> 00:06:15.180
I think when you create an environment that you know guys can't get complacent uh, in the lineup, um, you know cause we really try to build that atmosphere of someone else's waiting for that position.

00:06:15.180 --> 00:06:30.737
You got to work hard every single day, big moments where the guys are able to slow things down and they don't feel overwhelmed in those scenarios, because we try to create that type of atmosphere throughout the year.

00:06:30.737 --> 00:06:36.833
And a big thing for me is to schedule the best teams that we can possibly play.

00:06:36.833 --> 00:06:39.187
I think that helps down the road as well.

00:06:39.187 --> 00:06:47.293
So I always and I've always done this in my career here Coaching a cape is to schedule the best teams in the state.

00:06:47.293 --> 00:06:53.572
And then, you know, across state lines, we, you know, try to get some out of state schools when we get opportunities to play them as well.

00:06:55.379 --> 00:06:59.648
Now, can you give me an example of how you make your practices competitive?

00:06:59.648 --> 00:07:01.511
Yeah, yeah.

00:07:01.610 --> 00:07:06.593
So I mean just let's just talk about a simple, you know, like a BP day.

00:07:06.593 --> 00:07:12.398
For our BP days we really it's not just batting practice, you know.

00:07:12.398 --> 00:07:19.343
We really try to emphasize the defensive side of the game on our BP days as well as base running.

00:07:19.343 --> 00:07:32.853
I've found over the years base running is tremendous in putting pressure on other teams, especially at this level.

00:07:32.853 --> 00:07:35.120
Sometimes you'll run into catchers that have the ability on a regular basis to throw guys out.

00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:49.490
We really emphasize ball in the dirt, out of the hand, just angle and take an extra basis when you see that out of the hand, because it's very difficult at the high school level for most guys to block a ball in the dirt and throw someone out at second base if you've got a good secondary.

00:07:49.490 --> 00:07:53.358
And we emphasize our leads and that all comes into play in our BP days.

00:07:53.358 --> 00:07:56.459
So we try to keep everything very up-tempo.

00:07:56.459 --> 00:08:03.163
We try to pair guys by position in their groups for BP days.

00:08:03.163 --> 00:08:29.300
We like to keep our middle infielders together so that when they are in their primary positions defensively they're able to work together on turning two and those types of things and keeping outfielders together and we really emphasize to them that we want to get live reads off the bat, because that translates so well to game situations, and then we keep track of those things throughout the day.

00:08:30.011 --> 00:08:40.518
They keep track of errors they may have made, they keep track of highlight plays they might have made during that BP day, which then they can self-monitor amongst themselves.

00:08:40.518 --> 00:08:42.256
You know, guys hold each other accountable.

00:08:42.256 --> 00:08:59.801
Well, you made two errors today on routine balls and you know we can't make those errors, that kind of thing, um, so sort of competing or keeping that type of atmosphere where it is competitive, even in a practice day, even on a BP day where you know I've I've been around other other places where BP day is.

00:08:59.801 --> 00:09:06.893
Here you go, like everyone's going to get their 10 swings and you know we're going to move on, um, for know we're going to move on.

00:09:06.913 --> 00:09:08.557
For us, even our swings, it's very competitive.

00:09:08.557 --> 00:09:29.144
We do fundamentals rounds and to start out, you know, with sack bunts and suicide and hit for a bunt, bunt for a hit and hit and run and those guys, if in round one you don't execute the fundamental, then you will lose that swing when it comes to live swings in round two.

00:09:29.144 --> 00:09:34.101
So it becomes very competitive and guys need to be able to execute.

00:09:34.101 --> 00:09:38.481
Those little things come into play in big games and in big situations.

00:09:38.481 --> 00:09:44.003
So we really try to create an atmosphere where that becomes part of it on a daily basis.

00:09:45.437 --> 00:09:47.969
Where that becomes part of it on a daily basis.

00:10:06.649 --> 00:10:08.875
I love that idea of taking their round of swings away if they don't of the fundamentals.

00:10:08.875 --> 00:10:19.370
You redo your fundamentals and then you lost three swings, so you're down to nine, you know, and it really has a good effect on the guys and I think it really makes them take every part of it serious.

00:10:20.513 --> 00:10:30.566
Well, as you prepare for 2026, how do you kind of guard against that complacency and trying to keep those guys hungry to win again?

00:10:31.169 --> 00:10:41.705
Yeah, I mean, you know, for me personally, what I try to do is just make the guys that were juniors last year understand that the baton has now been passed to them.

00:10:41.705 --> 00:10:47.860
They're now the leaders, it's now their team to be what they want to make it.

00:10:47.860 --> 00:10:54.993
You know, and luckily for me, I feel like the atmosphere we've built, those guys are kind of they're itching.

00:10:54.993 --> 00:10:56.419
You know they're ready to go.

00:10:56.419 --> 00:11:01.719
I mean, I was getting, you know, the guys were contacting me before the first day of school saying are we lifting this week?

00:11:01.719 --> 00:11:12.475
You know, in our first week we always start after Labor Day here, because we live in a resort area at the beach, so our school doesn't start till after Labor Day and we started last Wednesday.

00:11:12.475 --> 00:11:14.461
So it was, you know they're ready to go.

00:11:14.461 --> 00:11:17.236
And I was like no, no, we got to wait for the first full week of school.

00:11:17.236 --> 00:11:18.299
That you know, we're getting the.

00:11:18.299 --> 00:11:23.892
You know the weight room schedule all planned out and that kind of thing, but they're itching, they all planned out and that kind of thing, but they're they're itching, they're ready to go.

00:11:23.892 --> 00:11:31.033
You know, they've all played all summer and they do their travel stuff and you know, now it's time to get back with the, the, the high school team.

00:11:31.274 --> 00:11:39.416
So it's, you know, and we we try to create that atmosphere of of you know, you hear it all the time, I think sometimes it becomes a cliche that it's a family.

00:11:40.096 --> 00:12:06.403
Uh, you know, but these guys, like we guys, they know that we support them, we're there for them, win or lose, and then their teammates need to have their backs as well, and there's nothing better than seeing that kind of thing start happening, where you've got guys that are really concerned about each other and their well-being and making sure they're doing well on and off the field, you know, and really celebrating those guys that are going on to play in college.

00:12:06.403 --> 00:12:08.264
And you know we've been lucky enough.

00:12:08.264 --> 00:12:15.626
We got five guys playing professionally now, two in the bigs, and you know, so that stuff really comes into play.

00:12:15.626 --> 00:12:20.048
This year we got 16 guys playing college baseball, you know.

00:12:20.048 --> 00:12:35.971
So they see all this and you know they see where these guys are going and we really try to push to them that that can be you, you know, put in the work, put in the time and keep developing as a player and, and you know, it could be you down the road well, you definitely got a good thing going, that's for sure.

00:12:36.572 --> 00:12:46.038
Can you share a story of a player who may not be, may not have been like a star statistically for you, but was invaluable to the team's culture?

00:12:46.919 --> 00:13:05.216
yeah, I mean, I feel like every year, we, we, we end up having, you know, a guy or two that that could be, um, and without naming names, I don't really want to drop names but uh, for me, you know, uh, recently we've had a bullpen catcher that you know.

00:13:05.216 --> 00:13:17.364
At this level to say, a bullpen catcher, we only carry 18 guys on our roster, but for me, the bullpen catcher can be one of the most important people that we have, because, you know, we have limited coaches.

00:13:17.364 --> 00:13:23.043
I don't have coaches in the bullpen that are, you know, down there to be able to monitor guys and then relay info to me.

00:13:23.043 --> 00:13:54.717
And we had a guy that you know, he knew we, we, we talked up front and I'm that's something I'm really big in I hold a constant, uh, I try to do weekly individual meetings with my players and if I don't do weekly, I definitely try to do bi-weekly, where, uh, me and at least one or the other coaches sit down and we have just open talks with them where they fit into the program right now, like what they're doing well, stuff, we see that they can improve on how they're going to make the team better.

00:13:54.717 --> 00:13:55.580
I think it's good for them.

00:13:55.580 --> 00:13:58.173
There's no gray area, it's all black and white.

00:13:58.914 --> 00:14:00.720
But for this specific kid.

00:14:00.720 --> 00:14:03.274
We told him, like this year is going to be really tough for you.

00:14:03.274 --> 00:14:07.243
You got a guy ahead of you that you know is.

00:14:07.243 --> 00:14:12.197
He was a Kentucky commit, ended up signing with the Astros this year out of high school.

00:14:12.197 --> 00:14:17.052
So you know it's tough and he knew it and it was like look, you're going to be our guy, though.

00:14:17.052 --> 00:14:18.493
Like this is super important.

00:14:18.493 --> 00:14:21.783
Your role, like we have to know if guys are ready.

00:14:21.783 --> 00:14:25.586
We've got to know when you come back up from the bullpen and we're getting a guy ready.

00:14:25.586 --> 00:14:26.636
I need to know.

00:14:26.636 --> 00:14:28.241
You know, is change up working?

00:14:28.241 --> 00:14:29.124
Is slider working?

00:14:29.124 --> 00:14:30.126
Like what do we got today?

00:14:30.126 --> 00:14:32.964
What can we expect when this guy goes into the game?

00:14:45.754 --> 00:14:46.995
no-transcript.

00:14:46.995 --> 00:14:54.448
Well, if you only have 90 minutes for practice, what are three things that you absolutely have to have included in that practice?

00:14:55.255 --> 00:14:57.563
So our practices are two hours.

00:14:57.563 --> 00:15:08.690
We're allowed a two-hour practice and I usually try to map things out where, depending on the day BP days they take a long time.

00:15:08.690 --> 00:15:12.787
So you know, a BP day is pretty much a BP day.

00:15:12.787 --> 00:15:21.068
We may try to throw in some pick work in the beginning or you know some sort of quick bunt coverage stuff just to.

00:15:21.068 --> 00:15:28.964
I constantly try to throw little drills into refresh and go through our defensive plays throughout, especially the preseason.

00:15:28.964 --> 00:15:41.206
But even during the regular season, if we've got a team coming up that we know likes to play small ball that week, we're going to definitely throw in at least a day or two if we can get to, depending on when we play.

00:15:41.206 --> 00:15:47.464
Some weeks we have three games in a week, so it's difficult, but we always try to throw in something like that.

00:15:47.464 --> 00:16:01.278
But for me it's really about I think one of the most important things is making sure the guys get in a legitimate stretch and they actually play catch the right way.

00:16:01.298 --> 00:16:08.562
I see guys that get to this level and come into me and still don't have basic throwing fundamentals.

00:16:08.562 --> 00:16:12.205
I always go back to my college days.

00:16:12.205 --> 00:16:15.206
I played at UNC, greensboro and I pitched down there.

00:16:15.206 --> 00:16:21.030
I remember day one walking in and they started teaching us how to throw.

00:16:21.030 --> 00:16:24.513
I was like what is happening right now started teaching us how to throw.

00:16:24.513 --> 00:16:41.356
And I was like what is happening right now Like you know, we're talking four seam grip and all these things and I was like it kind of amazed me at how many guys even had gotten to that level and never really went through any fundamental stuff with, with throwing and, and I think it comes, you know, it becomes important for uh, arm care and health and all those things.

00:16:41.437 --> 00:16:56.948
But you know, to me making sure they actually have a focused stretch, because I think a lot of a lot of teams and I see it, you know the guys are out there, they're just kind of laying around, they're all doing their own thing and nobody really has already locked in to say, hey, you know what we're here now it's business.

00:16:56.948 --> 00:17:02.825
You know we've got two hours to get down to work and make something happen and get better each day.

00:17:02.825 --> 00:17:16.800
And, um, you know something that we've kind of grown on, uh you know for, and actually this sort of we talked about it a lot before and then, and then one of our guys that uh plays for the Oakland A's Zach Geloff.

00:17:16.800 --> 00:17:27.344
You know, his, his big thing is uh, you, you know, basically, don't miss out on any day, like, get better every day to some degree.

00:17:27.344 --> 00:17:27.946
What, regardless of what it is?

00:17:27.946 --> 00:17:30.596
Try to find something every day that you can focus on so you don't lose a day.

00:17:31.097 --> 00:17:40.801
And you know, we, we talk about that a lot and and there are days, you know, everyone has those days where it's it's a struggle, you know, like you got to find a way to make it happen and turn it on.

00:17:40.801 --> 00:17:55.257
And even for teenagers, you know, as I get older it's, you know, it seems like there's more and more of those days where I'm like all right, I got it, it's time to bring it, I got to get some energy flowing here, you know.

00:17:55.257 --> 00:17:56.519
But every day, in practice, we definitely try to have that.

00:17:56.519 --> 00:18:01.806
We, I think a huge piece for us is that the guys know that we like being out there and want to have fun.

00:18:01.806 --> 00:18:02.926
I mean the game's fun.

00:18:02.926 --> 00:18:13.319
So if you're not having fun and it becomes a a a job for them, especially at this level, I don't think you're going to get out what you're hoping, um, you know.

00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:24.229
So we like to make everything fun out there and have a good time and and keep the atmosphere uh, competitive, but also light Cause you don't want them to get too tight.

00:18:25.875 --> 00:18:27.539
Yes, I totally agree with you on that one there.

00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:30.478
Tell me a little bit about this win the day mentality.

00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:33.505
Yeah, so you know, and that's exactly it.

00:18:33.565 --> 00:18:37.259
It's the win the day mentality and that's something that you know.

00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:58.621
We stress to them that, regardless of what it is I mean it may not even be baseball related that day, because everyone's got stuff going on, and it could be, you know, a kid's got a big exam the next day in a class and they got to, they got to make sure they're getting time to study and they and if that is what they need to win that day, then then so be it.

00:18:58.621 --> 00:19:09.855
And when you're out on that field, that gives you that two hours of time where you're away from that stress and you can go out there and have a good time and play the game that you love playing, and that could be your win for the day.

00:19:09.855 --> 00:19:20.277
As long as there's something that you're able to win that day, then hopefully you're feeling good about what you're doing and you're able to move forward and start reaching those goals.

00:19:20.277 --> 00:19:29.190
Goal setting is a big thing we do here, you know, and talking about team goals and then individual goals and how to reach those goals with small steps.

00:19:30.434 --> 00:19:52.045
You talk about you on the team that's just not getting playing time because, like you said, he's got something ahead of him.

00:19:52.045 --> 00:19:53.557
That's really really good.

00:19:53.557 --> 00:19:58.028
How do you handle those situations when that comes up with parents?

00:19:58.615 --> 00:20:14.934
Yeah, and I think I try to be as black and white with the players and at the beginning of the year I have a coach's parent meeting and I pretty much tell them up front, word for word.

00:20:14.934 --> 00:20:26.242
If you have a question about your players' playing time you don't need to contact me, because you can talk to them, because they're going to tell you exact Because we are so direct with them.

00:20:26.242 --> 00:20:36.189
They know that's where those player meetings come into play for us, where we're talking to them on a regular basis and the players feel comfortable.

00:20:36.189 --> 00:20:37.717
I've found that it's worked.

00:20:37.717 --> 00:20:49.261
They feel comfortable in this environment to then come talk to us as coaches and you know, hey, what is missing, what can I do, like what are you guys seeing?

00:20:49.261 --> 00:20:50.424
Or what haven't I done?

00:20:50.424 --> 00:20:51.636
You know those types of questions.

00:20:53.099 --> 00:20:55.946
But for the parents, I mean, I'm just very direct with them.

00:20:55.946 --> 00:21:21.085
They know that ultimately the coaches are going to make those playing time decisions and we're going to support the kids and try to make them better and hopefully they do get better as a player as the year goes on and maybe they're getting their opportunities here and there and when they do try to take advantage when you do get an opportunity, this game obviously is a game of failure.

00:21:21.085 --> 00:21:23.469
I think all coaches understand that.

00:21:23.469 --> 00:21:26.455
We really try to preach that to our players.

00:21:26.455 --> 00:21:33.539
I best hitters on the planet right now at the big league level are still getting out 65% of the time.

00:21:33.539 --> 00:21:36.442
It is a game of failure.

00:21:36.442 --> 00:21:39.463
How are you going to respond to those situations?

00:21:39.463 --> 00:21:43.365
We really try to connect that to life in general.

00:21:43.365 --> 00:21:54.751
I mean I want these guys coming out of our program just being better human beings and hopefully going on to you know if they're playing baseball in college or they're, you know, going into their careers.

00:21:54.751 --> 00:22:02.022
They understand how to deal with some adversity in life and because it's not all going to be good, there's, you know, everyone goes through it.

00:22:02.022 --> 00:22:06.799
There's always things that you run into in life and dealing with failure is huge.

00:22:06.961 --> 00:22:19.973
So for us, you know, this game, I think, is one of the ultimate teachers of that, because it is such a game of failure and it can be, you know, and whether it be offensively, a lot of guys you know talk about a hitting wise that it's a game of failure.

00:22:19.973 --> 00:22:22.195
But you know we try to talk about it.

00:22:22.195 --> 00:22:28.741
The defensive side too, like I'm sure you've been in those situations where you know because we use that phrase, the ball is going to find you.

00:22:28.741 --> 00:22:35.646
You know, if you boot one somehow, some way, those baseball guys, you're getting two or three more that inning.

00:22:35.646 --> 00:22:40.692
You know it just.

00:22:40.692 --> 00:22:41.636
I don't know why, but that's how it happens.

00:22:41.636 --> 00:22:44.069
And and how are you going to respond in those situations and come back from something when it does go wrong?

00:22:45.250 --> 00:22:46.512
Do you hate losing or love winning?

00:22:48.576 --> 00:22:50.358
Um, I think it's both.

00:22:50.358 --> 00:22:57.816
I think there's a, there's a fine line, uh, there, with which one would would rank above the other.

00:22:57.816 --> 00:23:09.317
Um, you know, I other, I think I feel all right if we've lost a game where I feel like we have done everything we could to prepare, and sometimes you just get beat in this game.

00:23:09.317 --> 00:23:13.118
There's no getting around it and it's okay.

00:23:13.118 --> 00:23:18.238
But again, it's right back to what I was talking about, about how you respond to failure.

00:23:18.238 --> 00:23:20.654
When you do lose those games, what are you going to do?

00:23:20.654 --> 00:23:25.132
You know, obviously, if your back's against the wall, are you going to keep fighting.

00:23:25.132 --> 00:23:26.394
You know that's what we hope for.

00:23:26.394 --> 00:23:35.882
So you know, yeah, I don't enjoy losing at all, but you can get something even out of a loss to become a better team.

00:23:35.882 --> 00:23:39.679
So, you know, I think, I think those, those times are important as well.

00:23:47.089 --> 00:23:47.570
You know they happen.

00:23:47.570 --> 00:23:50.038
I like to throw hypothetical questions at uh, at coaches at uh, toward the end of the podcast here.

00:23:50.038 --> 00:23:59.881
And you're a major league manager and you can only have one of these players on your team and you got to forget about their gambling and steroid issues.

00:23:59.881 --> 00:24:01.364
Oh, geez, okay.

00:24:09.800 --> 00:24:12.369
Which player would you rather have on your team, pete Rose or Barry Bonds?

00:24:12.369 --> 00:24:18.230
That's a tough question because those guys both brought so much to the field.

00:24:18.230 --> 00:24:33.179
For me, I would probably go Pete Rose because of his, uh, hard nose, ability to play the game tough, and I think I think that type of um attitude can really make the guys around you play harder.

00:24:33.179 --> 00:24:46.105
Uh, you know, and and that's really a tough question because I could probably start saying things about Barry Bonds as well just because of the character that he had and what he brought to the game and confidence that he brought.

00:24:46.105 --> 00:24:52.028
That, I think, is extremely important as well yeah, I don't know, that's a really tough question.

00:24:52.028 --> 00:24:53.590
Which direction I could probably go.

00:24:53.590 --> 00:25:05.605
Pete Rose right now, if you asked me, in five minutes, I'd probably go back and say Barry Bonds, you know, because of what I think he can bring to a team and his ability to, you know, to be a leader through performance.

00:25:05.605 --> 00:25:08.771
So, yeah, that's a tough question.

00:25:08.791 --> 00:25:14.180
Well, to finish up, you know you've played down at UNC Greensboro.

00:25:14.180 --> 00:25:16.284
You've coached for quite some time.

00:25:16.284 --> 00:25:23.119
What's your best or funny story from all your playing or coaching baseball?

00:25:23.990 --> 00:25:25.173
Oh, funny story.

00:25:25.173 --> 00:25:30.338
Oh man, I don't even know if I'm going to have an answer for that.

00:25:30.338 --> 00:25:33.298
I mean, obviously there's a lot of good times.

00:25:33.298 --> 00:25:36.799
You know where you've got.

00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:41.512
I specifically can go back to bus rides in college.

00:25:42.933 --> 00:25:48.598
You know our assistant coach, neil Avent, who's he's been with the Oakland A's for a bunch of years now.

00:25:48.598 --> 00:26:04.798
He's probably the best storyteller that I've ever been around and I mean I remember being on some long bus rides to, you know, alabama and Auburn and Florida state and uh, yeah, coach event just did not stop talking the entire time and it was.

00:26:04.798 --> 00:26:05.220
It was.

00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:06.826
He always had a story.

00:26:06.826 --> 00:26:14.611
He always knew everyone and it was kind of like that, uh, that that I don't remember the name of it where the Kevin Bacon thing.

00:26:14.631 --> 00:26:16.916
You can connect any actor back to Kevin Bacon.

00:26:16.916 --> 00:26:24.737
Neil event can connect anyone back to someone he knows in the baseball world, you know, and he's been around the game a long time.

00:26:24.737 --> 00:26:25.779
He played at Wake Forest.

00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:29.892
His cousin is Elliot Avent, the NC State head coach, and you know.

00:26:29.892 --> 00:26:31.699
So he's been around and knows a lot of people.

00:26:31.699 --> 00:26:35.011
But yeah, I mean, talk about funny he just literally.

00:26:35.011 --> 00:26:49.096
I think the funniest part is whenever he would tell a story he can then imitate the person he's speaking about and he would do impersonations of them and they were spot on and it was everyone.

00:26:49.096 --> 00:26:51.416
Yeah, it's pretty impressive, pretty impressive.

00:26:51.416 --> 00:27:09.595
And I talk to him still quite a bit, especially some of my guys coming through and now with my guy playing second base for the A's, like I spoke to Coach Avent a lot about him and he hasn't changed, still tells stories, still imitating people and it's great.

00:27:09.595 --> 00:27:12.298
You know they're just those, are those things you never forget?

00:27:13.730 --> 00:27:15.675
Yes, that's the thing about baseball, is you?

00:27:15.675 --> 00:27:27.842
If anything you come away from the game, just the stories and the guys that share those stories are what makes the game so memorable and so much fun.

00:27:27.842 --> 00:27:35.136
Well, it's Ben Evick, Cape Henlope and high school in Delaware coach.

00:27:35.136 --> 00:27:37.855
Wish the best of luck.

00:27:37.855 --> 00:27:40.355
Maybe you get four and eight years.

00:27:40.817 --> 00:27:45.398
Yeah, that'd be great I appreciate it, but thanks for being on Baseball Coaches Unplugged.

00:27:45.398 --> 00:27:46.615
Thank you for having me.

00:27:46.615 --> 00:27:54.578
Today's episode of Baseball Coaches Unplugged is powered by the netting professionals improving programs one facility at a time.

00:27:54.578 --> 00:28:03.821
Contact them today at 844-620-2707 or visit them online at wwwnettingproscom.

00:28:03.821 --> 00:28:06.617
As always, I'm your host, coach Ken Carpenter.

00:28:06.617 --> 00:28:09.127
Thanks for listening to Baseball Coaches Unplugged.