New England Baseball Journal’s The Base Path

In this episode, CJ Parsons, founder of Parsons Sports Performance, shares insights on athlete development, injury prevention, and the recruiting process in baseball. He discusses how a holistic approach to training and strategic guidance can help young athletes. (Parsons Sports Performance: http://parsonssports.net/) 

Host Dan Guttenplan sits down with Team Massachusetts head coach Bill O'Connell and pitching coach Steve Healy to break down the team’s historic run at the three-year-old national tournament in Omaha. The coaches share the inside story behind their shift in pitching philosophy, the unexpected benefits of carrying a shorter roster, and what it’s really like for players to dive into the vibrant "Baseball Mecca" atmosphere of the College World Series remnants. 
 
Key Takeaways:
 
The 16-Player Advantage: After falling from an 18-man roster to 16 due to an injury and an absence, Team Massachusetts found their "magic formula." The smaller roster allowed the exact same nine starters to stay in a consistent rhythm, getting four to five at-bats every single game. 
Pounding the Zone: Shifting away from past years of chasing high-velocity arms that run up deep pitch counts, the coaching staff intentionally selected elite strike throwers. The strategy paid off massively: the staff led the tournament with only 13 runs allowed over four games, averaging a staggering 1.7 walks per game. 
The Omaha Experience: From staying in North Carolina's former College World Series hotel to riding scooters around the city, the tournament offers a professional-grade atmosphere. Players also received major perks, including customized gear in the Stinger Sports "Stinger Room" and free cleats from Square. 
Coaching Chemistry: Merging four high school head coaches into one staff succeeded through a strict delegation of duties. While Bill handled the offense, Steve Healy and Chris Costello acted as defensive coordinators, pulling all-night scouting reports to give their pitchers a distinct edge.

Dan and Pat review late-season Massachusetts high school baseball, projecting likely tournament tiers from MIAA power rankings. They discuss BC High as the clear Division 1 frontrunner, with teams like St. John’s Shrewsbury, Taunton, Franklin, Natick and others chasing; Natick’s 14-3 season, senior depth, and pitching highlights are noted. A major focus is Bishop Feehan’s Brody Bumilia, whose starts draw huge crowds and 15–25 radar guns; Pat describes his elite velocity, pitch mix, mass scout exit after he was pulled, and his first earned runs of the season after previously allowing only two unearned. They cover Braintree’s late skid, Division 2 contenders like St. Mary’s and Walpole and debate the returning Super 8 format and margin-of-victory impact, with Hamilton-Wenham’s 18-0 profile cited. They also preview Player of the Year finalist candidates and end with a minor-league team name trivia game.
 
Topics
00:44 D1 landscape and BC High
02:15 Natick rising contender
03:39 Brody Bumilia scouting circus
07:22 What 100 mph looks like
09:07 Bumilia season arc and draft buzz
13:26 Top 10 and St Johns Shrewsbury
16:19 Taunton surge vs Franklin slump
19:29 Braintree outlook and Brooks injury
20:44 Braintree Slump Watch
22:09 Division 2 Contenders
22:23 St Mary's Title Push
23:45 Super 8 Format Debate
27:20 Player of the Year Names
29:41 Three Up Three Down Trivia
33:52 Minor League Branding Chat
34:49 Podcast Wrap Up

ISL champion coach Brendan Morrissey recounts leading Milton Academy to the ISL title as the No. 6 seed, surviving a 7–6 opener vs. Roxbury Latin that ended with bases loaded and a freshman reliever escaping, then riding hot bats and dominant pitching to consecutive shutouts in the semifinal (9–0 after an eight-run first) and final, including a combined no-hitter as Jameson Gray peaked at the right time. Morrissey contrasts ISL and MIAA playoffs, explains building pitchers up slowly so they’re fresh in June, discusses velocity and injury concerns, outlines Milton Academy admissions-driven recruiting, and shares a measured approach to college placement. A “Three Up, Three Down” segment covers athlete-fan interactions, momentum, and underrated/overrated stats.
 
Topics
01:17 Roxbury Latin Thriller
02:49 Freshman Closes It
03:38 Home Field Advantage
04:33 Will Pierce Breakout
05:59 Championship Mindset
06:49 No Hitter And Dogpile
09:13 MIAA Vs ISL Coaching
10:51 Peaking For Playoffs
12:32 Jump To Milton Academy
13:47 Velocity And Recruiting
14:04 Velocity And Arm Health
14:53 In Game Pitcher Management
15:25 Milton Recruiting Reality
16:43 College Paths Beyond D1
18:35 Travel Ball And Honest Guidance
19:45 Fans Versus Players Debate
22:56 Momentum And Snowball Innings
25:27 Overrated And Underrated Stats
28:27 New Defensive Odds Metrics
29:25 Podcast Wrap And Thanks

Dan and Pat recap early-season New England prep baseball, discussing the latest prep coaches poll and teams and players standing out. Dexter ranks No. 1 behind deep Division I-level pitching; Austin Prep started hot before losing to Cheshire Academy; Canterbury and Choate Rosemary Hall remain unbeaten; and the ISL features strong starts from Belmont Hill, Nobles, and surprise 3–0 St. Mark’s. They note coaching transitions at Cheshire (following an underage drinking incident on a Florida trip) and Phillips Andover, plus early struggles from preseason No. 1 Avon Old Farms and non-league losses for Deerfield. Worcester Academy’s Tallon Roseboro and other standout players are highlighted. The episode ends with a “Three Up, Three Down” 1986 Red Sox–Mets trivia contest.
 
Topics
00:42 Early Season Standouts
00:51 Dexter Loaded Roster
02:02 Undefeated Contenders
03:47 Cheshire Coaching Shakeup
06:08 Andover Transition Stability
07:04 Avon Old Farms Slide
09:45 Deerfield Strategy Explained
11:23 Worcester Transfer Impact
12:39 St Marks Surprise Start
15:42 Belmont Hill Walkoff Win
17:14 Nobles Pitching Returns
17:32 ISL Contenders Breakdown
18:39 Tier Rankings and Bubble Teams
19:49 Standout Prep Players
22:07 Red Sox 86 Trivia Setup
22:58 Red Sox Player Clues
25:24 Mets Legends and Seinfeld Hint
28:01 Tiebreaker and Sign Off

Dan Guttenplan and Pat Donnelly review the first two weeks of the MIAA baseball season, noting public schools Taunton, Franklin and Braintree atop the power rankings and discussing factors behind sustained success like coaching, culture, feeder systems and player development. They cover Catholic Conference parity and how strength of schedule might affect MIAA seeding, highlight standout performances., and the rise of teams like Winchester and Natick. The show closes with “Three Up, Three Down” on memorable MLB strikeouts, infield plays and outfield throws.
Topics
00:40 Podcast Intro and Agenda
01:11 Public Schools Lead Rankings
03:20 Hockomock Program Culture
05:47 Catholic Conference Gauntlet
09:56 Walpole No-Hitters
11:28 Super 8 Baseball Talk
13:30 Lincoln-Sudbury Power Bats
15:14 Plymouth North Consistency
18:17 Freshman Breakout Ethan Edmonds
20:46 Middlesex League Early Standouts
26:02 Lefty Throwing 100
27:22 NIL Changes Draft Choice
28:01 Early Season Game Impressions
29:58 Teams And Players To Watch
31:18 Weekly Coverage Schedule
33:18 "Three Up, Three Down"
33:37 Greatest Strikeouts Ever
36:53 Best Infield Plays
40:19 Most Memorable Outfield Throws
44:16 Final Wrap And Thanks

Dan welcomes Bridgewater-Raynham head coach Cam Fox, also an assistant coach for Team Massachusetts, to discuss the start of the MIAA high school season, evaluating players in short indoor tryouts, and building a three-team program (freshman, JV, varsity). Fox emphasizes selecting coachable, hustle-oriented players who can be valuable anywhere, then placing them where they’ll get development and playing time, using scrimmages to refine decisions. He describes structured, efficient practices focused on doing simple things well—baserunning, pitching in the zone, and fundamentals—while balancing spring schedule challenges like weather and school events. Fox reflects on learning under longtime mentor Bill O’Connell at Braintree and the Super Eight experience, supports its return, and previews Team Massachusetts’ Omaha tournament with a win-first mindset. The episode’s “Three Up, Three Down” covers World Baseball Classic interest, favorite New England baseball venues, and MLB rule changes.
 
Topics
00:51 Settling In At BR
02:11 Tryout Tips For Players
04:35 Evaluating Indoors Fast
07:06 Practice Planning Efficiency
08:48 Leaving Braintree For BR
12:15 Team Massachusetts Omaha
14:14 Travel Ball Versus Legion
16:39 Recruiting Then And Now
18:48 Building BR Philosophy
19:09 Simple Baseball Standards
20:22 Aggressive Baserunning Drills
21:41 Super Eight Memories
22:58 Bring Back Super Eight
23:55 Three Up Three Down
24:24 WBC Reactions
27:07 Best New England Parks
29:26 Rule Changes Debate
33:22 Wrap Up And Thanks

Dan Guttenplan interviews Kevin Barnaby, Groton School head baseball coach and Nor’easters Tewksbury program director. Barnaby explains that tryouts are less about results and more about earning coaches’ trust through controllables like showing up early, hustling, being coachable, communicating, asking appropriate questions, and dressing in neutral or school colors rather than other travel gear. He describes Groton’s fast, chaotic evaluation drills to test reactions to adversity, and outlines the team’s optional five-day Vero Beach trip featuring multiple practices, scrimmages and workouts. Barnaby discusses his public-school playing background, Groton’s academic draw and global student body, minimal overlap between Groton and Nor’easters, his shift toward administrative duties, and a college-placement approach prioritizing academic, financial and social fit amid transfer-portal dynamics.
Topics
01:17 Tryout Tips: Trust Intangibles
02:56 Dress the Part at Tryouts
03:42 Earning Coaches' Trust
04:22 Chaotic Tryout Evaluations
06:31 Vero Beach Spring Trip
08:28 In-Season Development Plan
09:29 Coach Barnaby Background
10:21 Why Choose Groton?
11:38 Groton vs. Nor’easters Balance
12:51 Running Nor’easters Program
14:01 College Recruiting Guidance
16:00 When Recruiting Happens
17:34 Success Stories: Stewart Allen
18:41 Staying Connected After Graduation
20:28 ISL Pitching Depth and Rivalries
22:26 Keeping Underclassmen Engaged
24:25 Sponsor Break: Netting Pros
25:15 "Three Up, Three Down"
25:38 Ted Talk Coaching Philosophy
28:40 Who to Watch in MLB 2026
30:37 Weirdest Things Seen in Baseball
34:09 Podcast Wrap and Thanks

Dan Guttenplan interviews Belmont Hill head baseball coach David Cunningham, who is entering his fourth season. Cunningham discusses preseason anxiety, returning players and using early March tryouts and scrimmages to build toward an ISL title after reaching last year’s championship game. He explains Belmont Hill’s intentional choice to stay north instead of taking spring trips, relying on indoor cages, turf fields and local scrimmages, and he describes his mentorship under legendary coach Mike Grant and his own emphasis on the mental side of the game. They cover the hectic ISL schedule, recruiting for Belmont Hill (including reclassifying), collaborating with club coaches and camps for college placement, ISL parity and the tournament format, and the value of multisport athletes. A “Three Up, Three Down” segment debates cold-weather baseball, Hall of Fame standards, and loudest stadium memories.
Topics
01:10 Preseason Mindset
02:25 Motivation After Finals
03:43 Staying North For Prep
04:51 Indoor Turf Workarounds
06:05 Coach Mike Grant Legacy
07:56 Mental Game Coaching
09:46 In-Season Weekly Grind
11:18 Recruiting For Prep
13:29 College Recruiting Help
15:48 ISL Parity and Prep
18:24 Thoughts On ISL Tournament
20:10 Standing Out In ISL
20:56 Belmont Hill Values
21:38 Baseball Culture and Support
22:01 Boarding Limits Explained
22:39 Why Multi-Sport Matters
24:39 Recruiting Where to Watch
26:01 Video and Evaluation Tips
27:20 "Three Up, Three Down"
28:04 Is Baseball Too Cold?
30:52 Hall of Fame Standards
34:18 Loudest Stadium Memories
37:55 Final Thanks and Wrap

Dan Guttenplan interviews Central Connecticut State coach Charlie Hickey, the longest-tenured Division 1 coach in New England, about how college baseball has changed with the transfer portal, NIL, and accelerated recruiting. Hickey discusses CCSU’s late February start, training indoors during winter, and the challenges of recruiting in the Northeast. He shares what he looks for in players, balancing freshman development with experienced transfers, and replacing key pitching innings. They cover fall practice benefits, conference title expectations, and the difficulty mid-majors face in NCAA regionals vs. SEC/ACC depth. Hickey also critiques showcase velocity culture and injury risk. “Three Up, Three Down” explores fandom, clutch hitters and baseball’s golden age.
Topics01:00 30-Plus Years in College Baseball: What’s Changed (Portal, NIL, Longevity)02:28 Opening Day Prep in New England: Snow, Travel and Gym Workouts04:16 Recruiting in the Northeast: Finding the Right Fit05:33 Showcases vs. Real Baseball: Traits Coaches Still Value07:54 Transfer Portal Strategy: Balancing Older Transfers and Freshmen09:59 Where to Evaluate Players: High School Coaches, Visits and Practices11:35 Recruiting Timeline and Identifying Undervalued Prospects13:30 What a D-1 Year Really Looks Like: Fall Ball, Winter Build-Up, Early Starts17:43 Sustained Success at CCSU: Conference Titles, Scheduling and Replacing Stars20:15 Can Mid-Majors Compete in Regionals in the NIL Era?22:24 Velocity Obsession and Arm Injuries: Mixed Messages in Modern Pitching25:53 Three Up, Three Down: Why We Root for Teams29:20 Game 7 Pinch-Hit Draft: Who Gets the Clutch Base Hit?31:15 The Golden Age of Baseball (and Can We Get It Back?)35:16 Wrap-Up, Thanks, and Where to Subscribe