What I've Learned from Podcasting Church Softball Games

Since 2015 I have been podcasting Covenant Speed/Power games.

Initially I wanted to see some friends playing softball, but then I started talking about the games on a whim as the action was unfolding.  This led to my first podcasts.  You will recall in those early podcasts, I was calling the games and telling it like it was like the late Howard Cosell.

One podcast in particular led to me being mentored by the former voice of the Pittsburgh Pirates Lanny Frattare.  You will recall during a poor performance in a game against the New Life Saints, I took to using language not suitable for work and needed mentoring during an imposed two game ban (which was later rescinded).  I sought Lanny Frattare's advice and he taught me that because 85% of a broadcast's success is determined before it goes on the air, preparation is the key.  He would spend four hours before a Pirates game looking at statistics for both teams.

With the lessons learned, I started keeping score of the games during the podcasts.  You will recall that initially, I used pencil and paper scoresheets.  It wasn't until 2017 that I started using the GameChanger app on my iPad which I purchased with my 2016 Christmas money.

A June 2016 podcast against New Life (one I was initially planning to skip due to my working vacation at the U.S. Open) got me the heave-ho from White Chapel Field after I suggested something based on what was on my scoresheets in front of me.  I once again sought Lanny Frattare's advice.  This time I self-imposed a two game ban on myself.

It seems that if I miss a podcast due to disciplinary reasons, the Covenant Speed/Power doesn't win the championship.  We lost in 2015 to Lebanon B and in 2016 to New Life.  I wanted to give up because I feared I would never be part of a local champion team again.  Players on the team begged me to return in 2017 and I did, and ordered them to give me a Gatorade shower if we won it all this time.

The 2017 team's revenge tour had the rally cry "Win it for Michael".  After a split with New Life Blue, I said in the huddle that we still had 12 games to prove that we could be a championship-caliber team.  We didn't lose another game until 2019, winning a league record 50+ consecutive games and three consecutive league championships (although I missed the 2019 tournament due to conflicts and an illness).  And I did get that Gatorade shower in 2017.

I have also learned that there are keys to beating certain teams in the league, particularly the New Life Saints.  If you are playing New Life, the key to beating them is to get off to a hot start early and not take your foot off of the gas pedal.

Tournament Saturday is a marathon for me as a podcaster.  It requires a 5:15am alarm and arrival at the Council of Governments Softball Complex at 6:30am for an air time of 7am.  The day also requires packing two or three water bottles, two sandwiches, two bags of chips, a side item and two bottles of pop.  Often my mother will make some snacks for the team to share.  Other times I contribute some food for the team to eat in between games.  We set up two 10x10 canopies for our home base for the day.  Opening ceremonies begin at 7:45am with a welcome, opening remarks, the presentation of the Sam Blake Sportsmanship Award, an opening prayer followed by the singing of the National Anthem.  Depending on what time the first tournament game for the Covenant Speed/Power is, I either take a short break to get ready to call the game if at 0800, or wait until 0915 to call it if the team has a coveted bye.  Sometimes I do break into regular MHB Sports programming with updates from other games.  I do this by roaming the complex seeking score updates from those games.

Because the tournament is double elimination, I call no less than two games and no more than six throughout the entire Saturday.  I go until either the team loses two games or wins the championship, whichever comes first.

It is also thanks to my podcasting that my circle of friends has increased exponentially.  Not only have I gotten to know the players on the Covenant Speed/Power, I have also gotten to know the players on the other squads in the league.

I'm often asked what advice I would give to anyone wanting to podcast softball games.  The advice I give is that preparation is the key to a podcast's success.  Get to know the players on your squad as well as those on other squads in the league.  Ask the players what makes them tick.  As new players join each squad every year, try to obtain a list of cell phone numbers so you can send a mass text message to those coaches in an attempt to acquire their team rosters via email.  Also, create for yourself a media guide that you can update as the season progresses as well as on an annual basis.  Keep those old media guides in a large three ring binder so that you can cross-refer if you need to figure out a statistic for a certain player.  Observe preseason practices so you can get a good look at the team that is being fielded.  And finally, while you are podcasting games, try to weave stories into your podcasts, but do not let them get in the way from the action on the field.  You are not Bob Prince, never have been and never will be.  Do not try to emulate your favorite baseball announcer.  Do it your way.  Just don't forget that Frank Sinatra put it to music!

Post Game Notes Covenant Speed/Power @ New Life Saints 18 August 2020

Notes (Covenant Speed/Power):

The six home runs hit came from Tyler Fattman, Noah Nichols, Brad Stockdill and Corey Sternthal.
Abby Ferlin got her first career hit in the top of the first inning of game 1.
The two wins over New Life give the Covenant Speed/Power the number one seed in Saturday's tournament as well as their third perfect regular season in five years.

Notes (New Life Saints):

Losing pitcher Ed Clapper made his first start in the circle since 2018.

Next:

Covenant Speed/Power:  v. winner of Grace Chapel/Covenant Bengals Saturday at 0915.
New Life Saints:  v. winner of New Wilmington/Lebanon Saturday at 0915.

Pregame Notes Covenant Speed/Power @ New Life Saints

Site:  Council of Governments Softball Complex Field One, West Middlesex, Pennsylvania
Date:  18 August 2020
Time:  Game 1 begins at 1815, game 2 begins 15 minutes following conclusion of game 1
Probables (game 1):  Eric Bombeck (Covenant Speed/Power) v. Erin Santillo (New Life)
Probables (game 2):  Tyler Allen (Covenant Speed/Power) v. Erin Santillo (New Life)

Notes (series):

The Covenant Speed/Power lead the series 13-11 dating back to 2012.

Notes (Covenant Speed/Power):
The Covenant Speed/Power are coming off of a pair of big wins against the Grace Chapel Blues.
Ten different players have hit a home run this season: Gray MacKenzie, Noah Nichols, Brad Stockdill, Matt Durisko, Tyler Fattmann, Corey Sternthal, Nate Anthony, Joe Patton, Tyler Allen and Chris Enis.
The Speed/Power have clinched one of two coveted byes into the winner's bracket semifinals of Saturday's tournament.

Notes (New Life Saints):
The New Life Saints are coming off of a split of a doubleheader against the Lebanon Raiders.
Erin Santillo leads the league in wins among pitchers with seven.
The Saints have also clinched a coveted bye into the winner's bracket semifinals of Saturday's tournament.

What's at stake:
At stake is the number one seed in Saturday's tournament.  With one win, the Covenant Speed/Power clinch the number one seed.  New Life must win both games to clinch the top seed.

Post game notes Covenant Speed/Power @ Grace Chapel Blues 17 August 2020

Notes (Covenant Speed/Power):

Chris Enis hit his first career home run against the Blues.  It was of the inside the park variety.
Corey Sternthal hit four home runs in the two games, three of them coming in the nightcap.  He also pitched five shutout innings in that same game, allowing eight hits and striking out one, lowering his earned run average to 3.00.
Other home runs for the Speed/Power came from Tyler Allen, Joe Patton and Noah Nichols.
All players on the Covenant Speed/Power are eligible for the tournament on Saturday with the exception of Josh Nichols.
The Speed/Power clinch one of two coveted byes into the winner's bracket semifinals in the tournament.

Notes (Grace Chapel Blues):

Andrew Schafer hi a pair of home runs in game one, the only runs Grace Chapel scored on the night.

Next:

Covenant Speed/Power:  at New Life on Tuesday evening on field one at COG.
Grace Chapel Blues:  vs. Covenant Bengals at 0800 on Saturday morning for the tournament.

Pregame Notes Covenant Speed/Power @ Grace Chapel Blues

Site:  Council of Governments Softball Complex Field One, West Middlesex, Pennsylvania
Date:  17 August 2020
Time:  Game 1 begins at 1815, game 2 begins 15 minutes after conclusion of game 1
Probables (game 1):  Eric Bombeck (Covenant Speed/Power) v. Becky Bolyard (Grace Chapel)
Probables (game 2):  Eric Bombeck (Covenant Speed/Power) v. Becky Bolyard (Grace Chapel)

Notes (series):

The Covenant Speed/Power lead the overall series over the Grace Chapel Blues 12-3 dating back to 2012.

Notes (Covenant Speed/Power):
The Covenant Speed/Power are coming off of a par of big wins over the New Wilmington Angels.
Nine different players have hit a home run in 2020:  Gray MacKenzie, Noah Nichols, Brad Stockdill, Matt Durisko, Tyler Fattmann, Corey Sternthal, Nate Anthony, Joe Patton and Tyler Allen.
Tyler Allen leads the league in earned run average with 0.00.  Collectively, the team's pitching staff has an earned run average of 2.33.
A pair of wins over Grace Chapel will clinch one of two coveted byes into the winner's bracket semifinals of the August 22 tournament and set up a matchup with the New Life Saints (who will also clinch a bye into the winner's bracket semifinals) for the number one seed in the tournament.

Notes (Grace Chapel):
Grace Chapel is coming off of a pair of wins over the Covenant Bengals,
Becky Bolyard is second in the league in wins with 6, behind Erin Santillo of New Life, who leads with 7 wins.

What's at stake:
At stake is one of two coveted byes into the winner's bracket semifinals of the August 22 tournament.

Post game notes Covenant Speed/Power @ New Wilmington Angels 6 August 2020

Post game notes (Covenant Speed/Power):

Abby Ferlin made her debut in the Lawrence-Mercer County Church Softball League on Thursday night.
Jeff Newell returned to the lineup for one night only on his way to Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis.
Joe Patton, Matt Durisko and Corey Sternthal hit their first home runs of the season in the twinbill, while Tyler Allen and Gray MacKenzie both hit their second home runs and Brad Stockdill hit his fourth home run of the season.
The following Covenant Speed/Power players are now eligible for the 2020 tournament on August 22:  Gray MacKenzie, Eric Bombeck, Brad Stockdill, Matt Durisko, Corey Sternthal, Justin Reed, Nate Anthony, Jim Bombeck, Elija Bombeck, Joe Patton, Tyler Allen and Chris Enis.
Game 1's winning pitcher Eric Bombeck pitched three innings of no-hit ball, lowering his earned run average to 1.00 after two games in the circle.  Matt Durisko pitched two shutout innings of relief, lowering his earned run average to 4.67 after three games pitched.
Game 2's winning pitcher Tyler Allen pitched three shutout innings, while Corey Sternthal pitched two innings of relief.

Post game notes (New Wilmington):

New Wilmington did not get their first hit of game one until the fourth inning when Buddy Stuart doubled.  They were limited to just two hits in the game.
The Angels' three runs in game two came off a home run by Rob Garganz.

Next up:

The Covenant Speed/Power square off against New Life in a battle of unbeaten teams on Tuesday night on field one.
The New Wilmington Angels square off against Lebanon on Tuesday night.

Pregame Notes Covenant Speed/Power @ New Wilmington Angels

Site:  Council of Governments Softball Complex field three, West Middlesex, Pennsylvania
Date:  6 August 2020
Time:  Game 1 begins at 1815, game 2 begins 15 minutes following conclusion of game 1
Probables (game 1):  Eric Bombeck (Covenant Speed/Power) v. Bob Excely (New Wilmington)
Probables (game 2):  Tyler Allen (Covenant Speed/Power) v. Bob Excely (New Wilmington)

Notes (series):

The Covenant Speed/Power own a record of 16-3 in the series since 2012.

Notes (Covenant Speed/Power):
The Speed/Power are coming off of a pair of wins over the Covenant Bengals.
Brad Stockdill's third home run of the season came in the second inning against the Covenant Bengals last Thursday night.
Tyler Allen and Tyler Fattmann hit their first home runs of the season last Thursday.
The two wins extended the Speed/Power's consecutive game winning streak to 8 dating back to the 2019 tournament.
All players on the Speed/Power roster except for Brad Stockdill (attending modified pitch softball national invitational tournament in Hampton Roads) and Abby Ferlin will be eligible for the tournament if they are present for just one game of the twinbill.

Notes (New Wilmington):
The Angels are coming off of a pair of heartbreaking losses to New Life by a combined three runs.
The Angels led New Life in the third inning 8-4 in game two only to see New Life tie the game at 8 until the sixth inning when New Life took the lead for good with 4 runs and New Wilmington could not score 4 in the seventh.

Postgame Notes Covenant Speed/Power v. Covenant Bengals 30 July 2020

Final score (game 1): Covenant Speed/Power 21, Covenant Bengals 3 Final score (game 2): Covenant Speed/Power 7, Covenant Bengals 0 (Covenant Bengals forfeited game) Covenant Speed/Power notes: Matt Durisko got his first two hits of the season after starting 0 for 6. Nate Anthony hit his third home run of the season in the third inning. Tyler Allen's solo home run in the second inning was his 22nd since joining the Speed/Power in 2017. Allen also pitched two shutout innings to earn the win. The 27 hits by the Speed/Power are the most hits in a game since July 9, 2019 against Lebanon when they got 28 hits in a 19-7 win in Wheatland. Covenant Bengals notes: Losing pitcher David Dalessandro left the game in the third inning after taking a Brad Stockdill line drive in the forehead. Next up: The Covenant Speed/Power will play the Grace Chapel Blues on field two on Tuesday evening. The Covenant Bengals will face the New Wilmington Angels on Tuesday evening.

Pregame Notes: Covenant Speed/Power v. Covenant Bengals

Site: Council of Governments Softball Complex Field Three, West Middlesex, Pennsylvania Date: 30 July 2020 Time: 1815 (game 1, game 2 begins 15 minutes after end of game 1) Probables (game 1): Eric Bombeck (Covenant Speed/Power) v. Gary Shuttleworth (Covenant Bengals) Probables (game 2): Matt Durisko (Covenant Speed/Power) v. David Dalessandro (Covenant Bengals) Notes (series): The Covenant Speed/Power have a perfect 5-0 record in the series. Notes (Covenant Speed/Power): The Covenant Speed/Power are coming off of a pair of wins over Lebanon. Andrew Campbell previously played for the Covenant Bengals. Notes (Covenant Bengals): The Covenant Bengals are coming off of a pair of humiliating losses to New Life. Eight current Bengals players previously played for the Speed/Power: Derek Work, Ryan Zippie, Sean Zippie, David Dalessandro, Jacob Albright, Tom Phillips, Bob Mariotti and Julie Norris-Eckenrod. All except for Work, Dalessandro and Phillips contributed to the Speed/Power's 2017 championship.

Postgame Notes: Covenant Speed/Power v. Lebanon Raiders 28 July 2020

Final score (game 1):  Covenant Speed/Power 23, Lebanon 4
Final score (game 2):  Covenant Speed/Power 11, Lebanon 0

Game 1 Notes:

Chris Enis made his debut in the Lawrence-Mercer County Church Softball League and got his first career hits and runs scored.
Winning pitcher Eric Bombeck allowed just one run in four innings.
Nate Anthony, Josh Nichols, Noah Nichols and Joe Patton made their debuts for the Covenant Speed/Power. Anthony hit his first home run since 2015 in the top of the second inning.
Brad Stockdill hit a pair of home runs tonight.

Game 2 Notes:

Winning pitcher Tyler Allen scattered just five hits in five shutout innings.
Noah Nichols hit his first home run as a member of the Covenant Speed/Power in the bottom of the second inning.

Next up:  The Covenant Speed/Power will play the Covenant Bengals on Thursday evening on field three at the Council of Governments Softball Complex.

Pregame Notes: Covenant Speed/Power v. Lebanon Raiders

Site:  Council of Governments Softball Complex Field 1, West Middlesex, Pennsylvania
Date:  28 July 2020
Time:  Game 1 begins at 1815, game 2 begins 15 minutes following conclusion of game 1
Probables (game 1):  Eric Bombeck (Covenant Speed/Power) v. Mike Shacklock (Lebanon)
Probables (game 2):  Tyler Allen (Covenant Speed/Power) v. Scott Stuart (Lebanon)

Series notes:

The Covenant Speed/Power own a perfect 12-0 record over Lebanon since 2017.

Covenant Speed/Power notes:

The Covenant Speed/Power are the reigning three time league champions.
Three current Speed/Power players previously played for Lebanon:  Tyler Allen, Nate Anthony and John Metzgar.  All three were part of Lebanon B;s 2015 championship.
Eric Bombeck has a 4.12 earned run average in his last three seasons.
Tyler Allen has a 2.23 earned run average in his last three seasons, including a league record 0.70 earned run average in 2019.

Lebanon Raiders notes:

Scott Stuart was the 2015 league most valuable player.
This is the fourth season as a single squad formed from the 2017 merger of their B and C squads, which last played as separate teams in 2016.