Outside The Chute
Outside The Chute is a podcast dedicated to the game of fastpitch softball. We’ll be sitting down with some of the best in the game for exclusive interviews. We’ll also be covering everything on a local, national and world level, including NCAA, ISC, Canadian Nationals, and WBSC. We’re here to connect the softball world!
Episodes
Episodes
Monday Jan 15, 2024
Episode 151 - Amber Fiser
Monday Jan 15, 2024
Monday Jan 15, 2024
Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with University of Minnesota alum, member of the Smash It Sports Vipers of the WPF and current Assistant Coach at the University of North Florida, the one and only, Amber Fiser.
What a career Amber has had to date and she hopes to be still going strong here in 2024. She was an All-American pitcher at Minnesota from 2017-21, where she completed her career with a 1.70 ERA and a 98-35 record while striking out 953 batters over five seasons.Amber was named the 2019 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, while earning First Team All-American honors and being listed among USA Softball's Top-25 Player of the Year List. She led Minnesota to its first Women's College World Series in the NCAA era while pitching every inning of Regionals and Super Regionals. What an accomplishment that was!
We’re gonna talk to Amber about getting her start in the game in her home state of Iowa, the journey to Minnesota, of course, that fantastic 2019 season, her time at Athlete’s Unlimited, her time with the Vipers and much, much more.
Amber was an absolute pleasure to chat with and I can’t wait to see how she and the Osprey’s do this season down in North Florida, as well as, whatever else Amber decides to bring to the table for the future, we’ll definitely be rooting her on from up here in Canada.
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Monday Jan 08, 2024
Episode 150 - Darren Zack
Monday Jan 08, 2024
Monday Jan 08, 2024
Outside The Chute was so fortunate to sit down and chat with 4 time ISC World Champion, 1992 ISF Gold medalist, ISC and Softball Canada Hall of Famer, one of the greatest to ever play this game, the one and only, Darren Zack.
Z-Man’s accomplishments in the game are endless and I’d be here for an hour mentioning them. This guy was a true pioneer of the game and did so with such a humble and gentle nature, that made him so well-respected both as a teammate and opponent.
We’re gonna talk to Darren about getting his start in the game in Garden River, his journey to playing in Boston, the epic days with the Toronto Gators, especially that amazing 1995 run, his time on Team Canada and much, much more.
Darren taking the time to come on and chat with us is something I’ll forever be grateful for, as this guy is a true idol of mine, and I know he doesn’t do many interviews.
I’d like to thanks Brian Paton for getting this process going and of course, Darren’s wife Charlotte for setting all of this up. It truly meant a lot to myself and Chris.
Wednesday Dec 27, 2023
Episode 149 - Zoe Hicks
Wednesday Dec 27, 2023
Wednesday Dec 27, 2023
Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with Louisiana Tech alum and current member of both Canadian Women’s National Team for baseball and softball, the one and only, Zoe Hicks.
Zoe has burst onto our international scene here in Canada in the past year by being named to both the women’s baseball national squad, where she was named the teams Most Valuable Player, as well as the women’s softball team, where she played a big role in helping them win a bronze medal at the Pan Am Games last month in Chile.
Zoe also works in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization where she worked in their technology department before adding in more in-field duties this past season down in the Arizona Complex League.
We’re gonna talk to Zoe about getting her start in the game, her journey through college at Iowa State, Buffalo and Louisiana Tech, being named to the National Teams, of course, working with the Dodgers and much, much more.
Zo was an absolute pleasure to chat with. I’m so excited to see what's in store for her moving forward, both on and off the field. No doubt there are big things in store.
Monday Dec 18, 2023
Episode 148 - Vahram Mateosian
Monday Dec 18, 2023
Monday Dec 18, 2023
Outside The Chute had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with one of the great guys in our game, the New York Gremlins own, Vahram Mateosian.
I can’t even begin to say how much we laughed during this episode and even after this episode. For those that don’t know, but I’ve mentioned it on here before that I don’t actually listen to any of our podcasts after we do them. I make mental notes during the actual talk of when or if, something needs to be edited,I go to that spot and do it but this one here I listened to it all again and I think I laughed even more than when we were doing it. Its frigging hilarious.
If any of our listeners aren’t familiar with the men’s game, Vahram is a long time, player, assistant coach and sponsor with the ISC World Champion, New York Gremlins and he is one of the funniest and quick witted guys in our game, and you’ll definitely find that out in this chat.
We talk to Vahram about how he got his start in fastpitch, the growth of the Gremlins, his custom Men’s Suit business, Mr. Ned, which if you’re listening to us in the New York area, head on down to 137, 5TH Ave in NYC, if you’re looking for that right suit you’ve always wanted, we chat about winning those ISC Championships and we have a Player’s Association at the end of the show that is just epic.
We are so happy Vahram took time to come on with us and chat because this one here will go down as an all timer.
Monday Dec 11, 2023
Episode 147 - Addisyn Linton
Monday Dec 11, 2023
Monday Dec 11, 2023
Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with 2 time PGF National Champion and Clemson University commit, the one and only, Addisyn Linton.
When you’re putting down a blueprint for a pitcher in our game, Addi definitely would be a mold you’d want to use. Not only is she a hard throwing left hander, but her work ethic off the field is second to none. This girl is just an absolute beast.
One thing I noticed when doing all my research on Addi for this episode is that the words Determination and Dedication kept on popping up when I looked at past articles or quotes from other people in the game on her. Put that together with her immense talent, man, the Clemson Tigers and their fans are in for a treat come 2025 and beyond and I can’t wait to watch this ride.
In this episode we talk to Addi about getting her start in the game and how her and her Dad, who an absolute beauty by the way, would travel 5 hours to Colorado just so she could play, crazy stuff. Also chat about capturing her two PGF National titles, of course the commitment to Clemson, which is a great story as well and much, much more.
Addi was such a treat to chat with, I have no doubt we’re going to be seeing her and the Tigers playing for a National Championship and making history in the near future.
Monday Dec 04, 2023
Episode 146 - Brian Paton
Monday Dec 04, 2023
Monday Dec 04, 2023
Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with, 4-time Pan Am Games gold medalist, 3 time ISC World Champion, ISC Hall of Famer and recent inductee into the Softball Canada Hall of Fame, the one and only, Brian Paton.
What a career Brian has had. I mean, the previously mentioned accomplishments are just a sample of what he was able to do over his storied career. 8 years as the captain of the Canadian National Team, 4 time ISC All World selection, MVP of the 1995 ISC’s, the list goes on and on. Its ridiculous.
We’re gonna talk to Brian about getting his start in the game in Woodstock, how NHL Hall of Famer, George Armstrong was the one who told him to switch from being a catcher to an outfielder, his time with the Toronto Gators and Team Canada, and much, much more.
Such an amazing talk this was with one of our countries best to ever play the game. Hopey and I are still talking about this one and we’re so happy Brian was able to take the time to come on and chat with us.
Monday Nov 27, 2023
Episode 145 - Lexi McDaniel
Monday Nov 27, 2023
Monday Nov 27, 2023
Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with the #1 ranked player for the class of 2025 by Extra Innings Softball and University of Oklahoma Commit, Lexi McDaniel.
Whats that saying, the rich get richer? The Oklahoma Sooners continue to do so by having Lexi committed to their prestigious program. Just an example on how good Lexi is, listen to these stats from this past summer. She hit .491 with 24 home runs and 97 RBIs. She also hit 19 doubles, six triples and finished the summer with 115 hits, but those aren’t the stats that jump out the most to me. In 261 plate appearances she only struck out 18 times, that is absolutely incredible. Sooners fans are in for a treat with this one here.
We’re gonna talk to Lexi about getting her start in the game, joining the Aces Fastpitch Club around the age of 11, the visit to and committing to OU, her goals for the future and much, much more.
Lexi was an absolute treat to chat with. I’m so excited to see her doing her thing on Loves Field and no doubt at the WCWS, in the future.
Monday Nov 20, 2023
Episode 144 - John Hill
Monday Nov 20, 2023
Monday Nov 20, 2023
Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with Former Coach with the Men’s Canadian National Team and Softball Newfoundland Hall of Famer, the one and only, John Hill.
John has seen and done it all in our game. He has won numerous Canadian Senior National Titles coaching Newfoundland, been apart of Hill United’s epic ISC and ASA runs and was a Pan Am and WBSC Gold Medalist back in 2015. He was also inducted into the Softball Newfoundland Hall of Fame back in 2009.
We’re gonna talk to John about getting his start in the game, the powerhouse that is Newfoundland in our country, joining the Men’s National Team, of course, those Gold Medal wins in 2015 and so much more.
This was legit one of mine and Hopey’s favorite interviews we have ever done. I think we could have talked about the game a few hours more than we did. Trust me when I say you’re all going to enjoy this one.