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 29, 2024
Episode 153 - Kayla Kowalik
Monday Jan 29, 2024
Monday Jan 29, 2024
Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with 2021 NFCA First Team All-American, 2023 WPF Rookie of the Year, University of Kentucky alum, and current member of the USSSA Pride, the one and only, Kayla Kowalik.
Kayla time at Kentucky was just extraordinary. She is UK’s all-time hits leader with 348 and all-time leader in runs scored with 258. She led the nation in batting average in 2021 when she hit a school-record .495, had a school-record 26-game hitting streak and scored a school-record 79 runs. Legit, the number of records that she processes at UK is insane. She is now a member of the USSSA Pride in the WPF where she capped off her first season there as Rookie of the Year and being named to the All-WPF Team.
We’re gonna talk to Kayla about getting her start in the game, growing up and playing with her twin sister Gabbie, the journey to UK, being named to Team USA, this past season with the Pride and so much more.
Kayla was an absolute pleasure to chat with. I’m so excited to see what the future holds for her both in the game and off the field as well. I’m sure whatever it is, it will be great.
Proud Partners
Rawlings Canada
Outside The Chute Music
Classified
Monday Jan 22, 2024
Episode 152 - Terry Baytor
Monday Jan 22, 2024
Monday Jan 22, 2024
Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with legendary coach, Terry Baytor.
Terry is in every Hall of Fame I’m pretty sure that he’s eligible for in the game. This includes, the Brampton Sports Hall of Fame, Softball Ontario, Softball Canada, the ISC and the WBSC ones. That’s just absolutely incredible and his resume in the game is like a novel. He is one of the most successful softball coaches in the world, providing leadership to teams competing in more than 2,100 games, and is the only field manager to win a Canadian, ISC, Pan Am Games and WBSC World Championship.
We’re gonna talk to Terry about getting introduced to softball in North York at the age of seven by his father, the influence hockey coaching legend, Roger Nielson had on him, those epic ISC runs with the Toronto Gators, of course, coaching the Canadian Men’s National Team for 18 years and much, much more.
Terry was such a pleasure to chat with. What he has done in this game is absolutely incredible and Hopey and I were so happy he took the time to come on and share stories from his career with us.
Proud Partners
Rawlings Canada
Outside The Chute Music
Classified
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.
Proud Partners
Rawlings Canada
Outside The Chute Music
Classified
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.