Outside The Chute

Episode 149 - Zoe Hicks

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.

Episode 148 - Vahram Mateosian

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.

Episode 147 - Addisyn Linton

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.

Episode 146 - Brian Paton

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.

Episode 145 - Lexi McDaniel

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.

Episode 144 - John Hill

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.

Episode 143 - Morgan Rackel

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with Austin Peay State alum, both a bronze and silver medalist at the Pan American Games and current member of the Canadian Women’s National Team, Calgary Alberta native, Morgan Rackel.
 Mo has had a stellar career to date, as she has been named North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year, Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year, was a NFCA Central Third Team selection as well as the previously mentioned medal wins at the Pan Am Games.
We talked to Mo about getting her start in the game after developing the love for it from her parents, competing at the 2017 Canada Games in Winnipeg, being named to the Canadian National Team, the disappointment of being named an alternate to the 2020 Olympic Team, and much, much more.
Mo was such a pleasure to chat with.  I’m so excited to see what the future holds for her both on and off the field.  I know whatever it is, its going to be great.

Episode 142 - Jerome Raemaki

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with one of the best in our game, New Zealand native, Jerome Raemaki.
Romie burst onto the international softball scene when he was just 16 years old and hasn’t looked back. He is a 7 time ISC All World selection, 3 time ISC World Champ with the New York Gremlins and of course has been a fixture with the New Zealand Black Sox for many years now.
We’re gonna talk to Romie about getting his start in the game, playing for, and telling us about the rich history of his club team PK, coming over to play on the ISC circuit at such a young age with Jarvis, those ISC Titles with the Gremlins and much, much more.
This was such a great episode.  Hopey and I were pumped to have the opportunity to chat with such an awesome player in our game and an even better individual.