Ken Carpenter

It’s an honor to be selected. All the credit goes to the players/assistant coaches @BVBaronBaseball and @sciotobaseball Thank You!

How do you pick a travel baseball team? I’m not affiliated with any travel organization, so I can give an honest answer. This is player-dependent, but these principles apply almost everywhere 1️⃣ Coaches > Logos One of the biggest mistakes I see is families switching teams because they think a new logo will get more college attention. That’s not how recruiting works. College coaches don’t randomly show up to games. Their time is too valuable. They’re there because: • Someone they trust told them about a player • They’ve seen video • They’ve followed the player over time What matters far more than the logo on the jersey is whether you have someone who has real relationships with college coaches and will actually advocate for the player. People say: “But coaches follow the top teams.” They follow players, not uniforms. The best players end up on the best teams — not the other way around. 2️⃣ You don’t need to “travel” as much as you think Look at college rosters across the country. Most freshmen are from the same state or region as the school. That’s not an accident. Why? • Coaches can see them play multiple times • Local players are less likely to transfer The main exceptions: • Power 4 programs (a tiny % of players) • Some mid-majors surrounded by P4 schools With roster limits tightening, coaches want multiple looks, not one big weekend. 3️⃣ How often does the team practice? This is huge and often overlooked. It’s a great sign if a team: • Practices year-round (or close to it) • At least offers consistent training Skill acquisition takes time. Games alone won’t get players there. 4️⃣ Find the middle Everyone wants their kid on the #1 team in the country. That doesn’t mean it’s in their best interest. Nothing pushes kids away from the game faster than: • Constant failure • Being overmatched every day • Feeling like they don’t belong The sweet spot: • Not the best player • Not the worst player Challenged enough to grow. Successful enough to believe. 5️⃣ Playing time & role clarity (evaluate patterns, not promises) Parents ask: “How do we know they’re telling the truth?” The honest answer: you don’t — based on words alone. So stop listening to promises and start evaluating patterns. Things that matter more than what a coach says: • Roster size and position overlap • Who actually plays — not who’s talked about • What happens to new or average players Ask questions that force specifics: • “Where do you see him fitting in?” • “Who is currently ahead of him?” • “What does he need to improve to earn more time?” Honest programs give clear answers — even if they’re uncomfortable. Vague answers usually mean there is no real plan. A quick reality check: Any travel team can sell hope. No team can hide its patterns. Patterns don’t lie. Promises do. Bottom line: Pick the team that helps the player develop — not the one that looks the best on paper. That decision matters more than any logo ever will.

New Episode! "Why High School Umpires Are Quitting And How Coaches Can Fix It" Send a text Last year, one state lost nearly a third of its umpires and not to retirement. They simply stopped showing … Player links & show notes: athlete1.net/e/141420884270… via @PodpageHQ

New Episode! "Why High School Umpires Are Quitting And How Coaches Can Fix It" Last year, one state lost nearly a third of its umpires and not to retirement. They simply stopped showing … Player links & show notes: athlete1.net/e/141420884270… via @PodpageHQ

They start in Ohio this weekend. I’m sure the pitchers will be ready because they’ve been practicing maybe once or twice a week

People think it’s great when 100 kids try out for high school baseball. And it is. But what they don’t see is the hardest part of the job… sitting across from half of the kids who worked hard and telling them they didn’t make a team. No coach enjoys those conversations.

@CoachDeBord @Athlete1Podcast Thank you. Really appreciate you taking time to be on the show

I really appreciate getting the chance to get to be a part of the @Athlete1Podcast Ken does a great job promoting the game.

New Episode! "The One Decision That Decides Most Baseball Games" The swing that wins on a showcase doesn’t always win with two strikes and a runner on second. We sat down with Cloverleaf… Player links & show notes: athlete1.net/e/141420884149… via @PodpageHQ

Had a great time talking with @KCarpenter09 Appreciate of the opportunity to spend some time talking baseball.

Never read a more accurate statement . Hilarious! 👇

Love this play

It is an honor to represent my country at the WBC. Go USA 🇺🇸 @PlayersTribune theplayerstribune.com/paul-skenes-ml…

Mexico's team stayed to clean the dugout in Houston after their 16-0 win against Brazil in the WBC.

During WWII U.S. military engineers knew most American soldiers grew up throwing baseballs The T13 Beano grenade was designed the same size and weight as a baseball so soldiers would be able to throw it farther and more accurately War is American as baseball

Crazy story 👀

Want to play at the next level? Stop chasing showcase highs and start stacking boring reps. Learn how consistency and accountability outperform flash

Too many parents protect kids from honesty and being pushed. In the end, that fails kids more than any coach. Dealing with failure and disappointment is a skill.

🏀🦓 Basketball Officiating Season Recap 🦓🏀 💰 $3,500 📅 89 games 🏃 3 miles per game = 267 miles up and down the hardwood… basically ran a Dubuque-to-Des Moines tour 😅 One game I’d love a do-over on — but hey, even refs don’t shoot 100%. Misconceptions: 🚨 Player hits the floor ≠ automatic foul. 🚫 “Over the back” isn’t even a real violation. Season first: 🎤 Our crew tossed a fan for yelling the F-bomb multiple times at us during a timeout for “not calling it both ways.” Ma’am… we were. Best advice I ever got from a college official: “Traveling happens every play. Call the obvious. If you have to think about it, don’t call it.” 🧳 Shoutout to Al and all my partners. Same motto as always: Treat every game like a big game, because it is a big game for someone. Now onto baseball ⚾ — the sport I think I’m best at… but somehow my least favorite to officiate 😂 Moral of the story: We NEED officials. The shortage is real. At 44, I’m one of the youngest guys out there. Stay in the game. Get great exercise. Make some decent extra cash. And maybe log 267 miles without even realizing it. 😎

To the “too cool for school” high school kids who sit on the bench and don’t support their teammates…these are the dugouts at UTSA & Ohio State. Not a single player other than the pitcher and catcher sitting on the bench…

Got to see him with B.E. Taylor Group. Happy Birthday!

Catcher wars: leadership, receiving, or arm strength? Coach of the Year Gaetano Gianni breaks down what actually wins games behind the plate and how culture powers 500+ wins. Listen now and tell us your #1 catcher trait—what’s yours?