Mike Larabee

Retired college softball coach. University of Illinois, Wright State University, University of Arkansas, Central Washington, University of Maryland, and FIU.

[Troy Silva @TroyPSilva]

There's 1 often overlooked stat that says a ton about a hitter’s ability:

It's strikeout-to-walk ratio.
(Add HBP too) K-HBP/BB ratio.

There’s extreme value to a team when the coach can trust you to have consistent AB’s, take your walks, be tough and not move away from a HBP, and put the ball in play.

Wanna play more?
Wanna contribute more?
Wanna win more?
Want to hit better?

Improve your:
K to HBP/BB ratio.

#BaseballTruth

[Troy Silva @TroyPSilva]

Hitters:

Any time you go into a little funk, look at your swing decisions first…NOT your swing.

You can only be as good as the pitches you swing at, and your swing can’t save your pitch selection.

Great takes lead to better pitches to hit, and getting better pitches leads to better barrels.

#BaseballTruth

[𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕷𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖊𝖘𝖘™️ @CL4WS_OUT]

Teddy Roosevelt had it so right‼️‼️

In 1919, days before he died, Theodore Roosevelt wrote:

“If the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else… But this is predicated upon the person becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American.

There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all.

We have room for but one flag, the American flag…🇺🇸

We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language…

and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”

Equal rights. Undivided loyalty. That was the deal. 🔥🔥🔥

#American #TeddyRoosevelt #OneFlag #OneLanguage #OneLoyalty

[Troy Silva @TroyPSilva]

Recruiting 101:
You’re upset about not getting a hit?
But, Coach is impressed with your approach and ability to find barrel!
You’re angry that you rolled over?
But, Coach likes your speed and your hard 90!
You think 1 bad game ruined your future?
But, Coach loves your attitude, your hustle and the way you play!
YOU CAN STILL MAKE A HUGE IMPACT EVEN WITH BAD RESULTS!
A Coach’s perspective is usually way different than yours!
#BaseballTruth

[Troy Silva @TroyPSilva]

Hitting is hard.

You WILL get beat
You WILL fail a lot
You WILL slump
You WILL get frustrated

BUT…
Don’t lose confidence
Don’t get negative
Don’t get overly emotional
Don’t dwell on the past

BECAUSE…
You’re ALWAYS one great swing away from catching fire
You’re ALWAYS one blooper away from things going your way
You’re ALWAYS one seeing eye single away from a hit streak
You’re ALWAYS one hard barrel away from the hitter you know you can be

It’s hitting. it’s hard, its challenging, it’s not meant to be easy, it’s 9 on 1, it’s brutal at times, so hang in there, EVERYONE goes through tough times!

#BaseballTruth

[Coach the Coaches @WinningCoaches]

~ via @DanTudor

[Jamy Bechler @jamybechler]

A team's culture becomes stronger when a player reminds another player:

"𝙏𝙃𝘼𝙏'𝙎 𝙉𝙊𝙏 𝙃𝙊𝙒 𝙒𝙀 𝘿𝙊 𝙏𝙃𝙄𝙉𝙂𝙎 𝙃𝙀𝙍𝙀"

[Matt Lisle @CoachLisle]

Coaches’ wives are a different breed.

While the world watches us pace the dugout, they’re the ones holding everything else together.

My wife Jessica has packed up our family more times than I can count. Maryland. Oregon. South Carolina. Nevada. Missouri. Back to California.

Every move was a new house, a new school for the kids, a new community to build from scratch.

She’s the one running carpool, doctor visits, IEP meetings, and bedtime routines while I’m 2,000 miles away chasing the next game or recruit.

Coaches’ wives don’t get the press, the bonus checks, or the booster hugs. They get the moves, the long seasons, and the lonely first months in a new town. And they keep loving us anyway.

My name is the one on the press releases, the social media tags, and the trophies. But she is the real MVP. Every win I've ever had has her
fingerprints on it.

The moves, the long seasons, the lonely weekends, she carried it all while I got the credit.

Coaches' wives are a step above the rest. They have to be. I love you. Happy Mother’s Day. ❤️

[Coach the Coaches @WinningCoaches]

"Athletes who claim that they are dedicated and committed to their team, but at the same time, complain about their lack of playing time or talk negatively about teammates behind their back, may not be as dedicated & committed to their team as they think they are." -- Ralph Pim

[Jamy Bechler @jamybechler]

🔟Things ALL Athletes Can Do

𝙇ose the excuses
𝙀xcel in your role
𝘼lways be on time
𝘿isplay a good attitude
𝙀ncourage team members
𝙍emain committed & focused
𝙎upply effort & energy
𝙃elp & serve others
𝙄mprove & be coachable
𝙋repare to win

[Jamy Bechler @jamybechler]

Athletes who want to play and only have fun are "PARTICIPANTS"

Athletes who work hard in practice & games are "COMPETITORS"

Athletes who do what's right regardless of the situation are "CHAMPIONS"

[Matt Lisle @CoachLisle]

Players that let teammates slide, coast or cut corners are just as responsible for failure and losing as the they are.
STAND UP for SUCCESS!

[Jamy Bechler @jamybechler]

PLAYERS: Your coach shouldn't have to beg you to be unselfish, provide energy, have a good attitude, or give your best effort. Those are all things you can control. That is what a winning teammate brings to a team. Great teams have great teammates.

[Troy Silva @TroyPSilva]

It’s funny to me how “hitting coaches” complicate swing mechanics to try and sound more intelligent or more knowledgeable.
What’s even more funny is, the more mumbo jumbo that is used shows true incompetence of what real hitting is all about.

#BaseballTruth

[Matt Lisle @CoachLisle]

One thing great players have in common: They all sacrifice their free time to work at their passion.
Team practices only take you so far.

[Clint Hurdle @ClintHurdle13]

During one of the worst losing streaks of my career, our team president walked into my office.

Keli McGregor. One of the best men I've ever known.

He could have come to vent. To question my decisions. To ask hard questions.

Instead, he said: "Cut to the chase, Clint. What's next?"

I looked him in the eye and gave him two words: "Shower well."

The Colorado Rockies were struggling badly that year.

Pregame preparation was solid. Scout meetings, early work, attention to detail. All of it was there.

But at game time, the tires were flat.

I told Keli: the game did everything it could to us today. We just couldn't meet its demands.

Now it was time to reset.

"Shower well" means exactly this:
• Watch the frustration circle down the drain
• Shampoo, rinse, repeat and get the grime of today completely off your mind
• Walk out clean, go home, and actually rest

Leave it at the ballpark. The game is over. There's nothing left to solve tonight.

Keli nodded. Asked if he could share it with the whole organization.

I said sure. And then it hit me. This isn't just for baseball.

Bad day at the office. Grumpy boss. Missed deadline. Traffic on the way home.

You can carry all of that through your front door.

Or you can shower well.

I've never seen a single problem get better because someone dragged it home with them.

The reset is a discipline. Same as preparation. Same as showing up.

Either we win. Or we learn.

The only real loss? When you don't take a single thing out of a hard day.

So tonight, whatever kind of day it was, shower well.

Tomorrow is a new at-bat.

What does your reset look like? I'd love to hear it.

[Sadie @Sadie_NC]

This is how you represent your nation!!!
🇺🇸🥰🥰

[FIU Softball @FIUSoftball]

@CBrooksSports caught up with us for a 2026 Season Preview 📺

[FIU Softball @FIUSoftball]

we are SO back 😼

2026 FIU Softball Intro Video 🎥

[Jamy Bechler @jamybechler]

Be in the game even when you're not in the game.