Spiked Heaters: A Between Innings Podcast
by Bryan Torresani
Spiked Heaters: A Between Innings Podcast is a weekly, in-season reflection on coaching, leadership, and the mental side of baseball. Recorded in real time, between games, this podcast isn’t about recaps or hot takes — it’s about decision-making, emotional regulation, standards, and perspective during a long season. Part therapy, part leadership journal, Spiked Heaters is an honest look at the space between preparation and performance, told from inside the dugout while it’s actually happening.
Episodes
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Mound Visit #9- Jonathan de Marte, Win Reality/Team Israel
What does it take to go from a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year to the Olympic stage? And what happens when the journey looks nothing like you imagined? This week on Spiked Heaters: A Between Innings Podcast, Torr welcomes former professional pitcher, Team Israel Olympian, and WIN Reality...
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Episode 25- Life Well Lived
How do we measure a life? By the number of years someone lived, or by the people they impacted along the way? This week, Torr remembers his former Elizabethtown College teammate and friend, Dan Lauletta, who passed away suddenly at just 39 years old. Reflecting on Dan's life, his services, and…
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Episode 24- Don't Wait 20 Years
Don't Wait 20 Years Why do we so often look back on the best moments of our lives and wish we'd appreciated them more while they were happening? On this solo episode of Spiked Heaters, Torr reflects on the end of fall baseball at DeSales, a memorable Fall World Series under the lights at Weiland...
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Mound Visit #8- Nick Weisheipl, Bharat Baseball
Mound Visit: Nick Weisheipl — From Cabrini to the World Stage What happens when the program you've built from the ground up suddenly comes to an end? And how do you turn that experience into the next opportunity? On this episode of Spiked Heaters, Torr welcomes longtime friend and fellow coach…
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Episode 23- It Takes What it Takes
What does success actually require—and what are you willing to give to achieve it? On this episode of Spiked Heaters, Torr reflects on Justin Verlander, sacrifice, ambition, and why there have been times in his own career when he knew what the next level required and decided the cost wasn't right...
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Episode 22- Past, Present, and Future
Building a program means living in the past, present, and future at the same time. On this episode of Spiked Heaters, Torr talks about settling back into the rhythm of fall ball, why coaching your best players can be one of the hardest parts of leadership, and why his best teams have always been...
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Episode 21- When You Don't Feel Like Yourself
It was a rough week. On this episode of Spiked Heaters, Torr reflects on not feeling quite like himself—and how that showed up in his leadership. From getting on the team after practice to avoiding another difficult conversation entirely, it's an honest look at emotion, self-awareness,...
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Episode 20: Old-School Standards, New-School Methods
Fall baseball is here. On this episode of Spiked Heaters, Torr reflects on the start of a new season at DeSales — freshman move-in, the first team meetings, new Smart Parks technology, and finally getting back on the field to coach. But the week also brought reminders of the bigger picture: a…
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Mound Visit #7- Mike LaRosa, HC West Chester University
On this Mound Visit episode of Spiked Heaters, Torr sits down with West Chester head coach Mike LaRosa following a 48-win season and run to the national championship series. The conversation dives into sustaining a winning culture, trusting and developing players, building a roster in the…
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Episode 19: Tradition ≠ Identity: Does Division III Need a New Blueprint?
This week on Spiked Heaters, Torr dives into a conversation that started with one tweet and quickly turned into a much bigger question: Does Division III need to modernize? He breaks down the ideas behind 5-for-5 eligibility, expanded competition, and athletic scholarships, while also addressing...
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Mound Visit 6: Mike Deegan, Denison University, Head Baseball Coach
Fresh off leading Denison to the 2026 Division III National Championship, Head Coach Mike Deegan joins Spiked Heaters for a conversation that goes far beyond baseball. We discuss building a championship culture, recruiting, leadership, player development, family, and why the best programs focus…
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Episode 18- Drafting Blueprints
This week on Spiked Heaters, Torr returns from a summer hiatus to share what has been happening behind the scenes at DeSales Baseball. At the center of the episode is the Bulldog Blueprint—an evolving framework for the program’s identity, systems, recruiting, player development, and daily...
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Episode 17- Life Doesn’t Pause
This week on Spiked Heaters, Torr returns after his first multi-week break from recording and reflects on a stretch where it feels like everything is moving at once. From recruiting transfers, running camps, and supporting players through real-life struggles off the field, to trying to stay...
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Episode 16- Alignment
This week on Spiked Heaters, Torr reflects on a trip to Pocono Raceway and the lesson that stood out most: great organizations are built on teamwork, precision, trust, and the understanding that everybody matters. From the pit crew to the crew chief to the driver, NASCAR reminded him just how…
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Mound Visit 5- From the Same Dugout
This week on Spiked Heaters, Torr is joined by three former assistants turned high-level coaches — Pat Brown at Wofford, Will Kaufman at Charlotte, and Kyle Lindsay at Ursinus — for a Mound Visit about growth, player development, recruiting, the transfer portal, and the truths that still travel…
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Episode 15- Uncomfortable Truths
This week on Spiked Heaters, Torr reflects on what really begins when a season ends: the evaluation process. Using excerpts from a monologue he gave the team called Uncomfortable Truths, he talks through the post-season system that helps him move from emotion to clarity — starting with gratitude,...
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Mound Visit #4- 2026 DeSales Bulldogs Seniors
This week on Spiked Heaters, Torr sits down with eight graduating seniors from DeSales Baseball for a special end-of-season Mound Visit. Together, they relive the moments that shaped a remarkable year — the Florida trip, bus rides, brotherhood, breakout performances, the Stevens comeback, and the...
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Episode 14- It Ends So Fast
This week on Spiked Heaters, Torr reflects on the abrupt ending to a special 2026 season after DeSales won its NCAA Regional opener against Ramapo before falling to Salve Regina and Ramapo on Saturday. It hurt, and it ended fast — but the final day doesn’t get to tell the whole story. In this...
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Episode 13- It Takes a Village
This week on Spiked Heaters, Torr reflects on DeSales winning the MAC Freedom championship and everything that went into getting there. From a stressful weather call on Saturday, to big-time performances from Jacob Rivera, Mike Hooker, Alex Crudder, and Kyle Hart, to the joy of watching the...
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Episode 12- Prepared, not Paralyzed
This week on Spiked Heaters, Torr reflects on an unforgettable semifinal series win over Stevens and the challenge of handling a week that felt heavy from the start. With playoff baseball, finals week, and the pressure of meaningful games all stacking at once, Torr talks about the fine line…
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Episode 11- Success Has Layers
This week on Spiked Heaters, Torr reflects on clinching first place, earning home field throughout the playoffs, and the reminder that success is bigger than the standings. With injuries testing the roster, a special senior dinner at Father Jim Greenfield’s residence, and the chance to celebrate...
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Episode 10- What Lasts
This week on Spiked Heaters, Torr reflects on a 20-year reunion with his 2006 Elizabethtown MAC championship team and the reminder that what lasts most in baseball isn’t always the result — it’s the relationships, the shared memories, and the way a group responds together. He also talks about...
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Mound Visit #3- Jay Quinn and Nicolas Debora, Baseball Island Foundation
This week on Mound Visit, Torr sits down with Jay Quinn and Nicolas Debora from the Baseball Island Foundation in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic. Torr has seen the mission firsthand, having taken his 2023 Arcadia team to Las Terrenas for an experiential trip and traveled on multiple global...
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Episode 9- Momentum ≠ Arrival
This week on Spiked Heaters, Torr reflects on a 4–0 week, a sweep over Misericordia, and the new challenge that comes with success: handling it the right way. With DeSales now sitting in first place and climbing the rankings, Torr talks about why momentum can’t be confused with arrival, and why…
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Episode 8- Temporary
This week on Spiked Heaters, Torr reflects on an emotional return to Arcadia—one of the most meaningful stops in his coaching journey—and what it taught him about growth, perspective, and moving forward. With a series win over a place that still means a lot to him, Torr opens up about the...
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Episode 7- Anchors
This week on Spiked Heaters, Torr reflects on a weekend that tested the program in different ways. After a tough Friday loss that exposed some inexperience and left him feeling like the staff got outcoached, Torr shares how the group stayed steady, responded well, and bounced back to win both…
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Episode 6- Handle it the Right Way
This week on Spiked Heaters, Torr reflects on a 4–0 week and a six-game winning streak, and the new challenge that comes with it—handling success the right way. As the season starts to take shape, Torr shares why consistency in preparation and mindset matters just as much when things are going…
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Mound Visit #2- Cole Fisher, University of Oregon
In this Mound Visit episode of Spiked Heaters, Bryan Torresani sits down with Cole Fisher following his recent visit with the DeSales Baseball program. Cole shares his journey after a life-changing spinal cord injury, the moment in the hospital that reset his perspective, and the daily mindset…
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Episode 5- Reset and Respond
This week on Spiked Heaters, Torr reflects on a challenging stretch in Florida and the leadership moments that followed. After two tough losses with very different feelings in the dugout, Torr shares how difficult conversations with key players helped reset the tone for the team. What followed…
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Episode 4- Work While You Wait
This week on Spiked Heaters, Torr reflects on a 2–1 series win over Widener and the importance of how a team responds after a loss. Early in the season, every weekend offers new information about a group, and this one was no different. Torr also shares some behind-the-scenes perspective on the...
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Episode 3- Different Ways to Win
This week felt a little loud — snow, scheduling shifts, and the early-season grind — but in the middle of it all, there was a lot to learn. In this episode of Spiked Heaters, Bryan Torresani reflects on a 3–1 weekend and what it means to find different ways to win early in the season. From…
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Mound Visit #1- Alex Madera, Chicago Cubs
In this first Mound Visit episode of Spiked Heaters, Bryan sits down with former player Alex Madera following his signing with the Chicago Cubs. Alex reflects on the parts of the journey that tested him most, what young players often misunderstand about long-term development, and the mindset that...
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Episode 2- Opportunities Everywhere
One game, but plenty of information. In Episode 2 of Spiked Heaters, Bryan reflects on using 20 players in an early-season learning phase, the impact of strong weekly preparation, and a calm extra-inning comeback after trailing in the ninth. A visit from former players also served as a reminder...
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Episode 1- The Game Has a Sense of Humor
Opening weekend is in the books — and with it comes a lot of information, perspective, and a reminder of how little control you really have once the games begin. In Episode 1 of Spiked Heaters, Bryan reflects on an 0–3 start, the balance between preparation and outcomes, and why “less is more”…
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Episode 0: Before It Counts
Recorded before opening day, Episode 0 sets the foundation for Spiked Heaters: A Between Innings Podcast. In this pilot episode, Bryan Torresani reflects on the space before the season begins — when standards are set, expectations are high, and nothing has been tested yet. This isn’t a recap show...
About this show
Spiked Heaters: A Between Innings Podcast is a weekly, in-season reflection on coaching, leadership, and the mental side of baseball. Recorded in real time, between games, this podcast isn’t about recaps or hot takes — it’s about decision-making, emotional regulation, standards, and perspective during a long season. Part therapy, part leadership journal, Spiked Heaters is an honest look at the space between preparation and performance, told from inside the dugout while it’s actually happening.
Hosted by
Bryan Torresani