Wichita State junior pitcher Caleb Anderson talks about fall scrimmages and teammates to watch in the five-game fall series. We also talk about his journey from football punter who planned to play for Vanderbilt to college pitcher and how he kept a positive attitude during tough times.
Wichita State pitchers Nick Potter and James Umbarger give us a look into their first months at a new university and new baseball program. They talk about their roots in baseball and their journey to Wichita State. Both are former catchers, so we discuss how playing that position helps them on the mound. They reveal their best days fishing and Potter shares his story about the bass that escaped. Potter is a transfer from Crowder (Mo.) College. Umbarger is a freshman from Lansing High School.
Wichita State baseball coach Brian Green walks fans through some of the top newcomers, outfielder Jaden Gustafson’s strong summer and how the team’s style of play will look different in his second season. We talk about the return of Grant Adler and Jace Miner, both all-conference picks in 2023, and how those additions might shape the pitching rotation. We also discuss how the Wheat Shock Collective and NIL money helps build the roster in a sport with partial scholarships.
Wichita State freshman shortstop Kam Durnin stops by to talk about the Shockers on a five-game win streak as post-season play approaches. We discuss his background as a multi-sport athlete and how he became a kicker for his high school football team. He describes growing up in a family with two brothers close in age and how those competitions shaped his athletic career. We also talk about how a hand injury set him back in the fall and how he maintained a positive attitude when he returned in the spring. We wrap up by breaking down best singers, best dressers and hardest workers in the Shocker locker room.
Wichita State pitching coach Anthony Claggett joins the podcast to dive into a staff that is among the nation’s leaders in ERA and WHIP as the halfway point of the season approaches. We discuss how the coaches built trust during a time of transition and what the conversation in the dugout sounds like when a pitching change is under consideration. Claggett talks about how catchers work with umpires and frame pitches to help pitchers. We also discuss how Shockers such as Nate Adler and Caden Favors made significant progress from the previous season.
Wichita State outfielders Dayvin Johnson and Jaden Gustafson join the podcast to talk about their jersey numbers, walk-up songs and a Daffy Duck headband. We discuss last weekend’s competition in Jacksonville, Fla., and the comeback victory over No. 18 Iowa. We also discuss the coaching staff, favorite big-leaguers and the toughest pitchers faced. WSU’s home opener is 3 p.m. Friday against Utah Tech with games following Saturday and Sunday.
Wichita State pitcher Gavin Oswald and outfielder/first baseman Derek Williams met at age 8 playing baseball in the St. Louis area. They are reunited as newcomers with the Shockers. We talk about Oswald’s custom-made spikes, why he hates facing teammate Jaden Gustafson and how Oswald and Williams journeyed to Wichita State. Williams explains why he operates with such a positive attitude and Oswald describes what it’s like to play baseball for the Savannah Bananas.
Wichita State assistant coach Clay Overcash talks about why Oklahoma is such a strong baseball state and how the Shockers recruit Texas with increasing importance. We discuss his early impressions of the Shockers in fall workouts, his favorite catchers and why he decided to return to college coaching after talking with Brian Green.
Wichita State assistant baseball coach Anthony Miller talks about the retreat that put Shocker coaches on the same page with their teaching and strategies. We dive into the Kansas City baseball scene and why it’s a hotbed for colleges. Miller also discusses why he reunited with coach Brian Green, impressions of fall practices and why first baseman Ryan Callahan is a savvy hitter.
Wichita State pitching coach Anthony Claggett prepares fans for baseball practices with a look at the pitching staff, how returner Caden Favors is progressing and favorite big league pitchers. We talk about why he moved from an infielder to a pitcher during his college career and how his experiences in college, the minors and the majors shape his coaching.
