The Step Up Podcast

Episode 9 - The Fundamentals of Baseball with Coach Darnell

In this episode, former Division 1 player, trainer, and coach Darnell Maisonet discusses the importance of fundamentals, working with Pottstown, and understanding that dreams can change. 
 
00:48 How did Coach Darnell get involved in travel ball?
01:57 Collaborating with the CS99TV team.
02:33 Becoming a content creator as a coach.
03:33 The transition into becoming a trainer. 
04:23 Favorite age group to coach.
05:31 Is little league a dying sport?
06:17 How do you teach focus to younger players?
07:42 Helping to mold younger players.
09:55 Growing as a trainer.
11:04 Specializing in teaching players how to hit.
11:55 Working with Pottstown. 
13:37 What is life like behind the camera?
14:30 Thoughts on coaching college baseball.
15:44 Learning the fundamentals of baseball.
17:16 What advice would you give Squez from CS99TV?
19:20 Greatest baseball memory.
20:50 Giving up on the dream of being a big leaguer. 
22:21 Nelly shares giving up baseball as a teen.
24:21 Understanding that dreams can change.
25:10 Playing Division 1 baseball.
27:15 Best advice you can give players coming up.
28:58 Watching the Pottstown team play.
 
Follow Nelly
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https://www.tiktok.com/@ftbnelly5?_t=8lw58Jck00U&_r=1
 
Follow Allie
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Follow Perfect Game
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https://www.tiktok.com/@perfectgame_usa?_t=8lwHVCf4Slf&_r=1
 
Follow Coach Darnell
https://www.instagram.com/coachdarnellmaisonet/?hl=en

Episode 8 - The Origin of CS99TV

In this episode, the CS99TV guys discuss how they met, some favorite moments on the road, and why enjoying the little things in baseball is important. The guys also discuss why it’s important to help young players on and off the field and give advice on navigating social media.
00:41 What do they call you?
01:33 When did you meet and start creating content?
03:00 Who is the mastermind behind CS99?
03:49 The story behind tennis baseball?
04:30 Squez talks about playing D3 baseball.
05:00 Squez talks about losing a foot race.
06:32 Adam talks about playing tennis.
08:07 Robs talks about playing travel ball. 
09:30 CS99 talks about how young players can succeed on and off the field.
10:05 Mohan talks about playing soccer.
11:50 Is baseball harder than it looks?
12:32 Enjoying the little things about baseball.
14:00 The brotherhood of baseball.
14:43 Squez playing hide and seek while on the road.
18:30 Rob talks about his favorite travel stories.
19:41 Mohan talks about traveling to Vegas.
21:20 The power of social media.
22:32 How did Pottstown start?
25:00 The origin of the CS99 name.
27:37 How tennis baseball blew up.
29:54 Advice for young players navigating social media.
32:45 The importance of the CS99 platform. 
33:50 Keeping track of former players.
40:50 CS99 longterm plans.
 
Follow Nelly
https://www.instagram.com/ftbnelly/
https://www.tiktok.com/@ftbnelly5?_t=8lw58Jck00U&_r=1
 
Follow Allie
https://www.instagram.com/alliehinkley?igsh=eXVkOXJ1aXBzNGho
 
Follow Perfect Game
https://www.perfectgame.org/
https://www.instagram.com/perfectgameusa?igsh=MW9mcnJsazJodmI1Zg==
https://www.tiktok.com/@perfectgame_usa?_t=8lwHVCf4Slf&_r=1
 
CS99TV
https://www.instagram.com/cs99tv/?hl=en
 
Danny Vazquez aka Squez
https://www.instagram.com/dannyvazquez2/
 
Adam Yu
https://www.instagram.com/adam.yu10s/
 
Mohan Jay Suri
https://www.instagram.com/msuri_22/
 
Produced by Home Team Sports, The Step Up & Perfect Game
 
 
 

Episode 7 - The Mentality of a Pitcher with Irv Carter IV

In this episode, we have right-hand pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays organization Irv Carter discussing why being confident at an early age helped him in his career and how he learned from his failures. Irv also talks about the biggest differences between high school and professional baseball and working hard in the offseason to become a better player.

Episode 6 - Baseball Needs Change with Dom Brown

In this episode, we have former Phillies outfielder All-Star and FTB coach Dom Brown discussing why baseball needs to change, the reason he shares his big league knowledge with the kids and the keys to playing baseball stress free. Dom also shares how he met Nelly and what it’s like being a father with children who play baseball. 
 
Follow Dom Brown:
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Follow Nelly:
https://www.instagram.com/ftbnelly/
https://www.tiktok.com/@ftbnelly5?_t=8lw58Jck00U&_r=1
 
Follow Allie:
https://www.instagram.com/alliehinkley?igsh=eXVkOXJ1aXBzNGho
 
Follow Perfect Game:
https://www.perfectgame.org/
https://www.instagram.com/perfectgameusa?igsh=MW9mcnJsazJodmI1Zg==
https://www.tiktok.com/@perfectgame_usa?_t=8lwHVCf4Slf&_r=1

Episode 5 - Mindset of a Top Baseball Prospect with Jackson Roper & Jalen Foxx

In this episode, we have top prospects Jackson Roper and Jalen Foxx discussing how they maintain a positive mindset on and off the field and how a bean ball led to Jackson and Jalen becoming friends. The guys also discuss why they committed to the University of Florida and South Carolina and the importance of family support. 
 
Follow Jackson Roper:
https://www.instagram.com/jacksonroperr/
 
Follow Jalen Foxx:
https://www.instagram.com/foxxjalen/
 
Follow Nelly:
https://www.instagram.com/ftbnelly/
https://www.tiktok.com/@ftbnelly5?_t=8lw58Jck00U&_r=1
 
Follow Allie:
https://www.instagram.com/alliehinkley?igsh=eXVkOXJ1aXBzNGho
 
Follow Perfect Game:
https://www.perfectgame.org/
https://www.instagram.com/perfectgameusa?igsh=MW9mcnJsazJodmI1Zg==
https://www.tiktok.com/@perfectgame_usa?_t=8lwHVCf4Slf&_r=1
00:48 Do you feel pressure to perform once you commit to a college?
04:46 What type of teammate are you?
05:30 College vs Pros.
08:11 Why I committed to the University of Florida and South Carolina.
09:51 How did Jalen and Jackson meet?
17:21 The right mindset for playing 100 games a year.
25:34 When did you start taking baseball seriously?
27:08 Importance of family support.
 
Produced by Home Team Sports, The Step Up & Perfect Game

Episode 4 - From the Dominican Republic to the Majors with Manuel Beltre Jr.

In this episode of The Step Up, Manuel Beltre Jr discusses what life was like coming from the Dominican Republic to play baseball in the United States. Manuel also shares why he had to work harder than American players, how it felt getting drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays and how he learned to speak English by watching Kevin Hart. 
 
Follow Manuel Beltre Jr.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C9VShS8P4xG/?hl=en
 
Follow Nelly:
https://www.instagram.com/ftbnelly/
https://www.tiktok.com/@ftbnelly5?_t=8lw58Jck00U&_r=1
 
Follow Allie:
https://www.instagram.com/alliehinkley?igsh=eXVkOXJ1aXBzNGho
 
Follow Perfect Game:
https://www.perfectgame.org/
https://www.instagram.com/perfectgameusa?igsh=MW9mcnJsazJodmI1Zg==
https://www.tiktok.com/@perfectgame_usa?_t=8lwHVCf4Slf&_r=1
 
Produced by Home Team Sports, The Step Up & Perfect Game
 

Episode 3 - No One Remembers Your Stats with Mo Vaughn

On this episode of The Step Up, we have Baseball legend Mo Vaughn discussing what it was like playing in the Northeast and the reason stats are not important when you’re a young player. Mo also talks about his life after a storied baseball career, what led him to start Vaughn Sports Academy, and how he feels coaching his son’s baseball team.

Episode 2 - Blake Cyr Goes Hollywood

On this episode of The Step Up Podcast, we have University of Miami infielder Blake Cyr in the building discussing the difference between travel ball and college, the importance of keeping up with his mental health as an athlete, and the steps he is taking to accomplish his goals this season.
 
Follow Nelly
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Follow Allie
https://www.instagram.com/alliehinkley?igsh=eXVkOXJ1aXBzNGho
Follow Perfect Game
https://www.perfectgame.org/
https://www.instagram.com/perfectgameusa?igsh=MW9mcnJsazJodmI1Zg==
https://www.tiktok.com/@perfectgame_usa?_t=8lwHVCf4Slf&_r=1
 
Highlights
00:01:07 - 00:02:07 - Blake Cyr Talks His Biggest Drive in Baseball
00:03:30 - 00:04:24 - Blake Cyr Says He Wants to Help the World 
00:05:44 - 00:06:48 - Blake Cyr Talks the Recruiting Process 
00:07:25 - 00:09:03 - Nelly Talks What Makes the Perfect Player 
00:10:54 - 00:12:30 - Blake Cyr Talks Meeting Nelly and Playing Summer Baseball
00:12:30 - 00:13:30 - Blake Talks the Difference Between Travel Ball and College 
00:13:47 - 00:14:45 - Blake Cyr Talks Playing for the University of Miami 
00:15:00 - 00:15:59 - Blake Cyr Talks Being a Student Athlete 
00:18:08 - 00:19:04 - Blake Cyr Says He Wants Greatness
00:19:50 - 00:21:19 - How Blake Cyr Got The Nickname Hollywood 
00:22:38 - 00:24:01 - Blake Cyr Talks Growing Up and Lessons Learned From Travel Ball 
00:30:41 - 00:32:11 - Blake Cyr Talks The Importance of Keeping Up with His Mental Health