The Outside The Chute Podcast

What a great one we have for you this week, as Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with Softball Canada CEO, the one and only, Mike Branchaud.

We get into some great chats about the state of ball here in Canada, the direction the Men’s National Team is headed, the Women’s Olympic Team, some WBSC topics and so much more.

This was such a great chat with Mike and we got to clear up a few things on here that have been some hot topics in the past.

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What an episode we have to kick off 2026, as we’re joined by one of the game’s most electric arms, its AUSL Cascade member and current US Women’s National Team member, the one and only, Kelly Maxwell. ️

Man, this episode has it all.

Kelly takes us back to where it all started, her journey through the college game at Oklahoma State and Oklahoma, and how those experiences shaped her into the pitcher she is today. We also dive into her move to the pro level in Japan, what she’s learned competing ...

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with co-author with her Dad, of the amazing book, “Recruiting Rules" and Oregon State University Freshman, the one and only, Amelia Struber.

What a fantastic chat this was as we got to hear Amelia tell us about how she got her start in the game, the ups and downs of the recruiting process, which in turn led to her and her father coming up with their awesome book, how things are going at Oregon State and so much more.

Amelia was such a pleasure to chat wit...

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with 2021 Rawlings Grand Slam Top Pitcher and 2022 Silver medalist at the Pan American Championships and WBSC World Cup with Team Canada, it’s the one and only, Zach Pierce.

This was such an awesome chat that Hopey and I had with Zippy, the guy is an absolute weapon.

We chat about getting his start in the game, playing a winter down in New Zealand, getting to represent the red and white at the 2022 World Cup, what the future holds and so much more.

Befor...

Outside The Chute sat down with unquestionably the most resilient person that we’ve ever had on the pod, its University of Georgia alum, the one and only, Kendall Burton.

Listen, what Keni has gone through in her lifetime so far is crazy. 23 surgeries prior to even getting to college is one thing, but then to have a stroke 6 days after her first college ball game is another.

You’re gonna find out how she had to learn to walk, speak and read again after the stroke but then manages to go out and...

Outside The Chute got get back one of the best to ever do it!

Recent inductee into the Softball Canada Hall of Fame and soon to be 2026 inductee into the ISC Hall of Fame, its good friend of the show, the one and only, Jeff Ellsworth.

We get to talk to Ellsy about the recent birth of his daughter Nylah, playing a big role in the foundation of the Whitecaps ladies program over on the Island, being apart of the great softball franchise that is the Hill United Chiefs, what’s in store down the roa...

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with one of our favorite guests ever, the one and only, Kamalani Dung.

So we last chatted with Kama back in 2021 and you could say she’s done a little of this and a little of that over the past 4 years. Actually, that’s an understatement, she has done a ton!

From walking the red carpet at the Grammy’s, to hitting homeruns in the Reggie Jackson Classic, she’s now making her pro comeback down in the Mexican League and we can’t wait to see her do her thing.
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Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with just an absolute star in our game, JMU alum and AUSL Bandits pitcher, the one and only, Odicci Alexander-Bennett.

Odicci first captured the hearts of fans across the country during her unforgettable run with James Madison University at the 2021 Women’s College World Series, where her dominance, passion, and pure love for the game made her a household name.

Since then, she’s continued to inspire — from her professional career and coaching, to being a ...

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with 2024 ISC Champion and 2022 WBSC World Cup Champ, Aussie native, the one and only, Josh McGovern.

This was such a great chat that Hopey and myself got to have with Josh. He took time after travelling over 40 hours to come on and chat with us from down in the Dominican where he was playing in the Legends Cup this past weekend, so we can’t thank him enough.

We had a great talk about how he got his start in the game, the role his family played in his dev...

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with , two time NJCAA D1 National Player of the Year at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M college, two-time All-Big 12 First Team selection with Oklahoma State University, and current pro over in the Netherlands with the Haarlem Sparks, it’s the one and only, Rylee Bayless.

Its funny, most of these interviews I do, especially on the women’s side of the game, I go in not knowing how the conversation is going to flow, you know, is it going to be tough getting a grea...

What an episode we have for you again this week as we’re going down under and chatting with, 2025 ISC All World Selection with the Bear Creek Express, 2023 University of Newcastle Sportsman of the Year and 2022 WBSC World Cup Champion with the Aussie Steelers, it’s the one and only, Callum Beashel.

Like I said, this was such a great episode. We talk to Cal about getting his start in the game, playing at the 2014 Junior Men’s World Championships here in Canada, that feeling of getting named to t...

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with 2023 All-Big 12 First Team selection, 2021 Big 12 All-Freshman Team selection and the only pitcher in NCAA history to capture 4 National Titles, Oklahoma Sooners alum, the one and only, Nicole May.

This was such a fun chat with Nicole. We talk about how she got her start in the game, her travel ball time, committing and going to OU, playing in the Netherlands this past summer, Pitching University and so much more.

Legit, one of the best chats I’ve ha...

Outside The Chute were lucky enough to sit down with one of the best pitchers to ever play our game, its ASA, ISC and USA Softball Hall of Famer, the one and only, Jimmy Moore.

In the words of Doug Roberts, Jimmy could “hit the dick off a hummingbird”, no word of a lie, he said that in his episode with us!

That just shows you how accurate and deadly he was off the mound during the 80’s and early 90’s.

We talk to Jimmy about getting his start in the game, which believe it or not, was at short ...

This week, Outside The Chute was excited to sit down with Olympian, World Championship medalist, and longtime member of the Canadian Women’s National Softball Team, the one and only, Natalie Wideman.

Nat has had an incredible career in the game, representing Canada on the biggest stages, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics where she helped capture bronze, along with 3 WBSC World Cup bronze medals as well. Off the field, she’s been an inspiration to young athletes everywhere with her passion, work...

Yes sir, we’re back and this one was a fun one for us. We do a summer recap covering the ISC’s, Senior Nats, U17 Nats, Canada Games, our Shooter’s League and so much more.

We’re happy to be back doing our weekly episodes, so buckle up and get ready for a wicked lineup going forward!

Outside The Chute sat down with one of the rising stars of Canadian softball, 2024 WBSC World Cup Bronze Medalist, Stoney Brook University alum and current member of the Canadian Women’s National Team, the one and only—Dawn Bodrug.

Dawn grew up in Georgetown, Ontario, where her passion for the game was sparked at an early age. Her journey took her south of the border to Indian River State College, where she made an immediate impact, before transferring to Stony Brook University and becoming one...

Outside The Chute have Blair and Kyle back again, as we recap the WBSC Men's World Cup that took place in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and then we take a dive into the ISC's as we preview the World Tournament coming to us from Mankato, Minnesota.

Outside The Chute sat down with our "Around the Horn" crew, Blair Setford and Kyle Smith, and we preview and give our prediction's for the 2025 WBSC Men's World Cup taking place in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.

This was a fun one! Make sure to check it out!

Outside The Chute had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with the Head Coach of the Canadian Men’s National Team, the one and only, John Stuart.

Stuey has done it all when it comes to coaching in our game. He captured the 2007 Canadian Senior Men’s National title with the Vancouver Grey Sox, won an ISC title last summer with the Hill United Chiefs and of course, who can forget that epic summer of 2015 where he led Team Canada to WBSC and Pan Am gold on home soil.

We talk to Stuey about ...

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with 2007 Canadian Senior Men's Nationals Champ and 2007 ISC World Champ. He is also a 2015 WBSC World Cup Champ and Pan Am Games Gold medalist and freshly named back onto the Canadian Men’s National Team, it’s the one and only, Kevin Schellenberg.

Man, obviously from what I rhymed off there, what a career Skates has had in this game and is still looking to add to that long list of accomplishments.

We talk to Kev about getting his start in the game back i...

What an episode we have for you this week. Not only is it the debut of our newest segment “Around the Horn” with Blair Setford and Kyle Smith, but Hopey and I had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with 12 year NHL veteran, 2018 NHL Coach of the Year with the Vegas Golden Knights and a 13-year member of the Summerside Twins Senior Men’s Team, it’s the one and only, Gerard Gallant.

Man, to say this was a special episode would be an understatement. Those who know me, know I’m a massive hoc...

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with University of Texas Alum, current Italian National Team Member and current member of the AUSL Bandits, it’s the one and only, Bella Dayton.

Bella had a remarkable college career, which started at Arizona with the Wildcats, before finishing up with the Longhorns in Texas where she was a 2 time Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team recipient and also named to the 2022 Women’s College World Series All-Tournament team. She was also named to the All-Worl...

Outside The Chute sat down with one of our favorites ever. She was a 2019 First Team All-American with the Arizona State Sun Devils, the 2023 WPF Offensive Player of the Year, as well as a back to back WPF Champ with the Texas Smoke, it’s the one and only, Morgan Howe.

Last time we chatted with Mo, she had just finished up her first year at AU and a lot has gone down since that talk 4 years ago. After one more season of AU, she moved on to the Vipers for a year before finding a home with the Sm...

Outside The Chute sat down and chatted with 5 time ISC All-World selection, the 2021 Leroy Zimmerman Most Outstanding Pitcher and 2015 WBSC World Cup Gold Medalist with Team Canada, the one and only, Devon McCullough.

We’re gonna talk to Devo about getting his start in the game in his hometown of Saskatoon, his crazy run at the Midget Nationals, which I still can’t get over, of course, his time with the National Team and that epic 2015 WBSC win on hometown soil and so much more.

Devo was an ab...