August 14, 2023 • 12 mins
Coach chats with Hamden HS Baseball Coach Mike Dwyer
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
I'm the coach, George Demail.This podcast of the Saturday morning sports show
The Best of Oh by the Way, is brought to you by Flannagan Associates.
Ah Yes, Flannagan Associates. Myman Charlie Flannigan the number one best,
no question about it, hands down, the number one insurance man in
(00:20):
the country. He knows the answersto the questions before you even finished asking
him because he's been doing it forover thirty years. He's my man,
Charlie Flanning and he's now a memberof the World Insurance Group, which means
that you can find him now onthe web at world Insurance dot com.
That's World Insurance dot Com. Hisphone number two oh three, two three
(00:43):
nine five one seven one. Whynot give McCall and you know what he'll
do. You can get out andsee him at twelve Peck Street in North
Aven or give McCall and you knowwhat he'll do for you. He'll do
a free risk assessment of your currentplan. That's right. And I don't
one thing about Charlie Flanging and we'vebeen friends for many year. He doesn't
mince any words. He'll tell youright off the top. If your plan
(01:03):
is good, bad and what coverageyou need? That's right. It's a
free risk assessment. And you knowwhat he'll do out there. You go
see Challie Flanagan or you give hima call at two oh three two three
nine five one seven one, andI guarantee you after you're done there at
Flantagan Associates, you'll have better coverageat a lower price. You know what
I said, better coverage at alower price. My man Challie Flanagan and
(01:27):
doing it for over thirty years.He'll design a program that's best for you,
your family or even your business.Flannagan Associates again now part of the
World Insurance Group again. Check himout at World Insurance dot com or give
him a call two oh three twothree nine five one seven one, or
go see him at twelve Peck Streetin north Haven. The best insurance man
(01:49):
in the country, my man,the only insurance man Flannagan Associates, Pec
Street, North Haven. Is thebaseball coach at Hampton High School and my
man Mike Dwyarg Morning coach, Morning, how are you. I'm doing great?
I know, as I told theaudience, I always booked my guests,
which I have to an advance,So I don't know what's going to
(02:10):
happen the day before a game.I know yesterday you took it on the
chin with a good Lineman Hall team, uh, six to two. But
your record, Mike is a isa very lofty ten wins and five laws.
Is good for you? Congratulations?Yeah, I appreciate it. They
you know we did. We didplay a good line Hall team. It
(02:30):
is uh, you know, sometimesyou have it, sometimes you don't.
But ten and five you've already clinchedthe spot in the CIAC State tournament.
Is what is your record in terms? I don't have the counting games.
How are you looking for the conferencetournament? For the conference tournament? I
mean, we choose our own destinyright now. Really, yeah, we
(02:54):
need to keep on winning. Wehave we have five games last as you
know, and I just have touh lock in and know that big control.
Well. I know you'll you'll wantsome revenge on Monday when you play
Shelton because Shelton beat you down attheir place three to two earlier in the
year. Uh, and then yougot Branford on Wednesday, and then my
(03:16):
alma mater was Taven on Friday,whom you've already beat Beaten, Uh,
and I think you'd beat Branford aswell. So, Uh, you gotta
win those counting games, that's forsure. Uh be one of the top
eight teams for division winners and whatfor while cards, that's how they do
it. But it's been a greatyear. Uh coming into this season,
(03:38):
Mike, did you think it couldbe this good of a year for the
Green Dragons? I mean, Ialways say that, Like when I started
last year, people thought, youknow, around the staves there to a
bunch of people they think that itwould be a rebuilding here. I don't.
I don't like that term because Idon't know you're going into the season.
You don't want to think of rebuilding. You want to you want to
(03:59):
you want to do well that year. So you know, I didn't come
into this season thinking that we wouldn'tbe capable of doing this. I'm I'm
shocked as some of the results fromyou know, people in certain scenarios.
And it's a good thing because we'resuch a young team. We've had a
lot of good senior leaders and juniorleaders who have you know, helped this
team grow quickly. Man, howmany seniors on the team right now?
(04:21):
They're sick six Okay, all right, So if it's probably sounds like to
me when you'd say that, it'slike a combo kind of thing. Good
leadership, the young kids are playing, playing, will stepping up. I
mean, and I'll tell you rightnow, most of your wins got a
few shutouts along the way, one, two, four shutouts. Pitching has
(04:45):
been well to year. Yeah,so tell who are your pictures this year?
I mean, we have Aiden Jovia. I know, he's been phenomenal
on the mountain and he's been doingreally well to play as well. He's
kind of a dual threat guy.We have a freshman and right out it's
been phenomenal. You had to knowthat. Or last week for us,
yeah, against wilver Cross, andthen we have Matt Morera who's doing really
(05:08):
well on the mountain. Is youknow, it's just, uh, it's
a combination of everything. If everything'sgot to click all at one, and
I'm sure you know that you haveto get hot going into the state tournament
and we have five games left andI feel like that's plenty for guys to
find out, you know, ifthey if we have it or not.
We have to make sure that we'replaying our game, you know, going
(05:29):
into the state tournament. What isUh it's a good question, uh,
after you said that, what isHampden's game? Is there small ball involved
in Hampden's game? Our game thisyear is line drive baseball identity. We're
gonna have. We're gonna have.We're gonna have a pop the games that
we've won or the games we've comeback from, because it's in quite a
(05:53):
few based on mind drives like youdon't don't get don't drop your shoulder,
don't drop your hands, don't beoff balanced. We need to put the
ball hard and play and that's what'sbeen successful for us. And if we
fade away from it and don't makethe plays behind our pitching, we're gonna
have it. We're gonna have trouble. But I don't think that issues this
(06:13):
group of guys. These guys knowwhat we need to do. You know,
they see why we've lost games thatwe've lost, and they understand why
we've won. We won, andI just you know, I think that
they understand that and we'll be fine. Yeah, So you got pitching.
We've heard that already, and that'sa big part of the game. Obviously,
(06:33):
if you were concerned about the teamor certain aspects of it, would
it be on the offensive or defensiveside of the ball. You know,
defense is always key for me,you know, making sure because what happens
is, you know, I feelat the high school level, of somebody
makes an air in the field,they wear it more because it's you know,
(06:55):
it's more apparent, it's it's morein your face. They're on the
field, they're the ones created theair. It's kind of everybody's looking at
you type the deal. But guysare growing, and I feel like that
they should understand. Hey, airsdo happen whether you're play in the major
league, you're playing in the majorleague level, you're play in the college
level. Ears happened. You justgotta you gotta, I'm coming. You
cannot let it carry into the nextbitch. You not let it carry in
(07:17):
your next to that absolutely right.The offensively is where where teams get bit
and I just, uh, thesooner guys realize that they happen. As
long as you know, you learnedcomment and you don't let it carry into
the next one. You know you'regoing to be better off from it.
Oh, I agree, My coachWhitey Pure years ago. You used to
say, listen, guys, weknow we're gonna make eras along the way
(07:40):
of co mission. Don't make erasof oh mission. You know, don't
know where to throw the ball?Uh? And you used to say anticipation,
old old George, anticipation. Everybodywas on ah George, old Billy,
And I got no s you go, I know where if the wall
sit to me, where am Ithrowing the ball? Exactly? Figured out
(08:03):
before it every single time? Yeah, exactly. You gotta know what you're
gonna do with the ball before youget it, or you're in trouble.
Uh, So that that part works. Who's on your coaching staff, Mike?
Right now I have Nick Nick Clardy'sour pitching coach doing a phenomenal job.
Nick the Razzio got two Nicks,and he's our infield coach and map
(08:24):
undock. He kind of is anall round guy. He knows a lot
of stuff. Uh. Who callsthe pictures in the game, that is
coach Nick Clardy. Did you everquestion one of his calls? Always?
I mean, well, I'm justasking I like that, you know,
are you sure you pitch? Now? Now you're calling that what you're telling
(08:46):
him a curveball. He hasn't touchedthe fastball. You get him hanging curveball
on the ball. The boy.You know what I'm saying. Absolutely not
not so much the pictures like sometimesit's like, okay, who we who
were using when we're using him?Like he's he's even more than I am.
But what will you do? Is? I mean, you have to
have that dynamic amongst coaches. Youhave to be talked to one another and
(09:07):
challenge one another and and and andbe able to talk about it and be
fine fine talking afterwards or otherwise you'renot going to learn either. The coach's
staff has to grow and develop andlearn just as much as the players do.
Mike, don't get him too muchcredit place, don't get him talk,
don't get him time here yet,don't get too much probable. I'm
not even listening. You're the you'rethe head Hount show. And I was
(09:31):
an assistant coach, so I knowwhat that's like. And my big thing
was after the game, see seethe guy with there, see the young
man over that, he's the headcoach. Girl, talk to him,
let him answer, Let let himanswer all the questions. As to why
I did this or that, Oh, whatever, I understand. So this
week Shelton Branford Westaven, you havea non league game with Brian McMahon.
(09:52):
No, that's that SCCFC Act challengethat al Carbone started, right, and
then you wind up the season withXavier at home. Go you you have
the you make a trip to Branford. But last year games are all at
home. How about that the firsthalf of the season there, first three
(10:13):
quarters of the season been mostly away. So nice, he'll be nice,
for sure. And you got thatnice field over there and everything. Tommy
like Mike di or the athletic director, so he'll he'll be he's always on
a good guy. It's nice,you know, Mike. It's it's good.
There's your second year there, right, Yes, second year there and
you know ten and five God handonrolling, uh, which is great,
(10:37):
And I feel good for you infor Hampdon love the Hampden people and give
one shout out. You don't mind. You do what you gotta do.
Senior captain too. Uh. Youknow you can't. You can't can't take
full credit, you know. Ialways I always tell my coach staff that
the players win and then the coachestake the losses, but the two teenior
captains has done a great job.We've had a you know, we had
(10:58):
an early early preseason this year.We were weightlifting for six months. They
drove that. You got Cardona,our seamior third baseman who's hitting four sixty's
five seventeen. He's he's leading theoffensive charge right now. Set him up
to the Yankees. They need help. Go ahead. I know, Hey,
I heard that. You think Iwanted to hear that this morning?
(11:18):
What he called me? You thinkyou think I heard would give it?
I don't want to, Oh God, but you know, I know.
Sorry, they are doing a greatjob, and I know this team what
they're capable of, and I don'tthink there's been any issues. And who's
your brother? You have another captain? Yep, Bryan Catalla. He's like
(11:41):
he's been good this year. Imean he just test to uh, he
just does Uh. He's a rawrock guy. The guys get up behind
him. He's one of those typesin I couldn't be more happy with those
two guys. So I'll tell youwhat. Seems like things are going pretty
well for they have then Green Dragonsagain three games this week and they looked
to. They're already in the statetournament. Want to make the conference tournament
(12:03):
and that would be great. Mikealways, thanks for giving us a few
moments this morning and say load allthe guys and Tommy Dyer and my favorite
secretary, one of my should bettersay not better not say my favorite one
of my favorite administrative assistants, MaryBeth Beth Chapman over there, she's the
best. She is. Did well. I gotta said, one of the
best. Absolutely, I talked toso many of them, I gotta say
(12:26):
they're all the best. Anyway,Uh, continue success. We'll talk to
you down the road. Absolutely,thanks for having me on
I'm the coach, George Demail.This podcast of the Saturday morning sports show
The Best of Oh by the Way, is brought to you by Flannagan Associates.
Ah Yes, Flannagan Associates. Myman Charlie Flannigan the number one best,
no question about it, hands down, the number one insurance man in
(00:20):
the country. He knows the answersto the questions before you even finished asking
him because he's been doing it forover thirty years. He's my man,
Charlie Flanning and he's now a memberof the World Insurance Group, which means
that you can find him now onthe web at world Insurance dot com.
That's World Insurance dot Com. Hisphone number two oh three, two three
(00:43):
nine five one seven one. Whynot give McCall and you know what he'll
do. You can get out andsee him at twelve Peck Street in North
Aven or give McCall and you knowwhat he'll do for you. He'll do
a free risk assessment of your currentplan. That's right. And I don't
one thing about Charlie Flanging and we'vebeen friends for many year. He doesn't
mince any words. He'll tell youright off the top. If your plan
(01:03):
is good, bad and what coverageyou need? That's right. It's a
free risk assessment. And you knowwhat he'll do out there. You go
see Challie Flanagan or you give hima call at two oh three two three
nine five one seven one, andI guarantee you after you're done there at
Flantagan Associates, you'll have better coverageat a lower price. You know what
I said, better coverage at alower price. My man Challie Flanagan and
(01:27):
doing it for over thirty years.He'll design a program that's best for you,
your family or even your business.Flannagan Associates again now part of the
World Insurance Group again. Check himout at World Insurance dot com or give
him a call two oh three twothree nine five one seven one, or
go see him at twelve Peck Streetin north Haven. The best insurance man
(01:49):
in the country, my man,the only insurance man Flannagan Associates, Pec
Street, North Haven. Is thebaseball coach at Hampton High School and my
man Mike Dwyarg Morning coach, Morning, how are you. I'm doing great?
I know, as I told theaudience, I always booked my guests,
which I have to an advance,So I don't know what's going to
(02:10):
happen the day before a game.I know yesterday you took it on the
chin with a good Lineman Hall team, uh, six to two. But
your record, Mike is a isa very lofty ten wins and five laws.
Is good for you? Congratulations?Yeah, I appreciate it. They
you know we did. We didplay a good line Hall team. It
(02:30):
is uh, you know, sometimesyou have it, sometimes you don't.
But ten and five you've already clinchedthe spot in the CIAC State tournament.
Is what is your record in terms? I don't have the counting games.
How are you looking for the conferencetournament? For the conference tournament? I
mean, we choose our own destinyright now. Really, yeah, we
(02:54):
need to keep on winning. Wehave we have five games last as you
know, and I just have touh lock in and know that big control.
Well. I know you'll you'll wantsome revenge on Monday when you play
Shelton because Shelton beat you down attheir place three to two earlier in the
year. Uh, and then yougot Branford on Wednesday, and then my
(03:16):
alma mater was Taven on Friday,whom you've already beat Beaten, Uh,
and I think you'd beat Branford aswell. So, Uh, you gotta
win those counting games, that's forsure. Uh be one of the top
eight teams for division winners and whatfor while cards, that's how they do
it. But it's been a greatyear. Uh coming into this season,
(03:38):
Mike, did you think it couldbe this good of a year for the
Green Dragons? I mean, Ialways say that, Like when I started
last year, people thought, youknow, around the staves there to a
bunch of people they think that itwould be a rebuilding here. I don't.
I don't like that term because Idon't know you're going into the season.
You don't want to think of rebuilding. You want to you want to
(03:59):
you want to do well that year. So you know, I didn't come
into this season thinking that we wouldn'tbe capable of doing this. I'm I'm
shocked as some of the results fromyou know, people in certain scenarios.
And it's a good thing because we'resuch a young team. We've had a
lot of good senior leaders and juniorleaders who have you know, helped this
team grow quickly. Man, howmany seniors on the team right now?
(04:21):
They're sick six Okay, all right, So if it's probably sounds like to
me when you'd say that, it'slike a combo kind of thing. Good
leadership, the young kids are playing, playing, will stepping up. I
mean, and I'll tell you rightnow, most of your wins got a
few shutouts along the way, one, two, four shutouts. Pitching has
(04:45):
been well to year. Yeah,so tell who are your pictures this year?
I mean, we have Aiden Jovia. I know, he's been phenomenal
on the mountain and he's been doingreally well to play as well. He's
kind of a dual threat guy.We have a freshman and right out it's
been phenomenal. You had to knowthat. Or last week for us,
yeah, against wilver Cross, andthen we have Matt Morera who's doing really
(05:08):
well on the mountain. Is youknow, it's just, uh, it's
a combination of everything. If everything'sgot to click all at one, and
I'm sure you know that you haveto get hot going into the state tournament
and we have five games left andI feel like that's plenty for guys to
find out, you know, ifthey if we have it or not.
We have to make sure that we'replaying our game, you know, going
(05:29):
into the state tournament. What isUh it's a good question, uh,
after you said that, what isHampden's game? Is there small ball involved
in Hampden's game? Our game thisyear is line drive baseball identity. We're
gonna have. We're gonna have.We're gonna have a pop the games that
we've won or the games we've comeback from, because it's in quite a
(05:53):
few based on mind drives like youdon't don't get don't drop your shoulder,
don't drop your hands, don't beoff balanced. We need to put the
ball hard and play and that's what'sbeen successful for us. And if we
fade away from it and don't makethe plays behind our pitching, we're gonna
have it. We're gonna have trouble. But I don't think that issues this
(06:13):
group of guys. These guys knowwhat we need to do. You know,
they see why we've lost games thatwe've lost, and they understand why
we've won. We won, andI just you know, I think that
they understand that and we'll be fine. Yeah, So you got pitching.
We've heard that already, and that'sa big part of the game. Obviously,
(06:33):
if you were concerned about the teamor certain aspects of it, would
it be on the offensive or defensiveside of the ball. You know,
defense is always key for me,you know, making sure because what happens
is, you know, I feelat the high school level, of somebody
makes an air in the field,they wear it more because it's you know,
(06:55):
it's more apparent, it's it's morein your face. They're on the
field, they're the ones created theair. It's kind of everybody's looking at
you type the deal. But guysare growing, and I feel like that
they should understand. Hey, airsdo happen whether you're play in the major
league, you're playing in the majorleague level, you're play in the college
level. Ears happened. You justgotta you gotta, I'm coming. You
cannot let it carry into the nextbitch. You not let it carry in
(07:17):
your next to that absolutely right.The offensively is where where teams get bit
and I just, uh, thesooner guys realize that they happen. As
long as you know, you learnedcomment and you don't let it carry into
the next one. You know you'regoing to be better off from it.
Oh, I agree, My coachWhitey Pure years ago. You used to
say, listen, guys, weknow we're gonna make eras along the way
(07:40):
of co mission. Don't make erasof oh mission. You know, don't
know where to throw the ball?Uh? And you used to say anticipation,
old old George, anticipation. Everybodywas on ah George, old Billy,
And I got no s you go, I know where if the wall
sit to me, where am Ithrowing the ball? Exactly? Figured out
(08:03):
before it every single time? Yeah, exactly. You gotta know what you're
gonna do with the ball before youget it, or you're in trouble.
Uh, So that that part works. Who's on your coaching staff, Mike?
Right now I have Nick Nick Clardy'sour pitching coach doing a phenomenal job.
Nick the Razzio got two Nicks,and he's our infield coach and map
(08:24):
undock. He kind of is anall round guy. He knows a lot
of stuff. Uh. Who callsthe pictures in the game, that is
coach Nick Clardy. Did you everquestion one of his calls? Always?
I mean, well, I'm justasking I like that, you know,
are you sure you pitch? Now? Now you're calling that what you're telling
(08:46):
him a curveball. He hasn't touchedthe fastball. You get him hanging curveball
on the ball. The boy.You know what I'm saying. Absolutely not
not so much the pictures like sometimesit's like, okay, who we who
were using when we're using him?Like he's he's even more than I am.
But what will you do? Is? I mean, you have to
have that dynamic amongst coaches. Youhave to be talked to one another and
(09:07):
challenge one another and and and andbe able to talk about it and be
fine fine talking afterwards or otherwise you'renot going to learn either. The coach's
staff has to grow and develop andlearn just as much as the players do.
Mike, don't get him too muchcredit place, don't get him talk,
don't get him time here yet,don't get too much probable. I'm
not even listening. You're the you'rethe head Hount show. And I was
(09:31):
an assistant coach, so I knowwhat that's like. And my big thing
was after the game, see seethe guy with there, see the young
man over that, he's the headcoach. Girl, talk to him,
let him answer, Let let himanswer all the questions. As to why
I did this or that, Oh, whatever, I understand. So this
week Shelton Branford Westaven, you havea non league game with Brian McMahon.
(09:52):
No, that's that SCCFC Act challengethat al Carbone started, right, and
then you wind up the season withXavier at home. Go you you have
the you make a trip to Branford. But last year games are all at
home. How about that the firsthalf of the season there, first three
(10:13):
quarters of the season been mostly away. So nice, he'll be nice,
for sure. And you got thatnice field over there and everything. Tommy
like Mike di or the athletic director, so he'll he'll be he's always on
a good guy. It's nice,you know, Mike. It's it's good.
There's your second year there, right, Yes, second year there and
you know ten and five God handonrolling, uh, which is great,
(10:37):
And I feel good for you infor Hampdon love the Hampden people and give
one shout out. You don't mind. You do what you gotta do.
Senior captain too. Uh. Youknow you can't. You can't can't take
full credit, you know. Ialways I always tell my coach staff that
the players win and then the coachestake the losses, but the two teenior
captains has done a great job.We've had a you know, we had
(10:58):
an early early preseason this year.We were weightlifting for six months. They
drove that. You got Cardona,our seamior third baseman who's hitting four sixty's
five seventeen. He's he's leading theoffensive charge right now. Set him up
to the Yankees. They need help. Go ahead. I know, Hey,
I heard that. You think Iwanted to hear that this morning?
(11:18):
What he called me? You thinkyou think I heard would give it?
I don't want to, Oh God, but you know, I know.
Sorry, they are doing a greatjob, and I know this team what
they're capable of, and I don'tthink there's been any issues. And who's
your brother? You have another captain? Yep, Bryan Catalla. He's like
(11:41):
he's been good this year. Imean he just test to uh, he
just does Uh. He's a rawrock guy. The guys get up behind
him. He's one of those typesin I couldn't be more happy with those
two guys. So I'll tell youwhat. Seems like things are going pretty
well for they have then Green Dragonsagain three games this week and they looked
to. They're already in the statetournament. Want to make the conference tournament
(12:03):
and that would be great. Mikealways, thanks for giving us a few
moments this morning and say load allthe guys and Tommy Dyer and my favorite
secretary, one of my should bettersay not better not say my favorite one
of my favorite administrative assistants, MaryBeth Beth Chapman over there, she's the
best. She is. Did well. I gotta said, one of the
best. Absolutely, I talked toso many of them, I gotta say
(12:26):
they're all the best. Anyway,Uh, continue success. We'll talk to
you down the road. Absolutely,thanks for having me on
Popular Podcasts
Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
Welcome to Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club — the podcast where great stories, bold women, and irresistible conversations collide! Hosted by award-winning journalist Danielle Robay, each week new episodes balance thoughtful literary insight with the fervor of buzzy book trends, pop culture and more. Bookmarked brings together celebrities, tastemakers, influencers and authors from Reese's Book Club and beyond to share stories that transcend the page. Pull up a chair. You’re not just listening — you’re part of the conversation.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com