July 30, 2024 • 36 mins
In this episode of the Ohio Storm Coaches Corner, host Scott Veno sits down with Angela Seders, a former head coach at Malone College and current Ohio Storm travel coach. Angela shares her unique journey from starting softball in fifth grade to coaching at the collegiate level, all while balancing a career in education. She offers insightful perspectives on the evolution of the sport, the impact of modern technology on recruiting, and the importance of fostering a team-centric mindset in young athletes.
Angela discusses her personal experiences, including the challenges she faced as a first-generation college student and the invaluable lessons learned through sports. She also touches on the changes in fast-pitch softball over the years, the rise of travel ball, and the effects of the transfer portal on collegiate sports. Finally, Angela provides advice for parents and players navigating the world of softball today, emphasizing the significance of teamwork, leadership, and maintaining a balanced perspective.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:45):
Hello, everyone, and thank you for joining in for another episode of the Ohio Storm Coaches Corner.
This is Scott Bino of Ohio Storm, and today we are joined by former Malone College
head coach and current travel ball coach, Angela Cedars.
Welcome, Angela. Thanks for joining.
Glad to be here. Yeah, thank you. So, you know, we've, with the Coach's Corner,
(01:07):
we've, you know, had an opportunity to spend some time with different folks
in the industry, whether it's players, coaches,
former college players, all that kind of stuff.
And the experiences are awesome. Stories are awesome.
And the insight is, is awesome.
Awesome. And so knowing a little bit about you and your background,
(01:28):
we think that you have plenty of stuff to offer as far as just insight from
your experiences in the softball world.
And we'd just love to hear about it. So anyhow, once again, thanks for joining.
And just to kick this thing off, we'd like to say, tell us a little bit about
(01:50):
yourself, a little bit about your softball experience,
what you're doing in softball in regards to the softball world today.
And just give us some insight there about yourself. yourself?
So, yeah, it's kind of a funny journey for me.
You know, it doesn't follow the traditional path.
(02:13):
So most people, when they meet me, kind of have one assumption of how this all went.
And it's a little bit actually different once you hear the story.
So now as a grown adult, my actual career is in education.
So I was a teacher for 13 years in the classroom and I've spent the past 10
as a building principal.
(02:34):
I've done elementary buildings and I'm actually now the principal at one of
our middle schools. Okay.
So my journey began in elementary school. I actually didn't start playing softball
till fifth grade, which now we would consider really late, right?
Back then, back then was kind of the norm.
Just started playing in a local, you know, rec league. Grew up here in Stark
(02:56):
County, went to Perry High School.
So Perry, you know, rec leagues in the summer.
Just took to it. Really liked it. Had fun. I remember, you know,
I had some dads from other players that were coaching me and they would tell
my mom, oh, she's really good.
She's really good. You know, she's got a lot of natural talent.
But the funny part about my journey is, so I was actually raised by a single mom.
(03:19):
So playing softball was really tough for us because I didn't have a mom that
could actually always get me to practices and do those sorts of things.
So on a whim, a guy who was starting a travel ball team had come out to some of our practices.
And he came up to me afterwards and my mom and said he wanted me to play on this travel team.
(03:44):
And which was near impossible for us, right?
My mom worked a afternoon shift in a factory. We weren't going to be able to
travel, you know, on weekends and that type of stuff.
And this guy, I, he was a professor at the University of Akron.
He's like, look, I'll get her wherever she needs to be. Just let her play with us.
(04:04):
So that's how travel ball started for me. So this guy that we like didn't even
know who was starting this travel ball team was called the All Ohio Impact.
He was a professor at the University of Akron, but he lived in Canton, Ohio.
And so my mom or my grandma would literally drop me off at his house on the weekends.
(04:25):
And I would travel with their family So, you know had it not been for this family
I don't know if I ever would have gotten into the whole travel ball experience.
That happened right before high school for me, which then kind of catapulted
into my playing at Perry.
I had a pretty unique experience at Perry as well. So Perry,
as most of you from this area know, has a long, historical, prideful tradition with softball.
(04:53):
My senior year in high school, which I'm going to date myself, it was 1997.
We made a run at States that year, so we finished in eighth.
I graduated with six seniors, and all six of us went to play on in college.
So, yeah, it was a pretty unique experience for us.
Again, even through the recruiting experience for me was kind of not normal, right?
(05:18):
So, I'm first generation college. Nobody else in my family has been to college.
So, the thought of going to college was kind of not really on our radar,
let alone playing a sport in college. Sure.
So you were probably, you know, how do I even figure out what to do?
(05:39):
What are the things that I need to do to prepare?
And all the things that come with going to college, I'm guessing you just don't
even know what the process is, right?
Because just first time, no one else in the family.
And I can relate to this. This is why I say that because I'm familiar with how
(06:00):
that is and see what direction do you go and who can help you, right?
Correct. So once again, playing travel ball.
And so we used to play indoor ball in gymnasiums with rubberized indoor softballs.
That was our version of a winter ball.
And so we were playing up in some gyms in the Brecksville area.
(06:24):
And there was a couple of college coaches up there. And afterwards,
the coach from Malone University came up and was talking with me.
So then she makes a phone call to my mom about arranging a visit.
And again, this is just uncharted territory for us.
So I remember my mom driving me. You know, we go, we take this visit and we
(06:48):
leave and we're just like, like, what, what are we doing?
You know, and tuition at the time is outrageous.
You know, we don't know how much money they're going to be offering,
if they're going to offer money. what any of this looks like.
So from that point, then I did start getting other looks from other schools.
(07:10):
We went on a couple other visits. I remember visiting the university,
or I'm sorry, Youngstown State.
And the coach flat out saying to me, hey, I think you're great.
And if you want to be a pinch runner, come here for four years. Oh my goodness. Okay.
Well, I mean, it's the, you know, I'm five foot two. I was quick.
(07:30):
I was going to be a pinch runner if I played at that level, you know?
So, you know, the coach from Malone was just awesome.
Answered questions, you know, kind of walked us through the process.
Had it not been for her, I don't know if we would have been able to navigate that.
So it just felt right. It seemed like there was a relationship there of this woman actually caring.
(07:55):
You know, she was very upfront from the beginning about what the potential was
for playing there versus going to a bigger school for me where it would be maybe
not as much playing time.
And it just felt like the right fit. So we went ahead and got it all together
and did the process and got admitted and ended up having a experience playing
(08:20):
in college that is just like no other experience.
Tell us why that is. Why you would say that?
So, you know, for me, a kid who, you know, didn't even think college was attainable.
Now I'm in college, right? I'm going to have a degree.
I'm playing the game I love. I'm playing. I'm on the field.
(08:43):
You know, you room with your teammates. nights. It's a family atmosphere.
You know, you're on your own, but you're not on your own. The first time I flew
on a plane was to go play in Florida.
So, you know, I mean, it's just those experiences for me, you know, we laugh and joke.
My family, I didn't, wasn't raised, we didn't go on family vacations.
(09:05):
So every state I've been to has been for a softball tournament.
Oh, that's interesting.
There are some families, they get to do vacations and all that kind of stuff,
and that might not mean much.
But in your instance, I'm guessing that was a big deal.
That was maybe even partially a vacation, right, of getting out of the state.
(09:29):
That's what your family did instead of, I guess, the vacation.
So, yeah, it was just an amazing experience. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
You get to play the game you love. You get to learn. When you're playing a sport
in college, you don't know it at the time, but you are learning a skill set
that is valuable to you in life moving forward.
(09:52):
Time management, performance under pressure, you know, work ethic,
dedication, teamwork, collaboration.
I mean, I could just go on and on and on. And it's funny now,
you know, being on the employer side when I am hiring.
So when we're hiring teachers or office staff, you know, when we see that people that played sports,
(10:16):
you know, or even sometimes played at a higher level, we know that they're coming
to us with a different caliber, usually, of dedication and work ethic.
That's very good insight, especially for those that are looking for,
you know, that are the applicant and something that they,
you know, that they can lean into as far as, you know, those that have played
(10:38):
and that kind of thing at a higher level.
So I graduated in 2001 from Malone and landed my first teaching job.
And then obviously because I was going to coach their JV softball team,
you know, so it's a foot in the door.
Into education and you know
unfortunately but fortunately that never
(10:59):
came to fruition because a few months into my
first year teaching malone actually called me and offered me a grad assistant
position so i was able to teach still but also help out with their softball
program and then get my master's degree in exchange so that was an invaluable
experience now you know a program that
(11:21):
was near and dear to my heart, that I had a fantastic experience.
I'm giving back coaching, but I'm also obtaining my master's degree in exchange.
And so these are just experiences that, you know, I was just somehow blessed
with because not everybody is blessed with those experiences.
And, you know, again, just from there, it just kind of evolved.
(11:42):
So I finished my master's. I stayed on then as a paid assistant and did that for two seasons.
And then the head coaching job came available and the athletic director asked me to apply for it.
So my husband and I were married at the time, but we did not have Abigail yet.
(12:03):
So we talked it over and said, why not? We're young, let's try it.
So I applied and was given the position.
And it's funny because we had a lot of conversation at that point in time.
Malone was still small and Malone was actually NAIA at the time.
Can you speak to that just briefly as to, you know, most folks may understand
(12:25):
the differences, but can you give just a few things about NAIA versus,
you know, currently their division two?
Yeah, so NAI, well, at this point in time, had its own conference here in the
Ohio, West Virginia area.
A lot of those schools have since left and gone to Division II to the GLIAC conference.
(12:51):
So NAI's recruiting rules are a little bit more lax.
They don't follow quite the stringent timelines as NCAA does in Division I or II.
Do but they are off able to offer
academic scholarships so there is
that added bonus which sometimes gives them a
leg up on the d3s in a sense and but
(13:14):
they still have a governing body still have guidelines still have rules so all
you know you still have to be academically eligible all those other pieces and
parts are very similar so i was able to coach at malone and I was still actually
teaching here in Canton for about four years.
And it was crazy. It was crazy times.
(13:36):
I was sleeping in my office at Malone sometimes because we get back late from
games and I have to go teach fourth grade in the morning.
And, but it was, it was a lot of fun. And again, just experiences that,
you know, I will never get back.
And so between playing and coaching there, I had like a, you know,
(13:57):
12-year period where I was just immersed in the program.
Awesome. We love hearing the stories about, you know, going into and having
the opportunity to play at the collegiate level.
And that's special. No matter, you know, what school, what division, it's special.
And to take it from there and go another step further and coach at that level
(14:23):
is even more impressive.
And so we love hearing about those stories.
Tell us what you feel is different today regarding fast-pitch softball in general.
And it could be anything that you think is different now than what,
(14:44):
you know, maybe when you played or when you coached at the collegiate level, things of that nature.
Yeah. So, you know, it's funny because there's a small time gap there for me.
So, you know, I actually, I resigned at Malone when it was time for us to start
a family. Anybody who's coached at that level knows the time commitment and
the travel, you know, it's usually just not conducive to having little ones.
(15:09):
So then I actually had about an eight-year gap where I wasn't really around
the game at all, in a sense.
And then, as you know, 8U Coach Pitch, my daughter signs up for here locally.
And for about a season, I sat in the stands and I was like, OK,
guess what? We're going to get back into coaching here.
(15:30):
And so it kind of has evolved from there and then when it
was time to start considering travel for her it was
kind of a shock to see how much the sport
has grown on one hand but also to the sheer volume of travel that is now around
and so it's interesting because like i said so when i when i'm dating myself
(15:54):
but when i played there might have been a handful of teams in the in the state right Right.
And now we have handfuls of teams and counties.
And so really, in some aspects, travel has replaced a lot of rec ball.
But then you still have some really good travel organizations out there as well.
And so it's really now, I think, become difficult for parents to navigate that,
(16:18):
especially if they don't know.
So if you know nothing about this world and you just are like,
oh, I want my kid needs to play a little bit higher level than,
you know, our local rec team.
And you, let's say, get on Facebook or Twitter and try to find,
you know, travel balls in your area. It can be overwhelming.
(16:40):
Right. Absolutely. And I don't think if you don't know what you're looking for
or what certain organizations have to offer or the differences between various tournaments,
etc., it can be very difficult to navigate those waters.
And travel ball is very expensive. So families are making a monetary and a time
(17:02):
commitment when they do that.
So I think that's one of the big things is now coaching travel is you want kids
and families to have a quality experience.
I mean, everybody's making a commitment to this in your family when you decide to do this.
Right. What do you think is different about the collegiate softball today versus
(17:24):
when you coached? You know, so like I said, so Malone has since transitioned to Division II.
I think that you're seeing, obviously, I think everybody's seeing the effects of the portal, right?
And I think that portal piece has way more bearing on just everything society-wise than we can imagine.
(17:45):
So the portal has now really become what has happened kind of in travel ball
over the years. If we're not happy, we go somewhere else.
And that's what's actually happening now with the transfer portal.
And it's become very easy for kids to transfer and pick up with no penalties.
So that's been interesting to kind of watch being removed from it and seeing
(18:08):
how this has all gone down.
I know, you know, when I was coaching, there were still sanctions for kids if
they transferred, you know, time periods to sit out, those types of things.
So that's been interesting. I also think, too, though, people are more educated now.
And knowing what I know and trying to educate my families on,
(18:28):
we have a lot of families or kids or parents who just have D1 dreams,
for lack of a better word. And D1 dreams are great.
Absolutely. And you should have D1 dreams if you're a D1 player or if you're
willing to make the D1 commitment or can make the D1 commitment or can play at that level.
But I also think you hit it on the head. Like, it doesn't matter where you play.
(18:53):
It's really about the experience that you're going to have there. Mm-hmm.
(19:26):
Interesting. So do you think that with NIL and NIL money, and I don't know how it.
Affects collegiate softball per
se but do you think that that also
has an effect or is different today you
know and how do you see it different you know i think
(19:50):
it's our kids are exposed to things that we were never exposed to right you
know i mean even watching we watched the the women's basketball stuff you know
here at the house with the caitlin clark and angel reese and And it's phenomenal
to see women's sports finally getting this stage, right? Absolutely.
But it's also, too, our kids at 12, 13, and 14 are watching college softball on TV or the Final Four.
(20:21):
We didn't even know those things existed because it wasn't at our fingertips
like it is for every kid now.
And I think that that forces our kids, not forces, but like my daughter and
I, my daughter at 13 is having conversations about wanting to go to college,
(20:41):
what she wants to major in.
And I think that that's just society shifting because we weren't having those
conversations at 13 and 14.
When we were our age, correct? When we were that age.
Correct. So on one hand, kids are growing up faster in a sense,
but on the other hand, we're also equipping them with so much more than we were ever equipped with.
(21:05):
And I agree. I think it is.
There's just a lot more there, 100%. And it's changed.
I feel like it's changed, at least in this Ohio area, that it has changed just
in the last five years. It's It's changed dramatically.
And there's just a lot more travel organizations, travel ball.
(21:29):
I don't know if it's less rec ball per se, but it's definitely grown, which is great.
I think that just elevating the competitive level of softball in this area and
region over the last five years has changed.
And I think we see that, and you could probably speak to this as much or more
(21:52):
than I could, but the amount of work that these girls are doing year round now
that they weren't doing,
I mean, I'm certain they were doing it five years ago and 10 years ago.
It just seems like it's taking a whole other level.
(22:13):
It's just gone up a whole other level. The offseason stuff, the winter stuff,
there's more facilities to play indoor, it feels like, all that kind of thing.
Yeah, I would agree. And I also think too, you know, people need to consider
age of the kids with some of this stuff.
(22:34):
You know, I think as kids are gearing up towards those high school,
you know, years and beyond, you know, this is where you really kind of get immersed in.
And, but we're starting to see things like you said, like 8U indoor winter tournaments
and, you know, 10U and, you know, to those things are great.
And the sport's great. I mean, the sport is, people fall in love with it for a reason.
(22:59):
But on the other hand, kids have to have a little bit of balance because they're still kids.
And so, you know, I think, yeah, you know, but I think that's a societal shift
with everything anymore as well.
Well, for you to speak, you know, to us in that fashion as a,
not just as a former college coach and player, but as a principal,
(23:24):
as an educator, you know, you're, you know, you're in that world and you work with kids and youth.
And, and so just giving us that, it's kind of refreshing just to hear that,
you know, kids, kids, right? Right?
There's value in that. So let's talk a little bit about a couple more things
(23:48):
that I would love to hear your opinion on.
Tell us what it was like, what you think the recruiting was like then versus
now as far as college and collegiate recruiting and those kinds of things.
Well, I could tell you again, and I'm dating myself, but when my years at Malone, when I was recruiting,
(24:09):
you know, emails and lots of paper, still CDs were mailed to me,
you know, for example, and this, that you'll laugh at this, Scott,
cause you'll be able to relate,
but Blackberry had just came out while I was coaching.
And so I had a, you know, a college issued Blackberry and that That was like
the coolest thing ever because I could get my email on my phone. Right.
(24:32):
Amazing technology at the time. Right. Yeah.
So I think things are a little bit easier now with all of the,
you know, web-based things that we can do and the recruiting services that are out there.
And I think to myself often, I'm like, wow, this would have been so awesome
because I remember nights sitting on the floor in my office with just,
you know, piles of papers,
(24:54):
you know, of this year graduate with this position,
this year graduate with this position, you know, and, and combing through things
with my assistant coach and, you know, contacting high school coaches and college
and travel ball coaches about kids.
And, you know, it was just, I think it was probably more tedious process then
(25:15):
with the technology that's available now.
However, I will say, so, and again, I was at Malone.
So, you know, I'm a firm believer in when you're recruiting kids,
and I'm talking from the college aspect, especially at smaller schools, right?
I always had to find kids that wanted to come to Malone, regardless of softball.
(25:40):
Because what I found over the years is if I was recruiting them purely from
an athletic standpoint, and things happen, right?
Kids, you know, can't handle sports in school, so they decide to just finish
their degree, and that's okay.
Or things happen and kids get hurt, which, you know, you never want to see happen,
(26:01):
but does. Or, you know, and so you really have to approach this as if softball
wasn't here, would you still want to come to school?
And so I found those to be my most successful recruits because they were interested
in the school and the atmosphere as well.
And then playing softball at a school that you already wanted to go to was like an added bonus.
(26:28):
This interesting that's uh i don't know that that's something that we've talked
about here with you know with some of the different conversations we've had
recently so that's very good insight,
do you see anything different in addition to that from a recruiting standpoint
i mean clearly it's it with technology it has to make things much easier now
(26:50):
but i just can't imagine how difficult It may have been just combing through papers and,
you know, what technology used to be.
And, you know, how do you, how do you go through and get enough volume of potential
athletes to find what you're looking for?
And how difficult is that? So, you know, it's a lot.
(27:14):
You'd be surprised at the volume of kids that are reaching out to a school, you know.
So there's you have that pool of things of kids that are reaching out to you.
You start to develop relationships with certain either travel organizations,
coaches, and or high school coaches, right?
And so over the years, I had some relationships. And so you know kind of what
(27:39):
you're looking for a few years out, right?
Because you know what this class is graduating and this class is graduating.
And so you start to put those feelers out there.
Hey, you know, I'm going to be looking for a third baseman in the next few years.
Or hey, I'm going to need some outfielder. And so you start to develop those
relationships and you start to learn to, you know, who's sending you the caliber
(28:03):
and quality of kids, you know, that you can rely on.
So when this coach calls you and says, hey, this kid, you value that coach's input, right?
And so it's a lot of it is about relationships that you develop over the years.
I spent a lot of my time while I was at Maroon down at Berliner in the summer.
(28:24):
And just, I remember, I mean, we would go for days on end at tournaments and,
you know, you're going from this field to this field to this field,
because when you're going, you're typically already going for a purpose.
Now, there are times where you're going with one purpose and you see something that does happen.
But typically when you're going, you're going with a purpose.
(28:47):
You're going to see a specific kid or a specific team or you're going,
you know, for a camp or something.
That's very good to know and great insight. And we always want to continue to
try and learn and hear what the college coaches,
from their perspective, what they look for and how they go about it and what's
(29:07):
their process and all of those kinds of things just to continue to get fresh
perspective as to what it's like coming from the coaches' side.
So we, you know, we're all, for those of us that are coaching in the travel
world and all those kinds of things, and we're trying to help athletes get recruited
(29:28):
and get in front of the right people and all that kind of stuff.
It's, it's good to hear, you know, coming from a coach or coaches,
what their, what their process is and understanding that.
So let's talk about let's kind of i'm
kind of coming to the end here i think we start to wrap this
up and you know let's get
(29:48):
beyond the college stuff and you know your experiences and all that kind of
thing and and let's just talk about a little bit of what you're doing today
in softball we know that you have and you've already explained you have a young
daughter that's playing ball and And, you know, tell us how you,
what you're involved in, in, in all about that kind of thing right now.
(30:12):
So, yeah, we started here at our local rec organization and my daughter was
playing with kids from a bunch of different age groups.
And we got to 10U and the team was going to have to, some were going to 12U,
you know, some were younger.
And my daughter, you know, comes home with the, I think I want to be a pitcher
(30:33):
card. and I'm like, okay, it's a phase, right? So...
You know, we, we started just her and I just in the backyard and,
you know, taught her the basics and turned out she wasn't too, too shabby.
She was always a bigger kid for her age. And so at that point in time,
(30:53):
we said, well, let's try, let's keep her. She was eligible to stay in 10U.
So we said, well, let's stay in 10U and let's take her to like a local travel team.
So on a whim, I got on Facebook and started finding some local travel teams.
We went to a couple of tryouts and, you know, we felt we found a spot she was comfortable with.
(31:14):
And the organization is the Terriers and they're pretty unique because they've
been a baseball organization for about 25 years.
They're huge in baseball, everything from travel to a collegiate summer league that they run.
So the following year, some of the girls aged up, which is when I started a
(31:37):
second team for the Terriers. You know, we've had a great run.
They're just, the organization just is not well known.
And I know enough about the softball world to know, you know,
we need to get in a different spot for her and the rest of the kids on my team.
I've got some fantastic kids and families.
And so that's why we've decided to join the Ohio Storm organization next year.
(32:01):
Well, that's outstanding.
And we, knowing that you're coming aboard Ohio Storm, we're excited for all
of that experience and background that you bring.
Just all of the coaching background and all the educational background.
And there's so much value there that you're bringing to the organization with
(32:25):
your team and beyond. And so we're excited about all of that.
We're very hopeful that some of your insight that you've shared with us today
will be helpful for others, you know, as they listen to this and listen to other podcasts,
you know, but the idea is to share great experiences and help give better understanding.
(32:47):
And one last thing that we'll leave with this is that with all of that experience
and history that you have in the sport,
what advice would you give to parents,
players that are in this sport, whether it be young or getting into their teenage
(33:12):
years as a player and maybe have aspirations to play at that next level, collegiate level.
I mean, anything that just in general advice you would give.
I think the biggest thing in this game, because this game is easy to fall in love with, right?
It is one of the most amazing games.
(33:35):
And to be a part of the game is special.
And everybody plays a part in the game. And, you know, that's what I tell my girls.
What's so unique about this is not one kid can win this game ever by themselves.
Right. Not the pitcher, not the catcher, not the hitter, not the defender, you know.
So it's such a unique experience from the team aspect.
(34:01):
But yet, on the other hand, even though you're a team, there have to be natural
leaders that evolve, right?
And so to be able to be blessed with leadership and to be blessed with being
able to be a leader on the field for your teammates is probably one of the biggest
blessings you can ever have.
And so you know it's
(34:22):
it's just for me it's like if I
tell the girls anything the best thing about this game is
just being here and playing this game you're gonna have off days you're gonna
make the the air that feels like you lost the whole game you're gonna have the
hit that feels like you won the whole game but a win or a loss is a series of
(34:44):
events it's not one hit it's not one play.
It's not one strikeout. It's a series of wins.
And so be humble in remembering that even when those good times are the good
times, that you're still one small piece of the cog.
But also be realistic enough to know that when you feel like you blew it for
(35:06):
your team, it's one piece of the puzzle as well.
That's great advice. Love it. I love it. I love it.
And hopefully lots of young girls will hear this and can take this piece of
this advice and apply it to their experiences and make them better for it.
(35:26):
So, well, Angela, we really appreciate your time.
Thank you for spending a half hour or so just, you know, having some conversation
once again about softball and girls softball and the the wonderful sport that
it is. And, you know, thank you again for your time.
Absolutely. And Scott, before we get off, I do just want to thank you and the
Ohio Storm organization, because,
(35:48):
we are looking forward to the fantastic things that you are doing and you are
doing some amazing things and you have, you've built an amazing vision for this
organization. So we're really excited to be coming aboard.
Well, I'm going to maybe use a little bit of your advice. place.
Let's go down that road before we leave this thing. And it's never one person or one play, right?
(36:14):
It's a collective group. It'll be a team effort.
And I know you're going to be a piece of that.
And so will others. And so while I thank you for that, I'm usually the one who
likes to deflect that kind of stuff.
It's certainly not me, but it's going to be a lot of people. And so we're.
Hello, everyone, and thank you for joining in for another episode of the Ohio Storm Coaches Corner.
This is Scott Bino of Ohio Storm, and today we are joined by former Malone College
head coach and current travel ball coach, Angela Cedars.
Welcome, Angela. Thanks for joining.
Glad to be here. Yeah, thank you. So, you know, we've, with the Coach's Corner,
(01:07):
we've, you know, had an opportunity to spend some time with different folks
in the industry, whether it's players, coaches,
former college players, all that kind of stuff.
And the experiences are awesome. Stories are awesome.
And the insight is, is awesome.
Awesome. And so knowing a little bit about you and your background,
(01:28):
we think that you have plenty of stuff to offer as far as just insight from
your experiences in the softball world.
And we'd just love to hear about it. So anyhow, once again, thanks for joining.
And just to kick this thing off, we'd like to say, tell us a little bit about
(01:50):
yourself, a little bit about your softball experience,
what you're doing in softball in regards to the softball world today.
And just give us some insight there about yourself. yourself?
So, yeah, it's kind of a funny journey for me.
You know, it doesn't follow the traditional path.
(02:13):
So most people, when they meet me, kind of have one assumption of how this all went.
And it's a little bit actually different once you hear the story.
So now as a grown adult, my actual career is in education.
So I was a teacher for 13 years in the classroom and I've spent the past 10
as a building principal.
(02:34):
I've done elementary buildings and I'm actually now the principal at one of
our middle schools. Okay.
So my journey began in elementary school. I actually didn't start playing softball
till fifth grade, which now we would consider really late, right?
Back then, back then was kind of the norm.
Just started playing in a local, you know, rec league. Grew up here in Stark
(02:56):
County, went to Perry High School.
So Perry, you know, rec leagues in the summer.
Just took to it. Really liked it. Had fun. I remember, you know,
I had some dads from other players that were coaching me and they would tell
my mom, oh, she's really good.
She's really good. You know, she's got a lot of natural talent.
But the funny part about my journey is, so I was actually raised by a single mom.
(03:19):
So playing softball was really tough for us because I didn't have a mom that
could actually always get me to practices and do those sorts of things.
So on a whim, a guy who was starting a travel ball team had come out to some of our practices.
And he came up to me afterwards and my mom and said he wanted me to play on this travel team.
(03:44):
And which was near impossible for us, right?
My mom worked a afternoon shift in a factory. We weren't going to be able to
travel, you know, on weekends and that type of stuff.
And this guy, I, he was a professor at the University of Akron.
He's like, look, I'll get her wherever she needs to be. Just let her play with us.
(04:04):
So that's how travel ball started for me. So this guy that we like didn't even
know who was starting this travel ball team was called the All Ohio Impact.
He was a professor at the University of Akron, but he lived in Canton, Ohio.
And so my mom or my grandma would literally drop me off at his house on the weekends.
(04:25):
And I would travel with their family So, you know had it not been for this family
I don't know if I ever would have gotten into the whole travel ball experience.
That happened right before high school for me, which then kind of catapulted
into my playing at Perry.
I had a pretty unique experience at Perry as well. So Perry,
as most of you from this area know, has a long, historical, prideful tradition with softball.
(04:53):
My senior year in high school, which I'm going to date myself, it was 1997.
We made a run at States that year, so we finished in eighth.
I graduated with six seniors, and all six of us went to play on in college.
So, yeah, it was a pretty unique experience for us.
Again, even through the recruiting experience for me was kind of not normal, right?
(05:18):
So, I'm first generation college. Nobody else in my family has been to college.
So, the thought of going to college was kind of not really on our radar,
let alone playing a sport in college. Sure.
So you were probably, you know, how do I even figure out what to do?
(05:39):
What are the things that I need to do to prepare?
And all the things that come with going to college, I'm guessing you just don't
even know what the process is, right?
Because just first time, no one else in the family.
And I can relate to this. This is why I say that because I'm familiar with how
(06:00):
that is and see what direction do you go and who can help you, right?
Correct. So once again, playing travel ball.
And so we used to play indoor ball in gymnasiums with rubberized indoor softballs.
That was our version of a winter ball.
And so we were playing up in some gyms in the Brecksville area.
(06:24):
And there was a couple of college coaches up there. And afterwards,
the coach from Malone University came up and was talking with me.
So then she makes a phone call to my mom about arranging a visit.
And again, this is just uncharted territory for us.
So I remember my mom driving me. You know, we go, we take this visit and we
(06:48):
leave and we're just like, like, what, what are we doing?
You know, and tuition at the time is outrageous.
You know, we don't know how much money they're going to be offering,
if they're going to offer money. what any of this looks like.
So from that point, then I did start getting other looks from other schools.
(07:10):
We went on a couple other visits. I remember visiting the university,
or I'm sorry, Youngstown State.
And the coach flat out saying to me, hey, I think you're great.
And if you want to be a pinch runner, come here for four years. Oh my goodness. Okay.
Well, I mean, it's the, you know, I'm five foot two. I was quick.
(07:30):
I was going to be a pinch runner if I played at that level, you know?
So, you know, the coach from Malone was just awesome.
Answered questions, you know, kind of walked us through the process.
Had it not been for her, I don't know if we would have been able to navigate that.
So it just felt right. It seemed like there was a relationship there of this woman actually caring.
(07:55):
You know, she was very upfront from the beginning about what the potential was
for playing there versus going to a bigger school for me where it would be maybe
not as much playing time.
And it just felt like the right fit. So we went ahead and got it all together
and did the process and got admitted and ended up having a experience playing
(08:20):
in college that is just like no other experience.
Tell us why that is. Why you would say that?
So, you know, for me, a kid who, you know, didn't even think college was attainable.
Now I'm in college, right? I'm going to have a degree.
I'm playing the game I love. I'm playing. I'm on the field.
(08:43):
You know, you room with your teammates. nights. It's a family atmosphere.
You know, you're on your own, but you're not on your own. The first time I flew
on a plane was to go play in Florida.
So, you know, I mean, it's just those experiences for me, you know, we laugh and joke.
My family, I didn't, wasn't raised, we didn't go on family vacations.
(09:05):
So every state I've been to has been for a softball tournament.
Oh, that's interesting.
There are some families, they get to do vacations and all that kind of stuff,
and that might not mean much.
But in your instance, I'm guessing that was a big deal.
That was maybe even partially a vacation, right, of getting out of the state.
(09:29):
That's what your family did instead of, I guess, the vacation.
So, yeah, it was just an amazing experience. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
You get to play the game you love. You get to learn. When you're playing a sport
in college, you don't know it at the time, but you are learning a skill set
that is valuable to you in life moving forward.
(09:52):
Time management, performance under pressure, you know, work ethic,
dedication, teamwork, collaboration.
I mean, I could just go on and on and on. And it's funny now,
you know, being on the employer side when I am hiring.
So when we're hiring teachers or office staff, you know, when we see that people that played sports,
(10:16):
you know, or even sometimes played at a higher level, we know that they're coming
to us with a different caliber, usually, of dedication and work ethic.
That's very good insight, especially for those that are looking for,
you know, that are the applicant and something that they,
you know, that they can lean into as far as, you know, those that have played
(10:38):
and that kind of thing at a higher level.
So I graduated in 2001 from Malone and landed my first teaching job.
And then obviously because I was going to coach their JV softball team,
you know, so it's a foot in the door.
Into education and you know
unfortunately but fortunately that never
(10:59):
came to fruition because a few months into my
first year teaching malone actually called me and offered me a grad assistant
position so i was able to teach still but also help out with their softball
program and then get my master's degree in exchange so that was an invaluable
experience now you know a program that
(11:21):
was near and dear to my heart, that I had a fantastic experience.
I'm giving back coaching, but I'm also obtaining my master's degree in exchange.
And so these are just experiences that, you know, I was just somehow blessed
with because not everybody is blessed with those experiences.
And, you know, again, just from there, it just kind of evolved.
(11:42):
So I finished my master's. I stayed on then as a paid assistant and did that for two seasons.
And then the head coaching job came available and the athletic director asked me to apply for it.
So my husband and I were married at the time, but we did not have Abigail yet.
(12:03):
So we talked it over and said, why not? We're young, let's try it.
So I applied and was given the position.
And it's funny because we had a lot of conversation at that point in time.
Malone was still small and Malone was actually NAIA at the time.
Can you speak to that just briefly as to, you know, most folks may understand
(12:25):
the differences, but can you give just a few things about NAIA versus,
you know, currently their division two?
Yeah, so NAI, well, at this point in time, had its own conference here in the
Ohio, West Virginia area.
A lot of those schools have since left and gone to Division II to the GLIAC conference.
(12:51):
So NAI's recruiting rules are a little bit more lax.
They don't follow quite the stringent timelines as NCAA does in Division I or II.
Do but they are off able to offer
academic scholarships so there is
that added bonus which sometimes gives them a
leg up on the d3s in a sense and but
(13:14):
they still have a governing body still have guidelines still have rules so all
you know you still have to be academically eligible all those other pieces and
parts are very similar so i was able to coach at malone and I was still actually
teaching here in Canton for about four years.
And it was crazy. It was crazy times.
(13:36):
I was sleeping in my office at Malone sometimes because we get back late from
games and I have to go teach fourth grade in the morning.
And, but it was, it was a lot of fun. And again, just experiences that,
you know, I will never get back.
And so between playing and coaching there, I had like a, you know,
(13:57):
12-year period where I was just immersed in the program.
Awesome. We love hearing the stories about, you know, going into and having
the opportunity to play at the collegiate level.
And that's special. No matter, you know, what school, what division, it's special.
And to take it from there and go another step further and coach at that level
(14:23):
is even more impressive.
And so we love hearing about those stories.
Tell us what you feel is different today regarding fast-pitch softball in general.
And it could be anything that you think is different now than what,
(14:44):
you know, maybe when you played or when you coached at the collegiate level, things of that nature.
Yeah. So, you know, it's funny because there's a small time gap there for me.
So, you know, I actually, I resigned at Malone when it was time for us to start
a family. Anybody who's coached at that level knows the time commitment and
the travel, you know, it's usually just not conducive to having little ones.
(15:09):
So then I actually had about an eight-year gap where I wasn't really around
the game at all, in a sense.
And then, as you know, 8U Coach Pitch, my daughter signs up for here locally.
And for about a season, I sat in the stands and I was like, OK,
guess what? We're going to get back into coaching here.
(15:30):
And so it kind of has evolved from there and then when it
was time to start considering travel for her it was
kind of a shock to see how much the sport
has grown on one hand but also to the sheer volume of travel that is now around
and so it's interesting because like i said so when i when i'm dating myself
(15:54):
but when i played there might have been a handful of teams in the in the state right Right.
And now we have handfuls of teams and counties.
And so really, in some aspects, travel has replaced a lot of rec ball.
But then you still have some really good travel organizations out there as well.
And so it's really now, I think, become difficult for parents to navigate that,
(16:18):
especially if they don't know.
So if you know nothing about this world and you just are like,
oh, I want my kid needs to play a little bit higher level than,
you know, our local rec team.
And you, let's say, get on Facebook or Twitter and try to find,
you know, travel balls in your area. It can be overwhelming.
(16:40):
Right. Absolutely. And I don't think if you don't know what you're looking for
or what certain organizations have to offer or the differences between various tournaments,
etc., it can be very difficult to navigate those waters.
And travel ball is very expensive. So families are making a monetary and a time
(17:02):
commitment when they do that.
So I think that's one of the big things is now coaching travel is you want kids
and families to have a quality experience.
I mean, everybody's making a commitment to this in your family when you decide to do this.
Right. What do you think is different about the collegiate softball today versus
(17:24):
when you coached? You know, so like I said, so Malone has since transitioned to Division II.
I think that you're seeing, obviously, I think everybody's seeing the effects of the portal, right?
And I think that portal piece has way more bearing on just everything society-wise than we can imagine.
(17:45):
So the portal has now really become what has happened kind of in travel ball
over the years. If we're not happy, we go somewhere else.
And that's what's actually happening now with the transfer portal.
And it's become very easy for kids to transfer and pick up with no penalties.
So that's been interesting to kind of watch being removed from it and seeing
(18:08):
how this has all gone down.
I know, you know, when I was coaching, there were still sanctions for kids if
they transferred, you know, time periods to sit out, those types of things.
So that's been interesting. I also think, too, though, people are more educated now.
And knowing what I know and trying to educate my families on,
(18:28):
we have a lot of families or kids or parents who just have D1 dreams,
for lack of a better word. And D1 dreams are great.
Absolutely. And you should have D1 dreams if you're a D1 player or if you're
willing to make the D1 commitment or can make the D1 commitment or can play at that level.
But I also think you hit it on the head. Like, it doesn't matter where you play.
(18:53):
It's really about the experience that you're going to have there. Mm-hmm.
(19:26):
Interesting. So do you think that with NIL and NIL money, and I don't know how it.
Affects collegiate softball per
se but do you think that that also
has an effect or is different today you
know and how do you see it different you know i think
(19:50):
it's our kids are exposed to things that we were never exposed to right you
know i mean even watching we watched the the women's basketball stuff you know
here at the house with the caitlin clark and angel reese and And it's phenomenal
to see women's sports finally getting this stage, right? Absolutely.
But it's also, too, our kids at 12, 13, and 14 are watching college softball on TV or the Final Four.
(20:21):
We didn't even know those things existed because it wasn't at our fingertips
like it is for every kid now.
And I think that that forces our kids, not forces, but like my daughter and
I, my daughter at 13 is having conversations about wanting to go to college,
(20:41):
what she wants to major in.
And I think that that's just society shifting because we weren't having those
conversations at 13 and 14.
When we were our age, correct? When we were that age.
Correct. So on one hand, kids are growing up faster in a sense,
but on the other hand, we're also equipping them with so much more than we were ever equipped with.
(21:05):
And I agree. I think it is.
There's just a lot more there, 100%. And it's changed.
I feel like it's changed, at least in this Ohio area, that it has changed just
in the last five years. It's It's changed dramatically.
And there's just a lot more travel organizations, travel ball.
(21:29):
I don't know if it's less rec ball per se, but it's definitely grown, which is great.
I think that just elevating the competitive level of softball in this area and
region over the last five years has changed.
And I think we see that, and you could probably speak to this as much or more
(21:52):
than I could, but the amount of work that these girls are doing year round now
that they weren't doing,
I mean, I'm certain they were doing it five years ago and 10 years ago.
It just seems like it's taking a whole other level.
(22:13):
It's just gone up a whole other level. The offseason stuff, the winter stuff,
there's more facilities to play indoor, it feels like, all that kind of thing.
Yeah, I would agree. And I also think too, you know, people need to consider
age of the kids with some of this stuff.
(22:34):
You know, I think as kids are gearing up towards those high school,
you know, years and beyond, you know, this is where you really kind of get immersed in.
And, but we're starting to see things like you said, like 8U indoor winter tournaments
and, you know, 10U and, you know, to those things are great.
And the sport's great. I mean, the sport is, people fall in love with it for a reason.
(22:59):
But on the other hand, kids have to have a little bit of balance because they're still kids.
And so, you know, I think, yeah, you know, but I think that's a societal shift
with everything anymore as well.
Well, for you to speak, you know, to us in that fashion as a,
not just as a former college coach and player, but as a principal,
(23:24):
as an educator, you know, you're, you know, you're in that world and you work with kids and youth.
And, and so just giving us that, it's kind of refreshing just to hear that,
you know, kids, kids, right? Right?
There's value in that. So let's talk a little bit about a couple more things
(23:48):
that I would love to hear your opinion on.
Tell us what it was like, what you think the recruiting was like then versus
now as far as college and collegiate recruiting and those kinds of things.
Well, I could tell you again, and I'm dating myself, but when my years at Malone, when I was recruiting,
(24:09):
you know, emails and lots of paper, still CDs were mailed to me,
you know, for example, and this, that you'll laugh at this, Scott,
cause you'll be able to relate,
but Blackberry had just came out while I was coaching.
And so I had a, you know, a college issued Blackberry and that That was like
the coolest thing ever because I could get my email on my phone. Right.
(24:32):
Amazing technology at the time. Right. Yeah.
So I think things are a little bit easier now with all of the,
you know, web-based things that we can do and the recruiting services that are out there.
And I think to myself often, I'm like, wow, this would have been so awesome
because I remember nights sitting on the floor in my office with just,
you know, piles of papers,
(24:54):
you know, of this year graduate with this position,
this year graduate with this position, you know, and, and combing through things
with my assistant coach and, you know, contacting high school coaches and college
and travel ball coaches about kids.
And, you know, it was just, I think it was probably more tedious process then
(25:15):
with the technology that's available now.
However, I will say, so, and again, I was at Malone.
So, you know, I'm a firm believer in when you're recruiting kids,
and I'm talking from the college aspect, especially at smaller schools, right?
I always had to find kids that wanted to come to Malone, regardless of softball.
(25:40):
Because what I found over the years is if I was recruiting them purely from
an athletic standpoint, and things happen, right?
Kids, you know, can't handle sports in school, so they decide to just finish
their degree, and that's okay.
Or things happen and kids get hurt, which, you know, you never want to see happen,
(26:01):
but does. Or, you know, and so you really have to approach this as if softball
wasn't here, would you still want to come to school?
And so I found those to be my most successful recruits because they were interested
in the school and the atmosphere as well.
And then playing softball at a school that you already wanted to go to was like an added bonus.
(26:28):
This interesting that's uh i don't know that that's something that we've talked
about here with you know with some of the different conversations we've had
recently so that's very good insight,
do you see anything different in addition to that from a recruiting standpoint
i mean clearly it's it with technology it has to make things much easier now
(26:50):
but i just can't imagine how difficult It may have been just combing through papers and,
you know, what technology used to be.
And, you know, how do you, how do you go through and get enough volume of potential
athletes to find what you're looking for?
And how difficult is that? So, you know, it's a lot.
(27:14):
You'd be surprised at the volume of kids that are reaching out to a school, you know.
So there's you have that pool of things of kids that are reaching out to you.
You start to develop relationships with certain either travel organizations,
coaches, and or high school coaches, right?
And so over the years, I had some relationships. And so you know kind of what
(27:39):
you're looking for a few years out, right?
Because you know what this class is graduating and this class is graduating.
And so you start to put those feelers out there.
Hey, you know, I'm going to be looking for a third baseman in the next few years.
Or hey, I'm going to need some outfielder. And so you start to develop those
relationships and you start to learn to, you know, who's sending you the caliber
(28:03):
and quality of kids, you know, that you can rely on.
So when this coach calls you and says, hey, this kid, you value that coach's input, right?
And so it's a lot of it is about relationships that you develop over the years.
I spent a lot of my time while I was at Maroon down at Berliner in the summer.
(28:24):
And just, I remember, I mean, we would go for days on end at tournaments and,
you know, you're going from this field to this field to this field,
because when you're going, you're typically already going for a purpose.
Now, there are times where you're going with one purpose and you see something that does happen.
But typically when you're going, you're going with a purpose.
(28:47):
You're going to see a specific kid or a specific team or you're going,
you know, for a camp or something.
That's very good to know and great insight. And we always want to continue to
try and learn and hear what the college coaches,
from their perspective, what they look for and how they go about it and what's
(29:07):
their process and all of those kinds of things just to continue to get fresh
perspective as to what it's like coming from the coaches' side.
So we, you know, we're all, for those of us that are coaching in the travel
world and all those kinds of things, and we're trying to help athletes get recruited
(29:28):
and get in front of the right people and all that kind of stuff.
It's, it's good to hear, you know, coming from a coach or coaches,
what their, what their process is and understanding that.
So let's talk about let's kind of i'm
kind of coming to the end here i think we start to wrap this
up and you know let's get
(29:48):
beyond the college stuff and you know your experiences and all that kind of
thing and and let's just talk about a little bit of what you're doing today
in softball we know that you have and you've already explained you have a young
daughter that's playing ball and And, you know, tell us how you,
what you're involved in, in, in all about that kind of thing right now.
(30:12):
So, yeah, we started here at our local rec organization and my daughter was
playing with kids from a bunch of different age groups.
And we got to 10U and the team was going to have to, some were going to 12U,
you know, some were younger.
And my daughter, you know, comes home with the, I think I want to be a pitcher
(30:33):
card. and I'm like, okay, it's a phase, right? So...
You know, we, we started just her and I just in the backyard and,
you know, taught her the basics and turned out she wasn't too, too shabby.
She was always a bigger kid for her age. And so at that point in time,
(30:53):
we said, well, let's try, let's keep her. She was eligible to stay in 10U.
So we said, well, let's stay in 10U and let's take her to like a local travel team.
So on a whim, I got on Facebook and started finding some local travel teams.
We went to a couple of tryouts and, you know, we felt we found a spot she was comfortable with.
(31:14):
And the organization is the Terriers and they're pretty unique because they've
been a baseball organization for about 25 years.
They're huge in baseball, everything from travel to a collegiate summer league that they run.
So the following year, some of the girls aged up, which is when I started a
(31:37):
second team for the Terriers. You know, we've had a great run.
They're just, the organization just is not well known.
And I know enough about the softball world to know, you know,
we need to get in a different spot for her and the rest of the kids on my team.
I've got some fantastic kids and families.
And so that's why we've decided to join the Ohio Storm organization next year.
(32:01):
Well, that's outstanding.
And we, knowing that you're coming aboard Ohio Storm, we're excited for all
of that experience and background that you bring.
Just all of the coaching background and all the educational background.
And there's so much value there that you're bringing to the organization with
(32:25):
your team and beyond. And so we're excited about all of that.
We're very hopeful that some of your insight that you've shared with us today
will be helpful for others, you know, as they listen to this and listen to other podcasts,
you know, but the idea is to share great experiences and help give better understanding.
(32:47):
And one last thing that we'll leave with this is that with all of that experience
and history that you have in the sport,
what advice would you give to parents,
players that are in this sport, whether it be young or getting into their teenage
(33:12):
years as a player and maybe have aspirations to play at that next level, collegiate level.
I mean, anything that just in general advice you would give.
I think the biggest thing in this game, because this game is easy to fall in love with, right?
It is one of the most amazing games.
(33:35):
And to be a part of the game is special.
And everybody plays a part in the game. And, you know, that's what I tell my girls.
What's so unique about this is not one kid can win this game ever by themselves.
Right. Not the pitcher, not the catcher, not the hitter, not the defender, you know.
So it's such a unique experience from the team aspect.
(34:01):
But yet, on the other hand, even though you're a team, there have to be natural
leaders that evolve, right?
And so to be able to be blessed with leadership and to be blessed with being
able to be a leader on the field for your teammates is probably one of the biggest
blessings you can ever have.
And so you know it's
(34:22):
it's just for me it's like if I
tell the girls anything the best thing about this game is
just being here and playing this game you're gonna have off days you're gonna
make the the air that feels like you lost the whole game you're gonna have the
hit that feels like you won the whole game but a win or a loss is a series of
(34:44):
events it's not one hit it's not one play.
It's not one strikeout. It's a series of wins.
And so be humble in remembering that even when those good times are the good
times, that you're still one small piece of the cog.
But also be realistic enough to know that when you feel like you blew it for
(35:06):
your team, it's one piece of the puzzle as well.
That's great advice. Love it. I love it. I love it.
And hopefully lots of young girls will hear this and can take this piece of
this advice and apply it to their experiences and make them better for it.
(35:26):
So, well, Angela, we really appreciate your time.
Thank you for spending a half hour or so just, you know, having some conversation
once again about softball and girls softball and the the wonderful sport that
it is. And, you know, thank you again for your time.
Absolutely. And Scott, before we get off, I do just want to thank you and the
Ohio Storm organization, because,
(35:48):
we are looking forward to the fantastic things that you are doing and you are
doing some amazing things and you have, you've built an amazing vision for this
organization. So we're really excited to be coming aboard.
Well, I'm going to maybe use a little bit of your advice. place.
Let's go down that road before we leave this thing. And it's never one person or one play, right?
(36:14):
It's a collective group. It'll be a team effort.
And I know you're going to be a piece of that.
And so will others. And so while I thank you for that, I'm usually the one who
likes to deflect that kind of stuff.
It's certainly not me, but it's going to be a lot of people. And so we're.
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