We’re back. And softball just made history.

Welcome to the first issue of Catching Up with Rob Crews — a newsletter built for coaches, players, and parents who take this game seriously. We’re going to cover what matters: the news worth knowing, the resources worth reading, and where I’ll be this summer if you want to work.

Issue #01 lands in a week where the sport handed us something it’s never given us before. Let’s get into it.

— Rob

Texas Does It Again: Back-to-Back WCWS Champions

The Longhorns swept Texas Tech in Oklahoma City to claim their second consecutive national title — becoming the fifth program in WCWS history to go back-to-back. This was a team that found a way when it mattered, and their closing ability all tournament was something every coach and player should study.

Teagan Kavan Is the GOAT. Make the Case Against Her.

First pitcher in WCWS history to win Most Outstanding Player twice. Four wins, two shutouts, two saves in Oklahoma City. Kavan doesn’t just perform — she raises the bar for what “compete” means. This is what elite looks like from the rubber.

Why 113 D1 Teams Are Hitting Over .300 — And What Pitching Does About It

Casey Roche of Pitch Logic joined me on Episode 95 to dig into why hitting numbers at the D1 level have absolutely exploded (43 teams over .300 two seasons ago — now 113). If you’re a pitching coach or parent wondering what the elite are doing with data, this is a required listen.

Pressure on the Diamond: Navigating the Mental Game

An honest breakdown of how elite softball athletes manage pressure — from recruiting to social media to big moments on the field. The mental side isn’t optional at any level. This one’s worth a read with your athletes or at least sending to their parents.

5 Ways to Embrace the Mental Edge of Summer Ball

Summer is where development actually happens — or doesn’t. This piece makes a solid case for using the travel season intentionally, not just as a scoreboard exercise. Good framing for coaches working with athletes who are grinding tournament to tournament right now.

Get Recruited — Rachel Coleman

Still the most practical step-by-step guide to the recruiting process I’ve seen. If you have a player in the 2027–2029 class, get them this book. The game moves fast — better to know the rules before you need to play them.

Get Recruited by Rachel Coleman remains Rob’s standing recommendation for any family navigating the college recruiting process. Practical, current, and built for softball families.

Ep. 96: Spin Never Lies — How Rapsodo Develops Hitters & Pitchers

Brian Page, Director of MLB & Special Accounts at Rapsodo, joins me to break down ball flight data and what it actually takes to develop hitters and pitchers. Exit velocity tells you the ball was hit hard. Spin tells you why — and what your barrel and body really did. This one gets into the data and the philosophy: development over report cards, baselines before chasing numbers, and why softball deserves technology built specifically for softball.

“Intent, body, barrel, ball — reverse engineer the whole process and you’re on to something.”

This Summer’s Rake Sessions

Full schedule at complete.game/events

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