August is when the real work starts.

Summer ball is winding down, AUSL is deep into its postseason push, and the 2027–2029 classes are about to find out who was actually paying attention during the dead period. Recruiting boards get set in the next few months — not in the spring. Here’s what’s worth your time this week.

— Rob

Texas Locks Up Back-to-Back: What the Repeat Says About Program Building

The Longhorns swept Texas Tech to become the fifth program to go back-to-back at the WCWS, and Teagan Kavan became the first two-time Most Outstanding Player in tournament history. Study how a roster built for pressure closes out a season — that’s not an accident.

AUSL’s Second Season Is Pulling Real Eyeballs

The league went city-based this year, expanded to six teams, and viewership is up 183% over last season heading into the postseason. Pay attention to what pro softball is doing with its broadcast product — it’s shaping how the next generation sees this game.

Jordan Woolery’s Season Shouldn’t Be Possible

.506 average, 34 home runs, 111 RBIs. Softball America’s National Player of the Year is on pace to be the first D1 player ever to hit .500 with 30+ homers and 100+ RBIs in a single season. Send this to any hitter who thinks average and power are a trade-off.

The Three Numbers That Actually Explain Your Swing

Bat speed, on-plane bat path, and early connection — Blast Motion breaks down the data-backed version of swing mechanics instead of the folklore version. A good one to walk through with a player who’s stuck on “just feel it.”

Four Ways to Keep Your Head When the Moment Gets Big

Practical, not fluffy — breathing, self-talk, and staying within your own game when the lineup card, or the scouts, are watching. Read it with your team before the next big weekend.

What D1 Coaches Actually Look For (In Writing)

A clear-eyed rundown of the measurables and standards coaches actually use to sort real prospects from wishful ones. Pair it with a film library and an honest target list, and a family is recruiting instead of hoping.

Everything Fastpitch, With Two Coaches Who’ve Actually Done the Job

Tory Acheson and Don McKinlay coach travel ball and teach lessons full-time, so the conversations stay grounded in what actually works with real players — not theory. Good one for the car ride to practice.

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. 94: Real Talk with Iver McDonald

Iver McDonald — former Oklahoma Sooner, founder of McDonald Fastpitch Camps, and co-founder of Transfer U — joins me to talk about growing up in South Houston’s softball scene, learning more in one year at Oklahoma than thirteen years of travel ball, and why the transfer portal is creating as many problems as it’s solving. We also get into the gap between high school standouts and college-ready players, and why knowing what kind of coach you can actually play for matters more than the offer itself.

Next Up: Bay College Hitting Clinic

Full schedule at complete.game/events

© 2026 Complete Game. All rights reserved.
complete.game  ·  [email protected]

Unsubscribe