RaysUp the Future is Now & the Florida Bolts head to Barclay Artwork

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RaysUp the Future is Now & the Florida Bolts head to Barclay

August 28, 2025 • @TheBaseballBiz • Episode 312

Reflection on Tony Saladino – Tampa Baseball icon
Tampa Bay Rays Youth movement:
Carson Williams – first MLB home run, strong defensive presence, potential long-term answer at shortstop
Ian Seymour – lefty starter showing promise
Everson Pereira – solid defense, working into outfield rotation
Brian Van Belle – strong Durham performance, early success in MLB debut
Junior Caminero – chasing 50+ home runs at age 21, comparisons to Evan Longoria’s early career stats
Chandler Simpson – speed threat, but struggling at the plate
Yandy Díaz & Brandon Lowe continue to mentor and produce
Trop update: new roof construction underway
2026 - Rays building around Williams, Caminero, Seymour, Simpson, Curet, & others
Jays' Bo Bichette’s free agency may reshape shortstop market; Rays could leverage Ha-Seong Kim’s contract
Little League World Series Experience
Mark’s trip to Williamsport with his brother Chris:
4 games in a single day (U.S. and international brackets)
Emotional highs and lows: kids’ joy in victory, heartbreak in defeat
Memorable sportsmanship amongst teams
Chinese Taipei & Korea producing strong talent; ties to Australian Baseball League
Would the LLWS ever move overseas
Brooke Mrozek, Team Manager of the Florida Bolts Girls Baseball Team
All-girls baseball organization serving ages 7–18 across Florida
Teams compete in national tournaments, including Sparks, Nevada where:
12U team won 1st place (minor division)
16U team finished 2nd place (minor division)
Brooke’s daughter served as a coach for the 12U team
10 collegiate women’s teams (e.g., Cal Poly)
Launch of the (WPBL) in 2026
Bolts Player Development
Continue with local rec/travel teams and unite for monthly practices
Practices emphasize both skill-building and fun (e.g., slip-and-slide sliding drills)
Being a mentor beyond parents—“I believe in you. You belong.”
Funding Challenges
Florida Bolts is a nonprofit, relying on donations, fundraisers, & sponsorships
Past support included the Tampa Bay Rays, funding has decreased in recent years
Current fundraiser: 50/50 raffle
Upcoming Opportunity: The Barclay Cup in Australia
Bolts are the first international team invited to this prestigious tournament happening next month
Historic opportunity to bridge U.S. and Australian girls’ baseball
Sponsorships and donations needed to cover travel, lodging, tournament fees, and uniforms
Support the Florida Bolts
Facebook & Instagram: Florida Bolts Baseball - https://www.facebook.com/floridabolts/
Email: FloridaBoltsBaseball@yahoo.com
Donations/Sponsorships: via Venmo, Cash App, or PayPal (details on Facebook page)
50/50 raffle currently active
Closing Message from Brooke - Goal is to create opportunities and support girls in baseball
Sponsorships, donations, and even sharing posts online make a difference
“Baseball isn’t just for boys anymore—girls can do this.”

You can find Mat at @matgermain.bsky.social or reach Mark at baseballbizondeck@gmail.com BaseballBiz on Deck, at iHeart Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, and at www.baseballbizOnDeck.com
Special Thanks to Scott Holmes for the music Stomps & Claps

312 BaseballBiz RaysUp

[00:16:17] But, uh, right now we're going to get back to our regular show. And Matt, what a week it has been. My gosh, almighty brother. I don't even know where to start. . We've talked about the Women's Professional Baseball League starting up here. I went to the Little League World Series with my brother.

[00:16:36] I was watching that. And then I also had a, a sad event, a good friend of mine by the name of Tony Saladino, who's made a great impact for youth sports in the Tampa Bay area in Hillsborough County with a tournament that he had each year during spring break for the schools. So, but uh, right now, so let's get started, I guess, bro, let's, [00:17:00] I'm try, I'm gonna go ahead and do another intro right here.

[00:17:03] Mat Germain: Yeah, I know, brother.

[00:17:06] Mark Corbett: All

[00:17:07] Mat Germain: good.

[00:17:08] Mark Corbett: Welcome to BaseballBiz On Deck. I am Mark Corbett, of course. And , Mr. Mat Germain here as well. Today. It, it is late in the day for an old man, but we're gonna have a good time talking about Tampa Rays.

[00:17:19] We haven't had a chance in a couple weeks to sit down and go over this, and it's like. Nothing's happened in the last two weeks with the Rays. Has it? Matt?

[00:17:28] Mat Germain: Nothing at all. Nope. No news, nothing, uh, going on. Uh. They've played a few games. I heard somewhere. I honestly, I turned everything off for a little while.

[00:17:39] I think you did as well. Yeah. Since you had some things going on. But, um, it, it's good to get away I think sometimes. 'cause then you get fresh eyes when you come back and you kind of look at things a little bit differently. Uh, but yeah, it's been a. A lot to catch up on. Overall, I think, uh, you know, from the way the team's performed to who is performing and who they called [00:18:00] on, uh, to who they're beating and who they're losing to, there's a little bit of, uh, of a roller coaster ride going on right now, and I think fans are a little bit confused as to how they should feel about it all.

[00:18:13] Mark Corbett: Well, I think a lot of folks are looking at 2026 when it comes to Tampa Bay Rays, and I think we're getting a pretty good look at what that might. Appear to be. I was hearing Kevin Cash had some wonderful things to say about Seymour taking them mound for the first time in Major League baseball. So that was pretty cool.

[00:18:32] And then. Like I said, nothing's changed. No, of course it has. Carson Williams. Oh my goodness. I, I blinked again. Here's this new guy you've been talking about forever in the Minor League, and here he is on the team. And, uh, I, I'll tell you a quick story about Carson Williams, too. A buddy of mine, uh, Josh, who works at the Tampa Baseball Museum.

[00:18:52] He went Friday night at the game in here in Tampa, and which, when Carson hit his home run, now, lo and behold. [00:19:00] They go out to a restaurant after the game and they see Carson's mom and family over there, and I guess Carson still hadn't come with them just yet. And they go over and introduce themselves and, you know, kudos to your son for such a, a great game out there.

[00:19:16] His second hit with the team, his first home run with a team and. They were very gracious. The family was so much, so it was interesting, Josh told me that, uh, Carson's mom actually carries baseball cards of Carson and a pen so that if they're out somewhere with their son, that he can go ahead and say, have cards to sign for them while he is out.

[00:19:42] Mat Germain: Oh, wow. Now what I wanna know is if the father sometimes forges, you know, Carson's signature or not.

[00:19:50] Mark Corbett: No, I think it, I think it has to be done, live and in person, but I think he showed up later on. Uh, he didn't go over and bother him after that, but I was just, they just had a few moments with her [00:20:00] to, to congratulate her for her son's achievement.

[00:20:03] Yeah, that would be interesting, man. Oh man.

[00:20:07] Mat Germain: You know what I find funny about that though? Uh, mark and I love the stories. I love it. I still remember way back when Jesse Litsch with the, the Toronto Blue Jays had his parents in the crowd and the emotions for them and a whole bunch of other rookies that you see come up their first game.

[00:20:21] There's always an extra emotional tinge. , But the funny part is after that, they never mentioned the parents. You know, it's as if the, the rest of their careers, they could play, , 1300 games after that. Nobody mentions the parents, you know, they would have to go on the Cal Ripken style streak before you start mentioning the parents again.

[00:20:41] Right. I think that the unique aspect, the only time I remember to parents. Coming back into the fold was, uh, Josh Lowe and Nathaniel Lowe. Remember when they, they were playing on opposite teams, and so both the parents were there. Who are you cheering for? They were trying to play tug of war with, you know, which one you gonna cheer louder [00:21:00] for.

[00:21:00] And, uh, so I got that one. And I think the other one I remember is Francisco Lindor. I guess his, his mom is quite the attraction and, and gets a lot of, , praise for how she, uh, she treats everybody on the team, so, you know, she gets a lot of, of chatter. But yeah, generally speaking, the family and the parents tend to get ignored from the, the first game onwards.

[00:21:22] Mark Corbett: Well, there's been a lot of families that have to come on and, and had some coverage. I mean, let's face it. 'cause uh, Carson Williams. Yes. But then also this Bob Seymour comes up, he Ian Seymour, uh, geez, who's, oh, Alex per pere. I mean, here's not Alex per what is, what's his first name ever? Everson. Everson.

[00:21:41] Everson Pereiraira. Pardon me? Everson Pereiraira. You know, suddenly I said I've been out for a week and it's a couple of days, and suddenly, uh, Everson Pereiraira, Bob Seymour, Ian Seymour, Carson Williams, and somebody else said, I'm forgetting right now. It's like, my gosh, who are these Rays? [00:22:00] Okay, I got that now.

[00:22:03] Mat Germain: Yeah, there was a moment in time when I was watching one of the games and, uh, I was doing it after the fact because I had to, to watch the recorded version. , I got the feeling like I was watching the Durham Bulls essentially from, from the beginning of the year or parts of last year.

[00:22:18] And, and there's nothing wrong with that. The, the Durham Bulls were a great team or, and still are a great team. Um, but the, it leaves you thinking who's next, right? And, and so there's a lot going on that I don't know how to feel about. So, um, you know. Carson Williams. I just, I want to, you know, keep focusing on him a little bit longer because Yeah.

[00:22:44] There are not very many impact shortstops in the game. You know, you think I just mentioned Francisco Lindor. There's, there's maybe, you know, 10 to 12 shortstops that bring their team well above everybody else. Right? [00:23:00] And so you have Bo Biche becoming a free agent this off season. He's going to get offers from, uh, almost every team that doesn't, that isn't one of those 10 or or 12 teams, right?

[00:23:10] Um. But for the Rays to have a young guy come up and, and do what Carson's been doing, and he's just, he's showing the part, he's showing the maturity, he's showing the refinement with defensively and the impact that he can have with the bat. And you just sit back for a while and you think about the road that got the Rays to that point with all the other short stops that they've had come up through the ranks.

[00:23:35] And then show phenom potential and then disappear completely, and then all the turmoil that's taken place since that point. , This is one of those moments where as a Rays fan, you have to kind of. Let out a breath of air and say, okay, we're going to be okay. Right. And I think that's what I'm feeling from all the fans and all the excitement around Carson Williams is that now, because that [00:24:00] position is so hard to fill, unless you're gonna shell out a bunch of money to somebody like Bob Bichette.

[00:24:05] You know, it, it gives you hope for next year and beyond where you're going to be able to take that step forward. Uh, instead of, of wallowing in that sort of fighting for a wild card spot, which the Rays or we're in this year for the majority of the year. Yeah. So, so, you know, then it allows you to focus on right field, maybe behind the plate, wherever it may be that.

[00:24:27] This off season, you look at, you're like, man, we feel really strong now about our third base and and short stop positions. That's a great place to be for the Rays.

[00:24:37] Mark Corbett: Well, we look for longevity in that position. And Ha-Seong Kim has been showing so much when it comes to the injuries with a high price tag

[00:24:48] and I, I don't know if we just eat that price tag or not, but, uh, Carson Williams I think is a, is a. It can be a great solution. I know we're gonna, we're gonna say, well, mark, you're throwing him into the [00:25:00] deep end of the pool immediately, and the expectations are high going from AAA to the majors, but I, I think, uh, I think we could probably see him in that more permanently.

[00:25:09] What do you think?

[00:25:11] Mat Germain: I think you're right. But I, I think what I could see playing out, and I, you know, I tried to read the tea leaves a little bit, but whoever doesn't land Beau Bichette Yeah. Will probably come knocking to the Rays door and say, Hey, you looking to get rid of some of that contract from Ha-Seong Kim?

[00:25:27] You know, and they'll bet on the fact that maybe he'll be healthier next year than he was this year. Um, because it is such a crucial position and Ha-Seong Kim is a very well liked and, and high skilled player. He just hasn't had much luck, uh, health wise. So, yeah, I, I can see that because then it opens up more money for the Raisin.

[00:25:47] They're still in sort of that in between, you know, stadium situation, uh, which. I sent you a picture on Blue Sky. They're actually, you know, starting to put the new roof on [00:26:00] and I've seen layers go up and, and so the money's been spent and they're actually going through with it. So hopefully no storms come through and rip that off before they get it settled.

[00:26:09] And, uh, and we'll see if it opens in time for opening day of next year.

[00:26:16] Mark Corbett: The rays are nothing, if not eventful and whether they want to be or not. And I'm talking about off the field and that's, that's part of it. I mean, gosh. Uh, so we will see how all that comes through to fruition. I feel pretty good about it.

[00:26:33] I feel pretty good about 2026. Yeah. You know, my gosh, it's still not like I'm gonna stop watching. We still have a good team. We've got great guests to watch. I mean, I watch the game today and get to see Yandy and Brandon. Both perform well and it was outstanding to see that, you know, it's outstanding to see Drew Rasmussen do as well as he does, but sometimes.

[00:26:57] We don't see as much on the offense as we'd like to see [00:27:00] to be able to close a deal. And to that point, Matt, uh, we have got, I mean, one of the best guys out there with Junior Caminero we talk time and again, this is gonna be Mr. Franchise guy. And like all players, they have ups and downs and he's been finding his downs.

[00:27:20] I think over the last two or three games he's had, oh, lemme see. One of 'em was, see between him and, uh. Chandler Simpson and one of them had like 19 at bats in one hit, and I can't remember which one that was, Chandler or, or, uh, Caminero. But they both were similar and it's like, it is so foreign to what they normally achieve I believe it was Chandler who was 19 and uh, one.

[00:27:47] So we will see what comes back from that. , We know that we can expect to see great base dealing. We see Chandler get out there and what's coming up now, they've just finished up the [00:28:00] series with the guardians and they are heading to,

[00:28:04] Mat Germain: Washington. Washington. Washington, Washington. Yeah.

[00:28:06] Mark Corbett: Okay. There we go.

[00:28:09] Mat Germain: Going to DC. Oh, so. They're hosting Seattle and Cleveland again. Uh, next, uh, next series after that. So, geez,

[00:28:18] Mark Corbett: not an easy time.

[00:28:19] Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope. But they are an amazing team to watch. Now, we talked about, obviously Carson Williams. What do you wanna say about our new pitch?

[00:28:33] Mat Germain: You mean overall the new pitching that have come in? Yeah.

[00:28:36] Mark Corbett: Yeah. 'cause we've had about three now. Three or four. I mean, between Seymour Engler Well's been there a little bit longer, but.

[00:28:43] Mat Germain: Yeah, I think the rays are very happy that Ian performed well, uh, so far and, and, you know, having that lefty option in, in the rotation definitely is something that if, if Shane McClanahan isn't gonna be able to find his stuff again, then Ian Seymour, you know, the spotlight [00:29:00] shines very brightly on him.

[00:29:01] Right. Um, so I think he's always had that. Uh, bulldog mentality. That's all that I've pRays that, you know, through and through the last three years. And, um, I think he's, he's one of those arms that can last, right? He, he has staying potential is the best way to put it. And he's so different than everybody else that they have, whether it's a reliever or a starter, um, that.

[00:29:26] I can see him taking up the same kind of performances as Jeffrey Springs had with the Rays, you know, while he was there, but do it at a much younger age and for a longer period of time. Uh, that's the kind of potential that he has. So hopefully they're able to continue having success with him and, and maintain him as a rotation option.

[00:29:45] The other guy is Brian Van Belle and, and Brian Van Belle. I mean, since they acquired him in Durham, he was one of the. Best pictures that they had down there in terms of performances. So I'm not surprised that he looked fairly good when he came up, but [00:30:00] like Zach Littel when he first came in, I think there's gonna be bumps in the road.

[00:30:04] There's going to be days , when he looks bad and there's days when he looks great. But I think the buy-in is there. The, there are potential again. Is there to be something like what Zach Littel was for the Rays? So , the bigger question is , what's behind that? And is there an ace? Because you just spoke about Drew Rasmussen , and Drew Rasmussen is one of those guys that, um, you dream on, right?

[00:30:29] Like if he can put a full season together in which he's aiming to. You towards right now. , Then he's just outstanding. He's, , one of the top 15 pitchers in MLB as a starter, I would say. And the stats kind of show that as well. So, you know, if you want to pair him with one other person that's consistent, uh, to me that's Yoniel Curet in,

[00:30:50] and AAA and, and so far since his promotion, you know, he is, had his ups and downs as well. Like anybody else that's young like that. But we just spoke [00:31:00] about Carson Williams, Junior Caminero, , Ian Seymour, uh, all the Chandler Simpson, all the young guys. And young, Yoniel Curet is only 22 years old. So with all of that.

[00:31:11] Core combined. When you're looking at that 2026 season, you know, you're, you're crossing your fingers and toes on a lot of different things, but the talent certainly is there. And so there's a lot of intrigue about the Rays for next season. Um, health is always gonna be one of those mitigating factors, but I, I certainly feel like the Rays.

[00:31:34] Did a good job of adding a breadth of talent, um, and, and maintaining that pool enough so that hopefully there's some performances that are much better, you know, in 2026 and guys like Tre' Morgan and a few others can join in the mix , and really make it a special season. 'cause that with that much youth, and you would think that much.

[00:31:58] Salary that they can add, [00:32:00] assuming they make certain transactions that open up that room. It makes the Rays a very fun team to monitor through the off season.

[00:32:11] Mark Corbett: Well, let's see, we're about to 135 games, I think, into the season. So, Hmm. Less than 30 left for the year. Question, so junior. 39 home runs, you know, they can't help but on TV show screen after screen of comparisons about how he's moved up in the franchise, you know, as first as a, as a young man, you know, and where he's in proximity to players across all of MLB and showing that the junior's achievements of players under the age of 21. Now he is definitely looking really, really good in that list. What do you think with the less than 30 games remaining of the year, how many more home runs do you think [00:33:00] Junior will tally up on that count?

[00:33:03] Mat Germain: I'll say he gets to, uh, 49 51. I'll say he gets to 51.

[00:33:12] Mark Corbett: Oof, man. I like that. I like that a lot. I don't know that I've gone that far. Get to over the half century Mark, brother. Yes. Yes. Come on Junior. We're pulling for you brother. And,

[00:33:24] Mat Germain: and his agent's gonna be adding zeros to every offer.

[00:33:30] Mark Corbett: Yeah, he's still got a while before arbitration, but man, can you imagine?

[00:33:34] No. Like they'll want to do, they'll wanna get some kind of extension or agreement early with that young man. There's no doubt about it.

[00:33:40] Mat Germain: I imagine as soon as new ownership comes in, that'll be one of their first hurrah, uh, sort of deals. Oh. He's definitely earned it. , And I, I posted a thing on, , blue Sky, tonight showing the difference between him and Evan Longoria, , through 176 games in MLB and Evan Longoria had [00:34:00] 40 home runs and.

[00:34:01] Junior Cas Caminero 46. Evan Longoria had nine stolen bases. So it is junior and, uh, strikeout percentage wise, that's where you can tell a little bit more about, you know, what kind of hitter they are at the plate, especially at a young age, uh, if they're getting exposed or not. And, and Evan Longoria's at 23% and Junior Cameron's at 20%.

[00:34:22] Geez. So the 20% part is very intriguing because. You know, I don't think anybody remembers, but Junior Caminero's first stints in MLB weren't exactly awe inspiring. Right. And there's a reason he went back down quickly thereafter. So he struggled a lot initially, but he came up much younger than when Evan Longoria did.

[00:34:42] Um, and, and so there's this whole, you know, maturity and, and of the moment and getting used to things so. I have a feeling that the next two to three years, Junior Caminero may outpace what Evan Longoria did through that same kind of timeframe, [00:35:00] uh, just in terms of the power, right? I'm not saying average in OnBase percentage, who knows?

[00:35:05] But with that strikeout percentage, it does open up the possibility that the OnBase does really, I. Significantly. And when you're rubbing shoulders with Yandy Diaz who can tell him a few things about how to approach him at bat, that's, that's not a bad place to be. And, and he can learn a lot from watching Yandy at bats, uh, and I'm sure he does every day.

[00:35:27] Mark Corbett: Well, the veterans, like you and I talked about, we weren't sure we were gonna have 'em, you know, after the trade deadline. We weren't sure if Yandy was gonna be there or Brandon was there. But, uh, they, they were the ones today who made the difference as far as numbers to put up on the board. Didn't make a difference in the end of the game.

[00:35:42] But as far as us winning, um. When the extra innings and Well, that's, that's how it goes sometimes. But yes, I'm, I'm glad that Junior has yandy there as, as a mentor and I, it's important, especially when, you know, English is a second language for [00:36:00] some of these players to be able to speak directly and clear understanding of what's going on with each one of those.

[00:36:06] I think there's, there's something to be said for that, so I'm glad Yandy able to, to, to, to deliver that to, uh. Junior. Oof man. Oh man. Oh man. Um, I don't how much more you wanna talk about the Rays 'cause I got some other things I wanna talk about. We can talk. Is there any other Rays topics you wanna make sure we hit?

[00:36:24] Mat Germain: No, the o The only other thing I would add with that young group is Everson. Everson. Pereira has looked very good defensively, but the. The focus, I guess, is getting him comfortable, you know, and working him in, into the, uh, the outfield rotation. But Richie Palacios is coming up through, uh, you know, his, uh, I don't, IL stint, I guess, or rehab stint and, and aaa.

[00:36:48] So he may take his role up, uh, pretty soon. Or Christopher Morel may end up getting sent down, or, or Chandler Simpson, as you noted, he's been struggling a little bit [00:37:00] more. Maybe they wanna just tweak things a little bit and see how it goes. But, uh, yeah, I like what Everson Pereira's potential is, and I think that'll, you know, add some competition to the outfield for next year.

[00:37:12] That's

[00:37:12] Mark Corbett: it. Well, we, you remind us though, Matt. Just the depth that we do have that, I mean, if we're, you know, how many folks have thought about Palacios in the last week? Probably not many, but Richie's there and Richie Richie's got great energy too when he is been with the Rays. So it is good to know that they're there.

[00:37:35] I always feel a little bad about them not getting, playing time in the majors, but, uh, it's part of the game. Well, a couple of things that I wanted to talk to you about, uh, beyond the Rays universe, and that was this past week, I had the great opportunity to, with, to drive up to Williamsport from Louisville, Kentucky, uh, with my brother for about a 10 hour drive to see the Little League World Series.

[00:37:58] And [00:38:00] we went there and saw four games in a day. Now remind you there's six inning games. At least there's one that's the, uh, the rule on that, but, um. It was a great event. It was great experience, and if anybody hasn't done it, I highly recommend it. Now, Matt, I wanna have Chris on the show because when he and I, my brother, when he and I went there, I.

[00:38:24] I had watched some of the Little League World Series before we'd gone, was little leagues teams that were going up there, but my brother was, he was into it. He, he could tell you the different players out there and you know, who was the second, uh, best pitcher on the team. And he could go right down the line.

[00:38:40] Yeah. It, it made for, it was. As if I had my own, uh, announcer of the game or color guy for the game on each one of these. And it was, it is fantastic. Thank you, Chris. This is a life experience. I, I'll, it's just wonderful. I'll never be able to, to replicate. So, uh, that was a wonderful thing. We'll get Chris on here but, um, [00:39:00] another thing I wanna mention is you and I were talking about the Little League World Series and you said something about an international one and, and I, I thought some of that kind of caught in the back of my mind. I thought there is actually simultaneously the International Little League World Series coming up and they came up together.

[00:39:14] 'cause when we, when we were there watching those, uh, four games. Two of those games were of international teams playing one another. Right? You had the, so they were doing elimination there. Then you had four US teams that were eliminated one another. Then you had the US winners, you had the international winners, and then, then you had the world winners, I guess you would say, beyond that.

[00:39:38] But it made for very entertaining and to see the heart and passion of these young kids out there, it was amazing to, to see them of. Hit a few dingers out there. That was just stunning. And we'll go more into that on a future show. But I did have to, uh, at least address that because I [00:40:00] thought it's a life experience.

[00:40:01] If you've never done it, folks, you should. Another thing I'd recommend, and that's the, the museum there, and I'll talk about that more when, when Chris is on. Um, okay.

[00:40:13] Mat Germain: Uh, were, were you at the Chinese Tai, uh, Taipei game? Like the, uh, the, I think it they won the championship, right?

[00:40:21] Mark Corbett: Yeah. I, I got to watch them play.

[00:40:24] Uh, who was it? Uh, in the earlier. Games. So I did not see, I was not there for the final games. I was there. Well,

[00:40:32] Mat Germain: the reason I mentioned them is Chinese Taipei are starting to send more and more uh, players to the ABL. That's the Australian Baseball League where the ray send some players in the winter. And, and between them and Korea, they're actually eating up some of the international slots that they have in the ABL, uh, for players to, you know, that aren't from Australia to pick up.

[00:40:56] So the rays haven't been able to send as many players down there as they had a [00:41:00] few years ago. Um, but yeah. So when, when you mention, you know, the, the, we just spoke to Brooke earlier. Um. The, uh, Olympics coming up in, uh, 2032. So you think about all those teams, right? Chinese, Taipei, they, you know, they do very well in international tournaments in the WBC, et cetera.

[00:41:22] So just like Japan, they're a threat whenever they're there, I think, uh, you know, fans will, will remember some of the, of the, uh, of the names if you were to throw them out there, but they're, they're stronger than people really think. Um. And I think the, it's, it's always great to me to see, so what I meant when I said the international thing, I, I meant more.

[00:41:43] Do you think the tournament will go overseas? Oh, do you think they'll ever host it in another location to where. The United States would actually travel there to, to have that World Series in another location? Or is it forever [00:42:00] beholden? 'cause I, I, the way that I think of it in my head is at one point in time there was no World Cup in hockey.

[00:42:07] It was called the Canada Cup. And so the Canada Cup was Canada hosting a tournament and ha inviting all the other countries to come and compete. Eventually it grew to be something, you know, bigger and it changed names a couple of times, but, so the Little League World Series, you know, when you're thinking about the money aspect of things and, and UBC and everything else, you know, it will, it attain that kind of stature to the point where it starts traveling around so that there's more of a.

[00:42:36] A light on and a little bit bigger focus.

[00:42:40] Mark Corbett: Yeah, I, I don't know. I mean, the thing of it is, it's interesting about how they approach it there. Now I know it's a lot about the course sponsorships.

[00:42:49] Mat Germain: Mm-hmm.

[00:42:50] Mark Corbett: Now, when we went there, there's no fee for parking. There's no fee to go to any game. Now, we were going for the semi-finals day.

[00:42:59] [00:43:00] Okay. And the attendance was 7,700. So, you know, a Rays game. Yeah. On a On a hot day. On a hot day. But that's funny. No, that's not to me. But, uh, yeah. Uh, it's, I don't know. I mean, because it's such a fixture there for decades now. Mm-hmm. It would be, I'd be hard pressed to see it. I think you'd almost have to, well, I know you see the Canada Cup became the World Cup, so the Canada Cup kind of just disappeared and I don't see.

[00:43:33] Williamsport PA disappearing. So it,

[00:43:37] Mat Germain: it'd be interesting, the thing to consider is that you can have a lead up tournament, still involve that, that location, right? Because you do have to sort out which teams will represent the United States in that. So it, it could even double the amount of time. Of teams and games playing in that area.

[00:43:57] Uh, if you're doing it twice, you know, 'cause [00:44:00] some years they may still host, et cetera. Um, but yeah, I, to me it's, it's a great event. I, I think, you know, there it's very rare that you find so much. Of a spotlight on kids that age performing in sports, right? I don't think, you don't hear about it in basketball, you don't hear about it.

[00:44:20] Maybe football rivals it because football people are just a little bit nutty about, but. But, , the Friday night lights and all that kind of stuff. So, um, I think, I think it's a, it's a good event and it's kind of an example. It's one of the few for baseball where they kind of outshine other leagues for kid or I say, say leagues.

[00:44:40] It's not really related to MLB, it's more of a standalone tournament. But, uh, if I was trying to. Bringing a focus on let's say 12-year-old hockey players, I would set up something similar to this. 'cause it's such a great event.

[00:44:57] Mark Corbett: The enthusiasm of the parents that [00:45:00] were there and the players was just overwhelming.

[00:45:04] And when one team. One and the other lost. It was heartbreaking. Some of the kids would fall onto the ground if they were in the outfield and, you know, whatever. A, a run came in at, at the bottom of the ninth and finish the game. But we've talked about this before. You know, he always told you, well, Matt, why can't the pros do what the kids do?

[00:45:27] They gotta go over at the end of the game and actually do good game. You know, slap the hand, whatever, and look the other team in the eye. Now, if we had that with these crazy men that were playing the same team three or four days in a row, in the heat, they're gonna slap the living, you know, one outta one another.

[00:45:45] But these youngsters, yeah, these youngsters, they, they, uh, very respectful. They did it. So I still think that the pros need to be able to take a page from the kid's book and make that happen. [00:46:00]

[00:46:00] Mat Germain: Yeah, and I almost think that there's, you know, I don't know how many people that are, uh, ex MLB players go to the League World Series, but I think they, they should also be a fixture there to kind of cheer them on and uh, you know, rub shoulders with them a little bit, teach 'em a few things.

[00:46:17] It'd be kind of cool to have that kind link to it as well. But yeah, the focus definitely needs to be on the kids 'cause they're outstanding.

[00:46:25] Mark Corbett: Well, I'm gonna have Chris on here. Like I said, he can talk so much more about it. 'cause he lived and breathed that. I mean he, for weeks he was watching these teams come up and he could tell me, you know, oh yeah, this play, he'll, they'll move him here to there.

[00:46:38] He could tell me the rules of the game. He explained to me the wider base, you know, the double base on first, which we don't have in the bros. And I haven't been paying enough attention to high school and college to see. They're talking about.

[00:46:49] Mat Germain: They're talking about bringing it, that's, that's one of the ones on the works.

[00:46:54] Mark Corbett: Yeah. And folks we're talking about is that. On first base in college and high school. What they're using [00:47:00] now, it is imagine two first bases. One of them a bright orange color. The other looks like your normal base, and that is to clear a path for that batter to go to first, where there's not gonna be as many collisions and people getting impacted and hurt and reduce some injuries.

[00:47:18] And like so many things in baseball, when they put something new up at, it's like. So ready to put up the stop sign and say, what, what, what, what are you talking about? But it, it looks, yeah, it, it looks a little odd, but the idea of the safety that comes with it, I think is well worth it.

[00:47:35] Mat Germain: There's a lot of, uh, I don't wanna call 'em nicks and bruises, but like, if you get cleeted in the ankle or on the foot, like that's, that's something that can really put a damper on your season quickly.

[00:47:47] And I think Jonathan Aranda had a couple of injuries because of it. Yandy Diaz did. There's, there's, there's a lot of action going on there and a lot of speed and a lot of effort like there. It's hard for guys to. [00:48:00] Twist and turn their bodies on the go. And that base is so hard that that's the other pet peeve I have.

[00:48:05] Like I remember you used to watch old school videos of guys hitting that base and like the dust would pop off and there was like the dirt, right? Like the, it was just, and you could see the squishiness of the cleat. Stepping it down now there's nothing like, you might as well be walking on a piece of cement and, and that's how stiff that base is.

[00:48:26] Maybe that's something that they need to revisit as well, because I see a lot of guys like misstep and, and. Their foot, you know, cranks the base diff differently because their ankle turns as they're going around the bases. Um, I just think there's no need for it to be that stiff. Like we have cameras, we know when he's hit it, we could see the downward motion on the base.

[00:48:47] If anything, it's a telltale sign that he's actually reached it. The video, you know, review guys might appreciate that kind of change. So, and I still think it makes for cool videos in slow motion. [00:49:00] Going around the bases that way.

[00:49:02] Mark Corbett: Uh, I love it. I, but you mentioned something about the cleats and the player players getting injured and.

[00:49:10] Used to be once upon a time, that was a strategy, you know, that was a strategy sliding in, you know, feet first and clipping out your guy. Uh, there should say the first baseman, second baseman, whoever. And so we've, we've moved away from that. So that in mind, yeah, let's go ahead and improve the bases while we're at it.

[00:49:29] And, and as strictly from a baseball biz business perspective as an owner, Hey. Take care of your, uh, your folks, man, you, you don't wanna be spending more money on, uh, top talent that has to sit in the bay for a while and bring somebody else back up. Why not keep that top talent all the time by reducing injuries at first?

[00:49:50] So, yeah, that's kind of a, that peeve of mine.

[00:49:55] Matt and I have been in off this past weekend. Things going up there, up in the north as far as the fires and [00:50:00] all. Send the best all you guys because it's, it's been.

[00:50:03] Unbelievable. I, I know as far as you guys even having the equipment to, to have flights come in and, and put out the fires, it's just, uh, like so many things we don't find out about how much we need the resources until the complete need overwhelms us. And I see that happening. So I'm, I'm hoping that that's something that, uh, can get better.

[00:50:28] Mat Germain: Sadly, it's, it's a way of the future. And, uh, and honestly, I've been clamoring for the Canadian government to purchase more of the, they're called the havelin, uh, water bombers. And they're the ones that you saw in California that we sent down from Quebec and, and Ontario. And, and basically they, they fly down, they scoop up a whole whack of water, they go over and they dump it on the fire.

[00:50:51] Simple as that. Yeah. Uh, but they do it in such large amounts that it really. Helps to, uh, create barriers in how the fire [00:51:00] spreads. Um, so apparently they have so many orders from, from Europe and everywhere else around the world that the ones that the Manitoba government just ordered won't be ready until 2031.

[00:51:13] Well by 2031. You know, that's, that's such a significant amount of time. So my thing is, it's time for us to declare national emergency and actually enact. Force the companies to double or triple production so that we get these ahead of time and we don't lose all our forestry and homes and everything else to these fires when we know for a fact they're not gonna slow down.

[00:51:36] They're only gonna speed up. Yeah. Uh, this year I think our area had. I know we, I talk millimeters because I'm Canadian, but we had 50 millimeters less of rain, you know, for the two month period as to what we're actually, you know, used to having. And so all the grass when you go around is gold. It's, it's dry and when you walk on it, it crunches.

[00:51:58] It's just there's [00:52:00] no water in the ground. Uh, so the fire, the forest, I don't know if anybody knows about Nova Scotia, but that's where I live and, and the majority of the center of the province is woods. There's not much population. The majority of the population is all on the outer banks of the coastline that, you know, goes around Nova Scotia.

[00:52:19] So really the fire gets defeated itself, you know, with the winds being what they are in maritime region and they're just continuously, you know. Fanning themselves. And then we had, um, a hurricane that breezed by and didn't actually stop in, but it fanned the flames even more. So what little rain we did get didn't do anything.

[00:52:40] , I'm hoping that governments to me, should be held to account. In this case, if it was my home that had burnt down, I would be suing the government because they did not. We don't have a single water bomber in Nova Scotia. And, and you know, that we are begging and pleading other provinces and territories to, to send their gear over and it's not right.

[00:52:58] And that happened, [00:53:00] that applies to a lot of national, uh, natural disasters that we know are coming, we know are only getting worse. Right? Yeah. And if your government decides, put their ha their head in the sand and, and to not use your taxpayers the right way, you have a right to actually take 'em to account and, and to really say, you know.

[00:53:20] This isn't right. We know about this. Uh, and people are just deciding to ignore it. Um, and I hope that, uh, in some way, shape or form climate patterns can, you know, somehow improve. Yeah. When we do get some more, um. Uh, you know, better ways of running our economies, industries, cars, boats, planes, everything so that we can actually all live on the healthy planet that that breathes and acts in a, uh, moderate way.

[00:53:56] Mark Corbett: Well, I'm with you there, brother. A hundred percent. And it's a [00:54:00] path down here, Southview, we definitely need to take as far as taking well. Holding people accountable. I'll leave it at that for the moment. But places where we can still try to enjoy life are things where we do for our children. And I know you were able to go out and, uh, coach your kids with a soccer game recently, and it's toward what the Pro Province Championship.

[00:54:28] That's right.

[00:54:28] Mat Germain: They won the provincial championships for soccer and they were missing their six best players and, uh, or I shouldn't say best, their, their six most experienced players, including the one that did happen to score the most goals, , for the season. But they, the girls played so hard and they played great games.

[00:54:46] I, I would say they actually dominated. The, the last game, uh, in terms of just,, outplaying the other team, uh, even though they had to overcome so much, , to get there. So it, it was great to see and to be a part of. And honestly it was just [00:55:00] great to watch my daughter play as well. And, and, uh, when you get to be a, you know, a friendly coach like that just shortly and it goes that well, you grab onto it and it's a great memory.

[00:55:12] Mark Corbett: Well, I'm so glad you were able to do that with your daughter and enjoy that with the team. And I'll insert here, uh, we're gonna have brooke Mrozek on here with the, the Florida Bolts Girls Baseball team. And she's gonna tell us a little bit also about, you know.

[00:55:30] Building the path for youngsters to be able to participate, enjoy games, find championships, and expand. So, uh, stick around for that and we look forward to having you guys back here on the show again real soon.

[00:00:00] Mark Corbett: Welcome to Baseball Biz On Deck. I am Mark Corbett, your host. And with me today is none other than Mr. Matt Germain as each week and this week we also have Brooke Mrozek. How you doing, Brooke?

[00:00:16] Brooke Mrozek: I'm good. How are

[00:00:17] Mark Corbett: you?

[00:00:18] I'm doing fine. I'm doing fine. You've been a very busy team manager lately. My gosh. Uh, Brooke Case, most folks had known, she'd been on the show in the past and we were talking with about her team, the, uh, Florida Bolts and doing a lot with young girls in baseball, but most recently. Your team. Well, let me stop.

[00:00:42] I'll let you to introduce folks to exactly what the Florida Bolts Organization is.

[00:00:48] Brooke Mrozek: So we are an all girls baseball organization for the entire state of Florida. Um, we have girls ages from seven all the way up to 18 who join us for any [00:01:00] all girl baseball tournaments that we can participate in. Um, we just competed at the national tournament in, uh, sparks, Nevada, and we had our 12 U team take first place in the minor division and.

[00:01:14] Make it even more special. My daughter was the coach of that team. Then our 16 U team placed second in the minor's division, which was a new win for us. So, um, we're very excited and our movement is just to continue to grow women's baseball, not just here in Florida, but everywhere.

[00:01:35] Mark Corbett: Well, and what a, what better time than now.

[00:01:38] I mean, things are really starting to emerge. We were looking a while back, we saw WNBA come up. We saw women's in soccer come up earlier than that. But right now, this week in Washington DC we had the advent of the Women's Pro Baseball League, and these are women who are gathering, and they're going to, I believe, have six teams starting in [00:02:00] 2026 or compete, be competing up in the Northeast.

[00:02:03] So. When I look Brooke, at, at the young ladies that you're coaching right now, I'm thinking there's something you can actually point to, to where they can go and make this, you know, a career more. Right. Why they, why they should enjoy it right now, as, as youngsters?

[00:02:18] Brooke Mrozek: Yes,

[00:02:19] Mark Corbett: there's, there's something beyond,

[00:02:21] Brooke Mrozek: there's always been.

[00:02:23] A stop to their goal. It's always been okay, well, after 18 there's nowhere for you to play. Then college started, college teams started becoming a thing. Uh, we have 10 female baseball teams, um, 10, like Cal Poly has one. So now we have female baseball teams in college. So then the next goal was, well guys, you can play in college.

[00:02:46] But then again, after that, where do you go? So for the WPBL to be coming into fruition, finally, , it, it's a dream come true for some of these girls. Now, girls, like my daughter, um, her dream has always been [00:03:00] to coach. Um, she never, she always figured after college she. Gonna coach a team or, or do something in the MLB.

[00:03:07] Um, so now that that dream and that goal has kind of shifted, no longer is it the MLB, but now she wants to coach or do something for the WPBL. So it, it's, there is, like you said, there's this huge movement now and it is just awe-inspiring and we're, everybody I think is very, very excited to finally see it happen.

[00:03:29] Mark Corbett: Well, I'm glad to hear you point out about the 10 collegiate teams that are there for women right now in baseball, because it still was like that door was closed, and even if a woman's pro league started, what was gonna be the feeder. What was gonna be, you know, where those recruits came into that. And quite often what we'd seen over time was that there were women who wound up playing softball in college because that's where opportunity was.

[00:03:56] But they still had the love of the game that they played younger in baseball [00:04:00] and would find a way to come back into it. And, but now tell us a little bit more about how you're, uh, you're helping those young ladies developed with the game.

[00:04:10] Brooke Mrozek: So we hold practices once a month. Um, because Florida's obviously so big, we encourage them to continue to play locally, play on their rec teams, continue to be sort of that beacon of light for the younger girls coming in.

[00:04:26] Um, you know. Other girls see you playing out there on a rec team with the boys and they're going, oh, look, I can do that too. So we encourage them to keep playing on their local teams or local travel teams. We practiced together once a month as an organization. Um, we try to make it fun. We had a slip and slide sliding practice last last month.

[00:04:46] You know, we, we try to keep those girls in the momentum going, like I said, and, um. As far as development is concerned, you know, we, they can call me, you know, we have one girl, she's her [00:05:00] shoulder's injured right now, and you know, she'll text me and I'm like, Hey, just continue to do your reps, continue to do physical therapy.

[00:05:08] You know, baseball is always here. You just have to get better. So, you know, as an organizer. It's my job to just provide that inspiration, provide that support, you know, let them know that someone other than their parents believe in them and believe that they, but they belong. Um, I always say it's one thing to hear your mom and dad tell you, oh, you know, you can do it.

[00:05:35] It's different to have somebody else say. I believe in you. You belong. Here, let me help you. Let me find ways for you to keep playing baseball. Let me find opportunities for you and support in all aspects. So.

[00:05:52] Mat Germain: When it comes to these kinds of, of efforts that you guys are doing, which I applaud, they're great, they're outstanding, uh, and it's always [00:06:00] great to see forward momentum, but a lot of that has to do with money all a lot of times.

[00:06:05] So in terms of marketing and how much funding you've seen from. You know, obviously you've been doing this for quite a while, so how have you seen it progress through this process and, and what do you envision it or where do you envision it going in the next, you know, three to five years?

[00:06:24] Brooke Mrozek: So, because we are a nonprofit, um, we rely solely on donations and fundRaysrs and sponsorships.

[00:06:30] And I will just tell you that we have actually seen it diminish. Um, we are finding it less and less. Every year. Um. I think with the economy, everyone is having a hard time. So, you know, businesses are struggling and they're not able to support us the way that they used to. Um, in the past, the Tampa Bay Rays had actually sponsored us and would sponsor a team, but with the hurricane and their stadium needing fixed and they're not [00:07:00] sure where they're going, and then they're at George Steinbrenner Stadium, which has less capacity, um, their community funds.

[00:07:08] Dropped. So they weren't able to even sponsor us this year. So I, I really, I really rely on just the kindness of people's heart. Um, and my poor daughter who stands out at Publix at, for eight hours on a Sunday begging people for money. Um, but that's really how, that's really how we function is just sponsorships, donations.

[00:07:32] And, and fundRaysrs. Um, right now we're actually doing a 50 / 50 raffle, and we're, it's slowly growing, but you know, in the past it would explode and now we're kind of like, it's, it's a little bit of a pull.

[00:07:49] Mat Germain: Right. That makes sense. And it, it's, it's a story that you hear a lot and I imagine it's hard to grow things and move them forward when so much of that is, is being held back a little [00:08:00] bit with the, the financial times.

[00:08:02] So hopefully you guys are able to find those, uh, partnerships that, that help out. Now, I don't know the background story of how the WNBA and others, um, you know, got off the ground on that front. Uh, but has you mentioned the college aspect. Mm-hmm. Um, how many colleges have come online recently, and how many more do you think will come online in the near future?

[00:08:25] Brooke Mrozek: I, I don't know how many have come recently. Um, I just know that the number is at 10. , But we have a whole new group of girls that are getting ready to go into college, and my hope is that they start a club at their own schools. That's how it initially starts, is a girl who is passionate about baseball goes to that college and says, Hey, I wanna start a club.

[00:08:47] And then that club grows. And that's what I'm hoping, like my daughter graduates. Not this, not this coming year, but the following year in 2027. So my hope is that when she, whatever college she goes to, if they don't have a [00:09:00] club, she starts one and says, Hey, let's do this together. Um, I think that a lot of, there's a lot of progression in open-mindedness versus what it used to be like in the past where it was like, oh, that's a boy sport.

[00:09:14] I think that there's a, there's a movement again behind that progression. So. Hopefully, we'll, we'll find more. Um, I know that baseball for all has a list of colleges on their website, and there's hundreds that have openly said that if a girl were to try out, they would be welcome to it. So, you know, again, hopefully the girls who go to these colleges will start something, uh, really starts with their leadership.

[00:09:44] Mark Corbett: Well, it's encouraging to see what all you've done with these young ladies and. When you think of that, you're really only able to get together once a month because this isn't a neighborhood community team. It is a, you know, it is a community of young women [00:10:00] and bringing them together, plus keeping that those lines open during the month.

[00:10:05] I mean, having conversations. Pardon me and I, and I'm sure they reach out to you. I know, I didn't, they reach out to a coach sometimes more than they will a parent. Right. For certain things too. So I, I applaud you for being that coach and that manager. So talking about the need for being able, these young ladies to do more, uh, what's coming up were further opportunities where we could see the Florida Bolts play.

[00:10:34] Brooke Mrozek: Uh, well, we actually have some exciting news. We have been, uh, exclusively invited to go and play in the Barclay Cup, uh, which is a prestigious tournament down in Australia. Um, we will hit make history by being the first international team to ever be invited and ever participate. Um, so it's. Things like [00:11:00] that.

[00:11:00] Those opportunities, obviously they don't come around often. Um, but we're extremely excited to be heading down there. We have 37 days, um, and then we'll be heading down to Australia just to compete. Um, obviously we wanna win. Um, but the whole, the point is to kind of bridge that gap between an international team in Australia, you know, Australia and the us.

[00:11:24] And showing their girls as well that we, we also believe in them and, and we believe in what they're doing and they believe in what we're doing and, um, coming together. Um, it's, it's very, I'm, I'm so excited. I'm not excited about the spiders, but I'm excited to go and play baseball.

[00:11:44] Mark Corbett: Well, well, you live in Florida.

[00:11:46] You've got insects and iguanas everywhere. Come on.

[00:11:49] Brooke Mrozek: Yes, but they're not called Huntsman spiders, and they're not like the size of your face.

[00:11:56] Mark Corbett: I do have to say I did see a banana spider once down [00:12:00] here and mm-hmm. They are scary big, but yes they are. Yeah. I am so excited for you and those young ladies to, to be doing that.

[00:12:07] So, but surely now Australia's not putting up the bill for this, are they? What, what does, what do the Bolts need to make this thing happen?

[00:12:16] Brooke Mrozek: We need sponsorships, um, we need donations, sponsorships, um, people to participate in our 50 / 50 raffle. All of that money goes back to the girls. Um, obviously we have hotel fee, we have a transportation from the hotel to the tournament fee.

[00:12:31] There's an actual tournament fee. Um, I really wanted to do something special for the girls for even having received an invitation. Obviously we made an impression on them. About, you know, how our, our sportsmanship and so I wanted to do a new jersey for them, so I created a new jersey. So it's really just sponsorships.

[00:12:54] We, we just need that money to come in and, and kind of help lower that price for the girls. [00:13:00] Ultimately, we have some girls who can't go because they just can't financially swing the cost of the tournament plus flights. So anything that we can do to help alleviate some of that for them. You know, it really goes a long way just to, to keep giving them that opportunity.

[00:13:17] Mark Corbett: And Brooke, how can we or others, uh, help out with it? Where would we look to be able to help, uh, fund this event?

[00:13:25] Brooke Mrozek: Yeah, um, we actually, you can go right on our Facebook page. Um, you can message me on Facebook and I can provide our address. You can email me at FloridaBoltsBaseball@yahoo.com. You can. The 50 / 50 raffle is posted right there.

[00:13:43] You can cash that Venmo or PayPal to get tickets into the 50 / 50 raffle. And you know, if, if it's a sponsorship, we have sponsorship levels that we're offering, they're posted on our Facebook page as well. Um, Instagram has it, um, or again, like I said, just email [00:14:00] me and, and we can get you that information.

[00:14:03] Mark Corbett: That's fantastic, Brooke. What we'll make sure we put all that information in the show notes so people be able to find it very easily, and of course, as you mentioned, they can find you on all those different social media as well. Is there anything else you'd like to share with the audience and let folks know about the, the Florida Bolts, in case you didn't know, it's B-O-L-T-S folks, not, not the boats in the water.

[00:14:25] Brooke Mrozek: Yeah. Florida bolts, lightning bolts. Um, no. There, I just, you know, our goal really, my, my whole goal is just to provide opportunities for these girls. I've, I've watched my daughter struggle with. You know, she makes the high school team, but because she's a girl, she doesn't get as much playing time. Um, her best friend also plays on her baseball team.

[00:14:46] She's a girl and there's always comments. Um, so you know. For me, I just want them to know that they have the support and for, and for the community to know [00:15:00] that it is, it means a lot to them when you do sponsorships or when you repost our stuff on Facebook and you say that you're proud of them, it, it means something to them.

[00:15:10] So, you know, I hope that, I hope that. There is a continuation of that open-mindedness that baseball isn't just for boys anymore.

[00:15:20] Mat Germain: Amen.

[00:15:20] Brooke Mrozek: Girls, girls can do this.

[00:15:23] Mat Germain: Couldn't agree more. And

[00:15:27] Mark Corbett: Matt and I both have young ladies from our families that, uh, and we've always supported them with sports, but I'm so glad to see what you're doing now.

[00:15:35] It's making a difference. It's giving an opportunity and it's showing a future for them and the game. And I can't thank you enough, Brooke, for what you've been doing with that.

[00:15:44] Brooke Mrozek: Yeah. Thank you for recognizing that.

[00:15:47] Mark Corbett: Alright, well that's Ms. Brooke. Mozza. Mozza. Yep. Oz Brooke Miozza.

[00:15:53] I'll edit this where I actually say it. Right. Okay.

[00:15:56] Brooke Mrozek: That's fine.

[00:15:57] Mark Corbett: You're great. Well, thanks a lot. It's been [00:16:00] great having you here today.

[00:16:01] Brooke Mrozek: Yeah, thank you for having me. Anytime.

[00:16:03] Mark Corbett: Alright, take care. Bye guys. Bye-bye. Yeah. Wow. That's what's fantastic folks. Uh, Florida Bolts, man. We're gonna, like I said, we'll post things on the show where you, you can find out more at in the show notes.