Cold Weather Bats

Cold Weather Bats: Tristan Crane Is Doing It All for the Leprechauns

In this episode of CWB, we’re joined by Royal Oak Leprechauns standout Tristan Crane, who’s doing it all this summer — pitching, playing shortstop, and holding down the three-hole in the lineup. Tristan talks about the team’s grind through a brutal seven-games-in-seven-days stretch, how he balances his two-way role, and what fans can expect from the Leps in the weeks ahead.
We also preview the upcoming matchups, chat about the vibes on the road, and why now’s the time to get behind this team as the season heats up.
✅ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Leprechauns content, exclusive player interviews, and behind-the-scenes looks at summer baseball across Michigan.
🎧 Check out more from us on Patreon, including previews of travel and collegiate summer ball programs, plus our brand new Summer Baseball Survival Guide — perfect for families, fans, and players grinding through the season.

Bald Banter Live from Omaha: All Things College Baseball with Noah Bieniek

Just in time for the start of the College World Series, the Bald Banter crew is joined by Noah Bieniek of @11point7 to dive into everything college baseball.
Noah checks in from Charles Schwab Field in Omaha to preview the CWS, break down key teams to watch, and give his take on the wild world of the transfer portal, recruiting trends, and standout storylines — including Michigan native and Murray State head coach Dan Skirka.
If you’re a college baseball fan, this is the episode for you.
Hit that like button, subscribe for more, and let us know who you’ve got winning it all in Omaha!

Spittin' Seeds: Kicking off Summer Ball with Drew Huard, Madonna Head Coach and Director of Exposure at the Grands Tournament

Summer baseball is officially here, and we’re kicking it off with one of the biggest names in the game in the state of Michigan. On this episode of Spittin’ Seeds, Michael and Nick sit down with Drew Huard — Head Coach at Madonna University and the man behind one of Michigan’s top exposure events: Exposure at the Grands.
We talk about what makes this tournament a magnet for college coaches, how players can stand out, and what recruiters are really looking for. Whether you’re playing in the event or grinding through summer ball elsewhere, this episode’s got something for you.
Plus, we shout out our new partnership with the Royal Oak Leprechauns of the Northwoods League and send good luck to all the high school teams still chasing a state title this weekend.
Soak it in. Play hard. Have fun. Let’s go.
Special thanks G Brand, the official clothing sponsor of CWB.

Cold Weather Bats: Previewing the Lucky Corner in 2025, Season Preview for the Royal Oak Leprechauns

Welcome to a brand-new season of summer ball — Cold Weather Bats is back with full coverage of the 2025 Royal Oak Leprechauns! In this season preview episode, hosts Michael Rubenstein, Brandon Justice, and Griffin Green dive into everything you need to know about the Leps heading into a highly anticipated summer at The Lucky Corner.
We sit down with Head Coach Chris Faust to talk about his journey from player to skipper, what makes this year's team different, and the pride of coaching a roster stacked with 33 Michigan natives — many right from Metro Detroit. Then we’re joined by Ryan Tyranski, who’s off to a red-hot start and quickly emerging as a leader on the field and in the clubhouse.
🔰 This episode kicks off a weekly series, where we’ll bring you recaps, standout performances, player interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and a look at the community impact of Royal Oak’s hometown team.
👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a comment, and follow the Leprechauns this season as we cover all things Northwoods League and beyond — straight from The Lucky Corner.

Cold Weather Bats: Regional and Quarterfinal Preview (D1-D4)

In this episode of Cold Weather Bats, Michael and Brandon jump right into previewing Saturday’s regional finals and possible quarterfinal matchups across all four divisions in Michigan high school baseball.
We go division by division, break down the key games to watch, and give our picks on who we think moves on. 
If you're following the tournament closely, this one's for you.

Spittin' Seeds Special: Northwood Baseball Advances to the DII CWS

In this special edition of Spittin’ Seeds, host Michael — Northwood alum and former USA Prime Michigan coach — sits down with two key players from the Northwood Timberwolves baseball team, Josh Getz and Tyler Sager, as they prepare to compete in the 2025 NCAA Division II College World Series in Cary, North Carolina.
For the first time in program history, Northwood is headed to the CWS — and it’s no accident. With a 40–20 record, a GMAC championship, and a Super Regional win over UIndy, this team has battled its way to the national stage. Josh and Tyler reflect on the journey, their postseason performances, and what it means to represent Northwood with everything on the line. Michael shares personal stories from their travel ball days, and the full-circle pride of watching two of his former players lead a program-defining moment.
Whether you're a Northwood fan, a Michigan baseball supporter, or someone who loves a great underdog story — this one’s for you.
Recorded just days before the CWS opener vs. Central Missouri.
Subscribe, like, and drop a comment to support these players and follow their journey. Go Timby's. Let’s bring it home.

Spittin' Seeds: Memorial Day Episode

This week on Spittin’ Seeds, we’re bringing you a special Memorial Day edition packed with playoff buzz, big life news, and real talk for baseball families.
We kick things off with a moment of reflection for the meaning behind the holiday — honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice — before diving into Michigan high school baseball playoffs. We’ve got teams to watch, playoff dark horses, and the keys to making a run in June.
Then… surprise! We share a major life update for one half of the Spittin' Seeds crew. We also tease our latest Patreon post, "Avoiding Burnout: Building a Summer That Actually Lasts" — covering everything from mental fatigue to rest weekends and how to keep the love for the game alive through the grind.
And finally, we go into our Stock Up / Stock Down: Summer Ball Edition — breaking down what’s trending, what’s working, and what we’re already over.
Whether you’re road-tripping to a tourney, firing up the grill, or just catching your breath, we’re glad you’re here. Play hard, stay grounded, and keep spittin’ those seeds.

District Heat Check: MHSAA Playoff Breakdown

The Cold Weather Bats crew teams up for a special crossover episode to break down eight key districts ahead of the 2025 MHSAA Baseball Playoffs — four from Division 1 and four from Division 2.
Joining the show are:
Michael Rubenstein and Nick Swanson from Spittin' Seeds
Dan Greisbaum Jr. representing Cold Weather Bats
Griffin Green from Bald Banter
Together, we dive into the toughest matchups, sleeper teams, and potential fireworks in next week’s action. Plus, we talk top-tier playoff atmospheres around the state and what makes certain districts special this time of year.
Whether you're a coach, player, or just a fan of Michigan high school baseball, this episode has something for you.
Drop your district picks in the comments and don’t forget to like & subscribe for more coverage as the road to East Lansing begins!

Spittin' Seeds: May Mindset, Travel Teams & Things We'd Ban From Youth Baseball

We are back for Episode 4 of Spittin' Seeds, and it’s a loaded one. We kick things off with a Michigan high school baseball update and dive into what May really means for coaches and players — from playoff prep to managing the mental game.
We spotlight our latest Patreon post on how to keep developing when you don’t have a field (hint: no excuses). Then, it’s the great travel ball debate — is going out of town really helping, or just draining wallets?
Nick drops a rant on travel team classifications that’s guaranteed to get some nods (or eye rolls), and we wrap with our new segment: Ban It. Hear what we’d gladly remove from youth baseball forever — and send us yours to get featured in future episodes.
As always, subscribe, rate, and share — and check out our Patreon for even more baseball content.

Bald Banter: Inside the Recruitment Journey

Hosts Griffin Green and Taylor Grzelakowski sit down with guests to discuss their paths through the college baseball recruitment process. Tune in for real stories, helpful insights, and a closer look at what it takes to make it to the next level.