BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

Why Tough Schedules Build Championship Teams

• Ken Carpenter • Season 4 • Episode 1

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Championship programs aren't built on talent alone – they're founded on consistent systems, deliberate culture-building, and a philosophy that develops complete athletes. Coach Ben Evick of Cape Henlopen High School has mastered this formula, leading his program to three Delaware state championships in seven years.

What stands out immediately in Coach Evick's approach is his firm belief in multi-sport participation. While many programs push early specialization, Evick actively encourages his players to wrestle, run track, and play football. This philosophy aligns perfectly with what college coaches and professional scouts seek: well-rounded athletes who've proven their competitive nature across different environments. With 16 current college players and 5 professionals (including 2 Major Leaguers), the results speak for themselves.

The competitive practice environment at Cape Henlopen separates good programs from great ones. Every drill has consequences – miss your fundamental execution during batting practice, and you'll lose live swings later. This accountability creates players who thrive under pressure because they've faced it daily. Combined with scheduling the toughest possible opponents, Evick's players arrive at championship moments prepared for anything.

Perhaps most compelling is the "Win The Day" mentality that permeates the program. Players focus on finding small victories daily, whether on the field or in their personal lives. Clear communication through regular individual meetings ensures everyone understands their role and value. The result? A sustainable championship culture where players hold themselves accountable and leadership transitions seamlessly from one class to the next.

Ready to transform your baseball program? Listen now to discover Coach Evick's blueprint for championship success, and consider how his player-centered approach might revolutionize your team's culture and performance. Subscribe, share, and join our coaching community as we learn from the nation's best.

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Speaker 1:

Today on Baseball Coaches Unplugged, you'll learn why college coaches and scouts look for multi-sport athletes, the importance of creating an environment that eliminates complacency, and how scheduling the best teams in the state has led to three state titles in seven years. Ben Evatt, cape Henlopen High School in Delaware. Next on Baseball Coaches Unplugged.

Speaker 2:

This is the Ultimate High School Baseball Coaching Podcast. Baseball Coaches Unplugged your go-to podcast for baseball coaching tips, drills and player development strategies from travel to high school and college. Unlock expert coaching advice grounded in real success stories, data-backed training methods and mental performance tools to elevate your team. Tune in for bite-sized coaching wisdom, situational drills, team culture building, great stories and proven strategies that turn good players into great athletes. The only podcast that showcases the best coaches from across the country, with your host, coach Ken Carpenter.

Speaker 1:

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Speaker 1:

Hello and welcome to Season 4 of Baseball Coaches Unplugged, where we learn from the best coaches from around the country. I'm your host, coach Ken Carpenter, and today will be episode 170. I've made a couple small changes and I'm on a quest right now to have a coach on from every state in the country. Currently, I'm sitting at 33. Today's show takes us to the state of Delaware with Head Coach Ben Evick at Cape Henlopen High School, where he's won a state title this past year and three in the last seven. Now to my sit-down with Ben Evick Coach. Thanks for taking time to be on Baseball Coaches Unplugged. Yeah, thanks for having me. Well, three state titles in seven years First off congratulations, thank you. Like all the listeners that tune in, what's the secret to not only winning the Delaware State Championship in 2025, but how do you do it on a consistent basis?

Speaker 3:

Uh, you know, I think, I think really it is just about consistency. Um, you know, from from day one of the school year to day one of tryouts, uh, you know, we have things in place that we do a year round as far as really, the weight room, getting the guys together, um, making sure they're putting in time in the weight room, uh, we don't do on field stuff throughout the fall or winter. Uh, you know those guys are. We really rely heavily on-field stuff throughout the the fall or winter. Uh, you know those guys are. We really rely heavily on our senior leadership, especially in the fall.

Speaker 3:

Here in delaware, uh, the weather's still nice. Uh, usually till, you know, sometime around november, december. Then it starts to head south. So, uh, you know, we rely on our seniors to, um, you know, make sure that they're getting in work out on the field. The guys that aren't playing multiple sports that's a big piece for me too. I really try to stress for my guys to play other things. Some of these guys specialize early and I think that sometimes has a detrimental effect on their ability and what they end up doing with the game of baseball. I really try to push them to do other things, and we have guys that play football, we got guys that run track, we got guys that wrestle. They're doing a lot, so I really encourage that.

Speaker 1:

How much do you think that helps them as far as becoming a competitor on the baseball field?

Speaker 3:

I think it helps tremendously For me personally. Growing up I was a football, basketball, baseball guy and I think playing other sports gives you different avenues of becoming an athlete and then specifically being more competitive, and I just think it helps your game and the more you know. Over the years I've talked to college coaches and pro scouts on many levels. You know a lot of times that's one of the questions that's asked Do they play other sports?

Speaker 1:

And a lot of guys want that as well and I think it's important you know to show that they're a well-rounded athlete athlete, when you have big games, like you've played in quite a few, it seems like how do you get your staff to prepare players for the pressure that comes with playing in those high pressure games?

Speaker 3:

Yeah. So what we try to do is we try to make our practices all year long competitive. I think when you create an environment that you know guys can't get complacent uh, in the lineup, um, you know cause we really try to build that atmosphere of someone else's waiting for that position. You got to work hard every single day, big moments where the guys are able to slow things down and they don't feel overwhelmed in those scenarios, because we try to create that type of atmosphere throughout the year. And a big thing for me is to schedule the best teams that we can possibly play. I think that helps down the road as well. So I always and I've always done this in my career here Coaching a cape is to schedule the best teams in the state. And then, you know, across state lines, we, you know, try to get some out of state schools when we get opportunities to play them as well.

Speaker 1:

Now, can you give me an example of how you make your practices competitive? Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 3:

So I mean just let's just talk about a simple, you know, like a BP day. For our BP days we really it's not just batting practice, you know. We really try to emphasize the defensive side of the game on our BP days as well as base running. I've found over the years base running is tremendous in putting pressure on other teams, especially at this level. Sometimes you'll run into catchers that have the ability on a regular basis to throw guys out. We really emphasize ball in the dirt, out of the hand, just angle and take an extra basis when you see that out of the hand, because it's very difficult at the high school level for most guys to block a ball in the dirt and throw someone out at second base if you've got a good secondary. And we emphasize our leads and that all comes into play in our BP days. So we try to keep everything very up-tempo. We try to pair guys by position in their groups for BP days. We like to keep our middle infielders together so that when they are in their primary positions defensively they're able to work together on turning two and those types of things and keeping outfielders together and we really emphasize to them that we want to get live reads off the bat, because that translates so well to game situations, and then we keep track of those things throughout the day.

Speaker 3:

They keep track of errors they may have made, they keep track of highlight plays they might have made during that BP day, which then they can self-monitor amongst themselves. You know, guys hold each other accountable. Well, you made two errors today on routine balls and you know we can't make those errors, that kind of thing, um, so sort of competing or keeping that type of atmosphere where it is competitive, even in a practice day, even on a BP day where you know I've I've been around other other places where BP day is. Here you go, like everyone's going to get their 10 swings and you know we're going to move on, um, for know we're going to move on.

Speaker 3:

For us, even our swings, it's very competitive. We do fundamentals rounds and to start out, you know, with sack bunts and suicide and hit for a bunt, bunt for a hit and hit and run and those guys, if in round one you don't execute the fundamental, then you will lose that swing when it comes to live swings in round two. So it becomes very competitive and guys need to be able to execute. Those little things come into play in big games and in big situations. So we really try to create an atmosphere where that becomes part of it on a daily basis.

Speaker 1:

Where that becomes part of it on a daily basis.

Speaker 3:

I love that idea of taking their round of swings away if they don't of the fundamentals. You redo your fundamentals and then you lost three swings, so you're down to nine, you know, and it really has a good effect on the guys and I think it really makes them take every part of it serious.

Speaker 1:

Well, as you prepare for 2026, how do you kind of guard against that complacency and trying to keep those guys hungry to win again?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, I mean, you know, for me personally, what I try to do is just make the guys that were juniors last year understand that the baton has now been passed to them. They're now the leaders, it's now their team to be what they want to make it. You know, and luckily for me, I feel like the atmosphere we've built, those guys are kind of they're itching. You know they're ready to go. I mean, I was getting, you know, the guys were contacting me before the first day of school saying are we lifting this week? You know, in our first week we always start after Labor Day here, because we live in a resort area at the beach, so our school doesn't start till after Labor Day and we started last Wednesday. So it was, you know they're ready to go. And I was like no, no, we got to wait for the first full week of school. That you know, we're getting the. You know the weight room schedule all planned out and that kind of thing, but they're itching, they all planned out and that kind of thing, but they're they're itching, they're ready to go. You know, they've all played all summer and they do their travel stuff and you know, now it's time to get back with the, the, the high school team.

Speaker 3:

So it's, you know, and we we try to create that atmosphere of of you know, you hear it all the time, I think sometimes it becomes a cliche that it's a family.

Speaker 3:

Uh, you know, but these guys, like we guys, they know that we support them, we're there for them, win or lose, and then their teammates need to have their backs as well, and there's nothing better than seeing that kind of thing start happening, where you've got guys that are really concerned about each other and their well-being and making sure they're doing well on and off the field, you know, and really celebrating those guys that are going on to play in college. And you know we've been lucky enough. We got five guys playing professionally now, two in the bigs, and you know, so that stuff really comes into play. This year we got 16 guys playing college baseball, you know. So they see all this and you know they see where these guys are going and we really try to push to them that that can be you, you know, put in the work, put in the time and keep developing as a player and, and you know, it could be you down the road well, you definitely got a good thing going, that's for sure.

Speaker 1:

Can you share a story of a player who may not be, may not have been like a star statistically for you, but was invaluable to the team's culture?

Speaker 3:

yeah, I mean, I feel like every year, we, we, we end up having, you know, a guy or two that that could be, um, and without naming names, I don't really want to drop names but uh, for me, you know, uh, recently we've had a bullpen catcher that you know. At this level to say, a bullpen catcher, we only carry 18 guys on our roster, but for me, the bullpen catcher can be one of the most important people that we have, because, you know, we have limited coaches. I don't have coaches in the bullpen that are, you know, down there to be able to monitor guys and then relay info to me. And we had a guy that you know, he knew we, we, we talked up front and I'm that's something I'm really big in I hold a constant, uh, I try to do weekly individual meetings with my players and if I don't do weekly, I definitely try to do bi-weekly, where, uh, me and at least one or the other coaches sit down and we have just open talks with them where they fit into the program right now, like what they're doing well, stuff, we see that they can improve on how they're going to make the team better. I think it's good for them. There's no gray area, it's all black and white.

Speaker 3:

But for this specific kid. We told him, like this year is going to be really tough for you. You got a guy ahead of you that you know is. He was a Kentucky commit, ended up signing with the Astros this year out of high school. So you know it's tough and he knew it and it was like look, you're going to be our guy, though. Like this is super important. Your role, like we have to know if guys are ready. We've got to know when you come back up from the bullpen and we're getting a guy ready. I need to know. You know, is change up working? Is slider working? Like what do we got today? What can we expect when this guy goes into the game?

Speaker 1:

no-transcript. Well, if you only have 90 minutes for practice, what are three things that you absolutely have to have included in that practice?

Speaker 3:

So our practices are two hours. We're allowed a two-hour practice and I usually try to map things out where, depending on the day BP days they take a long time. So you know, a BP day is pretty much a BP day. We may try to throw in some pick work in the beginning or you know some sort of quick bunt coverage stuff just to. I constantly try to throw little drills into refresh and go through our defensive plays throughout, especially the preseason. But even during the regular season, if we've got a team coming up that we know likes to play small ball that week, we're going to definitely throw in at least a day or two if we can get to, depending on when we play. Some weeks we have three games in a week, so it's difficult, but we always try to throw in something like that. But for me it's really about I think one of the most important things is making sure the guys get in a legitimate stretch and they actually play catch the right way.

Speaker 3:

I see guys that get to this level and come into me and still don't have basic throwing fundamentals. I always go back to my college days. I played at UNC, greensboro and I pitched down there. I remember day one walking in and they started teaching us how to throw. I was like what is happening right now started teaching us how to throw. And I was like what is happening right now Like you know, we're talking four seam grip and all these things and I was like it kind of amazed me at how many guys even had gotten to that level and never really went through any fundamental stuff with, with throwing and, and I think it comes, you know, it becomes important for uh, arm care and health and all those things.

Speaker 3:

But you know, to me making sure they actually have a focused stretch, because I think a lot of a lot of teams and I see it, you know the guys are out there, they're just kind of laying around, they're all doing their own thing and nobody really has already locked in to say, hey, you know what we're here now it's business. You know we've got two hours to get down to work and make something happen and get better each day. And, um, you know something that we've kind of grown on, uh you know for, and actually this sort of we talked about it a lot before and then, and then one of our guys that uh plays for the Oakland A's Zach Geloff. You know, his, his big thing is uh, you, you know, basically, don't miss out on any day, like, get better every day to some degree. What, regardless of what it is? Try to find something every day that you can focus on so you don't lose a day.

Speaker 3:

And you know, we, we talk about that a lot and and there are days, you know, everyone has those days where it's it's a struggle, you know, like you got to find a way to make it happen and turn it on. And even for teenagers, you know, as I get older it's, you know, it seems like there's more and more of those days where I'm like all right, I got it, it's time to bring it, I got to get some energy flowing here, you know. But every day, in practice, we definitely try to have that. We, I think a huge piece for us is that the guys know that we like being out there and want to have fun. I mean the game's fun. So if you're not having fun and it becomes a a a job for them, especially at this level, I don't think you're going to get out what you're hoping, um, you know. So we like to make everything fun out there and have a good time and and keep the atmosphere uh, competitive, but also light Cause you don't want them to get too tight.

Speaker 1:

Yes, I totally agree with you on that one there. Tell me a little bit about this win the day mentality.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, so you know, and that's exactly it.

Speaker 3:

It's the win the day mentality and that's something that you know. We stress to them that, regardless of what it is I mean it may not even be baseball related that day, because everyone's got stuff going on, and it could be, you know, a kid's got a big exam the next day in a class and they got to, they got to make sure they're getting time to study and they and if that is what they need to win that day, then then so be it. And when you're out on that field, that gives you that two hours of time where you're away from that stress and you can go out there and have a good time and play the game that you love playing, and that could be your win for the day. As long as there's something that you're able to win that day, then hopefully you're feeling good about what you're doing and you're able to move forward and start reaching those goals. Goal setting is a big thing we do here, you know, and talking about team goals and then individual goals and how to reach those goals with small steps.

Speaker 1:

You talk about you on the team that's just not getting playing time because, like you said, he's got something ahead of him. That's really really good. How do you handle those situations when that comes up with parents?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, and I think I try to be as black and white with the players and at the beginning of the year I have a coach's parent meeting and I pretty much tell them up front, word for word. If you have a question about your players' playing time you don't need to contact me, because you can talk to them, because they're going to tell you exact Because we are so direct with them. They know that's where those player meetings come into play for us, where we're talking to them on a regular basis and the players feel comfortable. I've found that it's worked. They feel comfortable in this environment to then come talk to us as coaches and you know, hey, what is missing, what can I do, like what are you guys seeing? Or what haven't I done? You know those types of questions.

Speaker 3:

But for the parents, I mean, I'm just very direct with them. They know that ultimately the coaches are going to make those playing time decisions and we're going to support the kids and try to make them better and hopefully they do get better as a player as the year goes on and maybe they're getting their opportunities here and there and when they do try to take advantage when you do get an opportunity, this game obviously is a game of failure. I think all coaches understand that. We really try to preach that to our players. I best hitters on the planet right now at the big league level are still getting out 65% of the time. It is a game of failure. How are you going to respond to those situations? We really try to connect that to life in general. I mean I want these guys coming out of our program just being better human beings and hopefully going on to you know if they're playing baseball in college or they're, you know, going into their careers. They understand how to deal with some adversity in life and because it's not all going to be good, there's, you know, everyone goes through it. There's always things that you run into in life and dealing with failure is huge.

Speaker 3:

So for us, you know, this game, I think, is one of the ultimate teachers of that, because it is such a game of failure and it can be, you know, and whether it be offensively, a lot of guys you know talk about a hitting wise that it's a game of failure. But you know we try to talk about it. The defensive side too, like I'm sure you've been in those situations where you know because we use that phrase, the ball is going to find you. You know, if you boot one somehow, some way, those baseball guys, you're getting two or three more that inning. You know it just. I don't know why, but that's how it happens. And and how are you going to respond in those situations and come back from something when it does go wrong?

Speaker 1:

Do you hate losing or love winning?

Speaker 3:

Um, I think it's both. I think there's a, there's a fine line, uh, there, with which one would would rank above the other. Um, you know, I other, I think I feel all right if we've lost a game where I feel like we have done everything we could to prepare, and sometimes you just get beat in this game. There's no getting around it and it's okay. But again, it's right back to what I was talking about, about how you respond to failure. When you do lose those games, what are you going to do? You know, obviously, if your back's against the wall, are you going to keep fighting. You know that's what we hope for. So you know, yeah, I don't enjoy losing at all, but you can get something even out of a loss to become a better team. So, you know, I think, I think those, those times are important as well.

Speaker 1:

You know they happen. I like to throw hypothetical questions at uh, at coaches at uh, toward the end of the podcast here. And you're a major league manager and you can only have one of these players on your team and you got to forget about their gambling and steroid issues. Oh, geez, okay.

Speaker 3:

Which player would you rather have on your team, pete Rose or Barry Bonds? That's a tough question because those guys both brought so much to the field. For me, I would probably go Pete Rose because of his, uh, hard nose, ability to play the game tough, and I think I think that type of um attitude can really make the guys around you play harder. Uh, you know, and and that's really a tough question because I could probably start saying things about Barry Bonds as well just because of the character that he had and what he brought to the game and confidence that he brought. That, I think, is extremely important as well yeah, I don't know, that's a really tough question. Which direction I could probably go. Pete Rose right now, if you asked me, in five minutes, I'd probably go back and say Barry Bonds, you know, because of what I think he can bring to a team and his ability to, you know, to be a leader through performance. So, yeah, that's a tough question.

Speaker 1:

Well, to finish up, you know you've played down at UNC Greensboro. You've coached for quite some time. What's your best or funny story from all your playing or coaching baseball?

Speaker 3:

Oh, funny story. Oh man, I don't even know if I'm going to have an answer for that. I mean, obviously there's a lot of good times. You know where you've got. I specifically can go back to bus rides in college.

Speaker 3:

You know our assistant coach, neil Avent, who's he's been with the Oakland A's for a bunch of years now. He's probably the best storyteller that I've ever been around and I mean I remember being on some long bus rides to, you know, alabama and Auburn and Florida state and uh, yeah, coach event just did not stop talking the entire time and it was. It was. He always had a story. He always knew everyone and it was kind of like that, uh, that that I don't remember the name of it where the Kevin Bacon thing.

Speaker 3:

You can connect any actor back to Kevin Bacon. Neil event can connect anyone back to someone he knows in the baseball world, you know, and he's been around the game a long time. He played at Wake Forest. His cousin is Elliot Avent, the NC State head coach, and you know. So he's been around and knows a lot of people. But yeah, I mean, talk about funny he just literally. I think the funniest part is whenever he would tell a story he can then imitate the person he's speaking about and he would do impersonations of them and they were spot on and it was everyone. Yeah, it's pretty impressive, pretty impressive. And I talk to him still quite a bit, especially some of my guys coming through and now with my guy playing second base for the A's, like I spoke to Coach Avent a lot about him and he hasn't changed, still tells stories, still imitating people and it's great. You know they're just those, are those things you never forget?

Speaker 1:

Yes, that's the thing about baseball, is you? If anything you come away from the game, just the stories and the guys that share those stories are what makes the game so memorable and so much fun. Well, it's Ben Evick, Cape Henlope and high school in Delaware coach. Wish the best of luck. Maybe you get four and eight years.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that'd be great I appreciate it, but thanks for being on Baseball Coaches Unplugged. Thank you for having me. Today's episode of Baseball Coaches Unplugged is powered by the netting professionals improving programs one facility at a time. Contact them today at 844-620-2707 or visit them online at wwwnettingproscom. As always, I'm your host, coach Ken Carpenter. Thanks for listening to Baseball Coaches Unplugged.

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