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BringJoy
This podcast is all about bringing joy through storytelling and conversation. You’ll be inspired and entertained It’ll be time well spent I promise you that, so sit back and relax. Let's do this thing!
BringJoy
This Week In Baseball: March Madness
Baseball binds together generations of players and fans in Key West, where championship legacies and community connections create an unbreakable bond through America's pastime. The recent Championship Weekend honoring the 1955, 1995, and 2005 state championship teams showcased the deep baseball tradition that continues to thrive on the island.
• Felix Ong striking out four batters in his collegiate debut with Florida Gators
• Major League Baseball season opening in Tokyo with Japanese stars taking center stage
• College baseball rankings in flux as conference play begins with top teams struggling
• Lady Conchs winning behind Brianna Brenner's one-hit shutout
• Championship Weekend bringing together three generations of Conchs state champions
• Interview with Tony "Crush" Acosta from the 1995-96 championship teams
• College commitments for Noah Burnham (Belmont) and Sammy Holland (Tampa)
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Thanks for tuning in to the Bring Joy podcast. We're in season five and it's all about baseball, talking big leagues to the little leagues, yankees to the Conchs and everything in between. I'll share my joy for the game with you and whether you're a fan of baseball or good storytelling, you'll be entertained and each episode will bring a little joy to your day. So sit back and relax. Let's do this thing will bring a little joy to your day. So sit back and relax. Let's do this thing. And how about another this Week in Baseball bit, looking back at Mid-March Madness 2025. And I'm going to go.
Joy:Felix Ong and get things started right out of the gates with a strikeout. No, make that four strikeouts and two plus innings in his first collegiate appearance with the Florida Gators. Think I wasn't happy to catch our Key West boy on the TV? You better ask my neighbors. See, this is how it happened. I can't make this stuff up. The Conks had just won the first game of a doubleheader. Nelson Ong, felix's little brother, made not one but two great catches in the outfield in the seventh to secure the win and send us all home to rest before the night game. I look up to congratulate nelly's parents and they say thank you. And, by the way, felix is pitching. We'll say less because I live four minutes away and got that espn subscription for moments just like this.
Joy:Now, I could have sat in the car and watched it on my phone, but hey, I could get there in three with one light to beat. There's something cool about seeing people you care about live out their big moments, makes you feel grateful, proud and all the feels. I'm a sap, I know it. And there's no crying in baseball. But Coach Dugan wasn't talking about happy tears. Are you crying? No, are you crying? Are you crying? There's no crying. There's no crying in baseball. Why don't you leave her alone, jimmy? Oh, you zippit Dorris.
Joy:And while we're in our feels, who else saw New York Yankees catcher JC?
Joy:Escala, call his mama and tell her he made the opening day roster. If that clip didn't move you to tears and chills, I don't want to know. You Hit pause now and Google JC Escarra gets the call. Watch that clip. Go ahead, really, I'll be here when you get back. I just talked to Boom.
Joy:Let's go to New.
Joy:York, let's go to New York. It's cool how joy and love translate in any language. Entienda, alright, let's rub some dirt on it and get back to baseball. The Varsity Conks lost three of five games in the Spring Break Tournament hosted at the Rex. I asked historian Judd Wise if there is a record kept of the Spring Break Tournaments because, if memory serves, we lose more than we win, with schools out. But we'll learn lessons from the losses, tip our cap to the victors and I know for a fact Conchs teams don't stay down long. We finish strong with back-to-back wins.
Joy:Senior Vinnie Moline and JC Lompis-Gorman pitch complete game the first of the season, striking out 15 batters and hear this only allowed three walks. That's big time right now. Other firsts to celebrate Senior Casey Casper had his first start. He looked strong on the mound, going five innings with five Ks, but didn't get the run support needed to secure a win. Stay ready, casey. And freshman Cade Maltz hit his first career home run. Darrell Terminio and Tyrone Cervantes got their first varsity starts. Let's go, fellas.
Joy:Looking ahead to the final games of the regular season, we need senior Sammy Holland and Caden Pichardo to continue leading us at the plate, with plenty of help from Roman Garcia and Maltz. Javi Perez and Jackie Niles need to keep those bats hot and consistency will be key for Ong Davila and the D8 spot split between Jackson Bernhardt and Kane Dickerson. Quality at bat boys Knock the ball in play and watch things happen. If defense wins championships too soon, nah, it's not. We all know the goal. We trying to go after number 12. So listen, jackie, get him if he goes. Niles looks good on defense plate gunning down runners in key moments. And Augie I'm not going to call him Jeter yet. Davila is showing big league range. Up the middle, pachardo and Garcia are handling the corners and our outfield has to be the best in Florida with Holland Waltz and on covering some ground in the outfield. Our arms just need to trust that stuff and the defense behind them. I'm not dropping names by mistake. I'm calling you boys out. You earned that jersey. Now let's own it. Let's go. Listen to me. Getting all wound up, I better switch gears.
Joy:In the major leagues, the regular season got underway in Japan. The Dodgers and the Cubs played a two-game set to a full house of adoring fans for the Tokyo series. The two clubs have five Japanese-born players on their roster. For the first time in major league history, two Japanese pitches started on opening day Yoshinobu Yamato for the Dodgers and Shotei Managa for the Cubs. And the highly sought-after Roke Sasaki pitched Game 2 for the Dodgers, securing the series sweep against the Cubs. Maybe next year, cubby fans. And Shohei Otani, the Major League's most popular player, gave the fans what they wanted crushing his first home run of the season. The Japanese fans will have plenty to cheer for. Nothing bigger, in my opinion, than in July, when Ichiro Suzuki will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Ichiro is the first Japanese player and Asian born to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. In Cooperstown He'll be joined by my man CC Sabathia of the New York Yankees and the old school OG Dave Parker of the Pittsburgh Pirates. I wonder if Key West Cronk 12U team will be up there during the Hall of Fame weekend. I might have to make that trip because those College World Series ticket prices are through the roof.
Joy:March Madness isn't reserved for basketball brackets. Only College baseball rankings will be all over the place in the next several weeks, as conference play is now in session. So far, the top 25 teams have not dominated. In fact, they only won 59% of the games in the first week of conference play. There are no undefeated teams. Tennessee, who have moved ahead of LSU and Arkansas for the top spot, probably took two losses to East Tennessee State and Alabama Roll Tide, oh man. And Florida State lost their first game of the season to the mighty Mercer Bears but bounced back and took the rival series from Miami, showing their power, hitting six home runs in one game. I think they had eight on the series. Mad Max Williams is a beast, but how about freshman Miles Bailey and Hunter Carnes and the Florida Gators? Felix, don't listen to this. They look shaky right now. They got swept by Tennessee and Georgia. You know Kevin O'Sullivan looks mad when he's happy and the skipper can't be happy with the Gators' play last week or dropping to 20 in the polls. Ouch, texas is playing good ball and introduced SEC rival LSU and the world to lefty pitcher Dylan Voltanis. The kid has great stuff out of the bullpen. He's probably going to end up a starter soon. There's plenty of college baseball left through May, so hang on and tune in because these boys play like they love it and you never know when you'll catch the next Paul Skeens on the bump.
Joy:I caught my first game out at the backyard to see the Lady Conks play ball. Breonna Brenner pitched a complete game shutout, allowing one hit and striking out eight. Vera Roger and Alexa Condella provided the Lady Conks offense for a 2-0 win. I have VIP seating, pulling up next to coach Tyrone Cervantes. Coach led the Little League Conk teams the back-to-back state championships, including the 2024-14 U-Team that represented the Southeast at the Babe Ruth Tournament in Texas last summer.
Joy:Coach's daughters play short ball. Kayla plays shortstop for the Lady Conchs and TyMarie is in her sophomore year with the Sharks at Miami Dade College. She's off to a good start with four runs scored and 11 RBIs on the season. And if you're putting two and two together, yep, that's his boy, tyrone I mentioned earlier. They tell me his nickname is Walkoff, but you're going to have to ask his daddy about that. I'm just letting you know.
Joy:Kong's bloodlines run deep on the island and reveal themselves to me every week. The Lake Mary Rams handed the Conchs two of the three losses referenced earlier. Their center fielder is Ethan Artman. His daddy is Dane Artman, a native son of Key West, a standout player on the island, and though he left the Keys, he continued to play ball as an All-American state champion and member of the USA national team, dane went on to play professional baseball with the Milwaukee Brewers. I hadn't seen Dane in years but recognized that smile right away. Unfortunately I had left my phone and didn't get a picture or his number, but through the power of social media I was able to reach out and congratulate him on Ethan's talent. The kid must have wheels on those cleats he can move and that arm. He made a throw from center field to home that earned wows from the Key West crowd.
Joy:Dane shared his heartfelt thoughts on returning home with me. It was surreal watching my son play on the same field as I did so many emotions and on the same field as his cousin Sammy Holland, and against Marcus, my former teammate's son, augie. Crazy stuff, he added. Having played all over the country and the world. There's nothing like Key West baseball. I'm over the moon. My son saw a little bit of what Key West baseball is all about. What do we say? Conch Pride, don't leave home without it. And if, by chance, you do leave home, we still rooting for you and yours believe that march 14th and 15th was championship weekend. At the wrecks, the 1955, 95 and 2005 state championship teams were honored during a nostalgic ceremony hosted by a mccrone winner, the voice of the Conks, rick Lopez.
Tony:Baseball is so great and so important in the history of B-League. You're looking at it right now on these holograms of Rex Wheatfield, your 1955, 1995, and 2005 state champion Conk team.
Joy:I was so inspired being surrounded by the champs. I'll be dedicating an entire episode to champions, so subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a thing. I did catch up with Tony Acosta, star player from the 1995 and 1996 state championship teams. Brush, how are you?
Tony:I'm doing well. How are you doing, Miss Joy? I'm doing well. How are you doing, Miss Joy?
Joy:I'm doing. Great Thanks for jumping on the podcast with me.
Tony:Thank you for having me. I'm honored. Kind of weird I feel like we're repeating each other, but I am definitely honored to be on. Thank you for having me.
Joy:So I was doing an episode about this week in baseball and looking back and, of course, championship weekend was such a big deal out at the Rex and I started to tell the story and then I thought you know what? I know a guy. I know a guy who can tell this story better than anyone Two-time state champion, Tony Acosta.
Tony:Hey, that's cool to hear. It was also cool to hear this weekend. I mean it never gets old. I mean in the best way possible, it just never gets old.
Joy:I was going to ask you what was it like, as a player, to be back at the Rex and honored in front of all of your teammates, teammates from other championship teams and then so many fans. What was that like?
Tony:It was surreal. I thought I knew what it felt, like I thought I'd be right at home, which I was right at home. But I mean, man, when you see the turnout that we got, and I say we, I say us like as like as the whole program, with, you know, 55 guys showing up a lot of 2005 and then 95 guys, it was overwhelming. I had a lot of plans, me and you were talking a little bit before this. I had a lot of plans to do a lot of things with recording for for the podcast and all that kind of stuff and and I really just got caught up in the moment. It was really, uh, really special and good to see a lot of new faces. I didn't get a chance. I actually hadn't met the 2005 guys until just recently, so it was very special.
Joy:So that was one of the other questions I wanted to ask you. I know as a fan, I was looking around and I was also overwhelmed and saw so many players. I wanted to get my picture taken and autographs and all this. It was like a fan fest like no other. I wonder you as a player, as you're looking around on the field, was there anyone that you saw that you kind of geeked out on and were a fan of?
Tony:I wish it's a fan of the moment that night. Like I said, it was very overwhelming that night and I didn't think it would be, but it was actually very overwhelming, um, to see all the other guys uh come out from from 95 a lot of the guys, but I guess seeing the 2005 guys 55 guys were unbelievable. That's just amazing. They're even out there. I hope that I'm doing the same uh at that age. So it was cool to see the 2005 guys and actually meet them, put some names with the faces, uh that I've never met before. So that that was really cool, yeah and so you're.
Joy:You're um part of the 95 championship team that was honored. So was that 30 years ago that's what they tell me.
Tony:Uh, I don't, I don't want to buy into that, but yeah, that's crazy. Uh, it was 30 years ago.
Joy:30 years ago and then you talk about. You mentioned the 55 team. That was 70 years ago and that that when I saw, uh, sam holland I've become a big fan of his recently and had some great conversations, obviously through knowing his grandson, sammy and then George Myra, of course, the legend and all those guys seeing them there was wild. How much effort did it take for you to come here? I know you and so many other players don't live in the Keys anymore. When you heard about the date, I'm sure they told you. I hope they told you in advance. You know, did you circle the calendar and know for sure you're coming rain or shine?
Tony:It's something. It's something that you circle, and I'm already circling next year's, because next year is going to be huge for 96. So yeah, to say the least, I wasn't missing it for the world.
Joy:I just got the chills again. Why is it important for you and for all of us to continue to celebrate that, that rich history?
Tony:first, I, I, I support uh and I will always support you know 17 and what he does. The guy was like a father to me. I, I say it all the time it was important to to show support of that. But I mean to see the amount of people that came out from 2005-95, 1955. It was something that you just can't quite explain. You gotta have to feel it. I would keep coming back. I mean, you get around these guys and it brings all the moments back. I stand on those lines and and seeing some of those guys, man, it's unbelievable. It's been 30 years. And then getting to catch a uh, a couple of first pitch pitches from uh, the different teams, wow, that really took me back. So there's so many things of what made it special thanks for sharing.
Joy:I could feel the emotion, as you sharing this story, and one of the things that I admire so much is with your podcast, 360 the center. If people haven't heard it, you need to get on youtube, find it, subscribe, follow that whole thing. Going back to what we were saying, it's so important that we're recording these stories for years to come. You know, it's one thing to tell the story, but to record them and to share them in a way that fans will be able to watch and listen to um for for years to come. I think that's so important because when you look at guys like Sam Holland and George Myra that you know are in their 80s, it humbles you. Yeah, I think that's so important because when you look at guys like Sam Holland and George Myra that you know are in their 80s, it humbles you. Yeah, I think it's so important that we continue to tell these stories and document, you know, the history of Kong baseball. Give me a little bit for those people who aren't familiar with your podcast.
Tony:Give give me a little rundown on what is 360 to center and how did it start uh, 360 to center is obviously uh, what I what I say, uh, when, when I get started on the podcast, it's everything conks baseball, um, and and that's what it is, uh, whether it be current or or past, uh, and, and now it's even growing into, I mean, heck, I hope to have, uh, some of those guys you just mentioned. It's just everything relieving memories, uh, talking about current baseball with, with the 2025, seeing how, how recent players are doing in college. Uh, it is everything and there's actually a lot, a lot more than I even realized when I played the program. There is a lot more and and I'm hitting on, I guess, special nerves, I guess I would say, uh, of a lot of people that it brings back so many memories and you see it, you really see it when they talk about it. It it's, it's something special, um, and it just got started.
Tony:I kind of wanted to do a podcast for the last couple years and I've been. You know, I was talking to little ralphie and man, he's like let's do this, let's absolutely do this. I haven't turned back.
Joy:I mean, I think we're 30 episodes, 20 something episodes in well, congratulations on and I enjoy every episode and, like I said, anybody out there listening who hasn't caught an episode yet you need to do it. It's really good stuff. You've had everybody from you mentioned already 17, ralphie, randy, sterling, brooks, carey so when I saw Brooksy at Championship Weekend, he is the one that every time I see him I get a little geeked out Because you know, I was in like 11, 12, 13 years old when he was in his prime, you know. So he was like that first star that I knew. Of course, boog was larger than life. I call him the people's champ because you know they were going around he was talking to all the people, like the mayor, you know right
Joy:yeah, he, um, he even came saturday night and sat up with the k crew when we were setting up and and shot the shit with us and talked to everybody in the stands and, um, I asked him I said how many k's would we have had to hang for you? And he said I forget, I don't, I don't keep count of all that, but I'm gonna go back and and look, I bet we might have run out of k's with him yeah, yeah, that's right.
Tony:You guys have how many Ks bring?
Joy:Yeah, we've got 18.
Tony:18,. Yeah, I think it's somewhere along those lines. I think, if I remember, looking back at the record books, he's been on the show twice. He's been an inspiration of mine since I was close with him. He's actually the guy who started on varsity baseball that I talk about on the show.
Joy:but yeah, brooks is a special guy so you're talking about knowing brooksie and that and that kind of thing and other players that influence you. Obviously, 17 is a big, big person in your life. Um, did you have a chance, when you were here, to talk to the 2025 team and, without giving away any dugout secrets? Um, was there any wisdom that you shared with them that you could share with me?
Tony:So I got kind of close with last year's guys. I started last year and this year's guys I'm even closer, just because I try to give them as much wisdom or playing experience or living experience that I can give them that I kind of wish that maybe I had. I'll tell you what they're a special group. They appreciate it, they're respectful, they know the history, they ask questions, they watch the videos from you, know things that I post. They know a lot about it and it's, man, it makes it all worth it when you do that. Like I give them lots of advice.
Tony:I try to tell them that you know if they really want to get that number 12, if they're looking at that briefcase and it's a real thing to uh, to put everything into it and don't worry about that. That other stuff that comes along with high school that you think is so important, the fun stuff and all that that stuff will always kind of be important, you know. But the baseball side of it, if you, if you treat it as all business, I promise it will be rewarding to you 30 years later. I mean, I feel just as good about that 30 years later as I did. I try to give them as many stories or they ask questions. That's the most amazing thing they'll come up to me and they got all throughout the night, different ones in the middle of the game. Hey Crush, what do you think about this? Hey Crush, what do you think about that? And that's awesome.
Joy:They're great baseball players but they're good young men and that's why it's so easy to root for them and go out there Saturday afternoon, saturday night, whatever it takes to go out there and cheer for them and support them. And, as a fan, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for bringing championships to Key West. We still brag about them today. You know, we're the proudest fans in America. I don't know if we're the best fans in America, if there's a competition, but we're the proudest. I guarantee you and you were such a part of that history and I thank you for continuing to stay part of the program and be there for for these young boys, young men, them and their families appreciate it. I do, as a fan, just get them to stand back and watch.
Tony:You know, once a champion, always a champion, crush thank you, thank you so much and I'm going to tell you it's appreciated from at least the player side. It was then. And I have a whole other appreciation, especially for what you do. You do it every day, multiple sports. But I know you do it big in baseball and I thank you for that and I know the team does as well.
Joy:It's the biggest joy in my life, so you're welcome and you can count on me and the rest of the k crew to always be there thank you very much and thank you for having me on.
Tony:Uh, it's, it's really special. Uh, you become a. You have a special place in my heart. Uh, you really do in such a short amount of time. I have a great appreciation for you, so thank you the feeling's mutual.
Joy:I'll talk to you soon, thank you. How cool was that? Two-time state champion 1995, 1996, tony crush acosta. That's good stuff. Before I wrap this episode, big congratulations to college commits noah burnham and sammy holland. Noah's headed to belmont university in tennessee and sammy will be attending the university of Tampa. You boys know I'm crazy about you. Go show them what you got, as Mel Allen used to say. That's all for now. Folks, see you next week. For this Week in Baseball, I'm Joy Newlish and I appreciate you tuning into my podcast. My purpose is to bring joy into my life and the lives of others. If you enjoyed this episode, drop a review, share and subscribe, because there's a lot of good stuff on tap. You can also follow Bring Joy on YouTube and Instagram or check my website at joynewlistcom. Now go bring joy to the people in your world. Until next time, much love.
