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
Pots, Pans, and Playoff Plans: Baseball Glory at The Rex
This episode captures the electricity of high school playoff season, highlighting our Conchs path through district championships and setting the stage for the upcoming regional matches against the Satellite Beach Scorpions.
- Recap of regular season finale featuring 12 strikeouts and offensive fireworks from Caden Pichardo, Roman Garcia, and Nelly Ong
- Dominant district tournament opener against South Miami Cobras, called by mercy rule in the fifth inning
- JC Lampas-Gormley's pitching masterclass, needing just 55 pitches in Coach Ralphie's strategic conversion from infielder to pitcher
- Thrilling 1-0 district championship victory over Belen thanks to Vinny Moline's complete game shutout with 8 strikeouts
- Preview of upcoming regional series against Satellite Beach Scorpions, with a call for community support across the Florida Keys
- Special dedication to Joanne Webster
Thank You
WAVK Radio: Rick Lopez and Judd Wise Call 4.16.25
@iammikestack: Key West Hype
Thanks for tuning in to the Bring Joy Podcast. We're in Season 5 and it's all about baseball. I'm talking big leagues to the little leagues, yankees to the Conks 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, trust me 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. Get your pods, pens, cowboys and horns ready. It's playoff season, baby, and if you don't know, you can ask somebody or sit for a few and let me tell you what I know.
Speaker 1:High schools across the country are competing for the top spots in their state, vying for a chance to raise the trophy over their heads and add state champion to their resumes, and their fans wholeheartedly believe this is our year. Hell, yeah, you gotta believe, baby, what he say. It ain't no thing because it's everything and in the end, there's no question who's the best. So let me go ahead and tip my cap to the team still in it, most especially to our cousins up the road the Marathon Dolphins and the Coral Shores Hurricanes. I see you making your inaugural trip to the playoffs and Coach Joey Dub and Miggy Menendez got their clubs ready too. We did not come this far to just break down and lose. Now I'm a winner. I'm going to win. I wish you well, but this is my show and everybody knows me and the crew rocked at KW from the heart. We've had a front row seat to quality baseball for 27 games. That got us here. But to keep me honest and not looking ahead too much, let's look back at the last three wins and set the stage for the 2025 playoff season.
Speaker 1:The final regular season game was a fun one for the K crew. We hung a season-high 12 red Ks Six for starter senior Vinny Malene and six more for big Casey Casper, who stepped in for relief to earn the win for the good guys. Big K was lights out for three in the third innings and had the Eustace Panthers swinging and missing, and senior Caden Pichardo is on fire at the plate. He, along with Roman Garcia and Nelly Ong, have multiple hits and RBIs, providing the offense for the series sweep and launching us into the district tournament. Royal Kong fans fill the tanks and set the navigation to find Bayland Jesuit Preparatory School, home of the Wolverines and the tournament host. Now, that's no neutral site as far as I'm concerned, I'm going to let sleeping dogs lie. But don't get any silly ideas. 17 is taken. If you know, you know. Let me get back to the field of play.
Speaker 1:We were matched up against the South Miami Cobras for what turned out to be the shortest game of the season. With the mercy rule going into effect, the game was called in the fifth inning. Senior JC Lompis-Gormley was dealing on the mound. The kid only needed 55 pitches. Coach Ralphie's a straight-up genius, converting the infielder into a starting pitcher.
Speaker 1:With the Bayland Stadium under construction, conk fans packed the temporary bleachers in center field, but it gave us a great view of our gold glove outfielders Kay Maltz, sammy Holland and Nelly, who showed off his big league arm with a throw from right field, getting a runner out at second base. Come on, cobras, you playing the mighty, mighty Conks. The number one seed the top of the heap. And how about the production from the top of the lineup? Nelly, cade, roman and Caden put on a clinic, tagging seven hits and knocking in 10 of our 13 runs on the day, the biggest was a home run off the bat of Pachardo. He launched a laser over the left field wall, bringing the fans to their feet and giving me flashbacks to when he did the same thing against Cardinal Gibbons in the 2024 postseason. The dominant win made the ride home scene quick, and we needed it because Baylen was coming to town to face off for the district championship game. Which brings me to those pots, pans, cowbells and horns I was talking about earlier.
Speaker 1:Conks love baseball, especially playoff baseball, and show up at the recs ready to make some noise. I lost count at about 998 fans all proudly rocking that red conk baseball attire. The music was pumping from the speakers while the Conks took an enthusiastic and purposeful infield. The 11-time Conk Cafe was serving up barbecue, mac and cheese and, yep, that's Tiffany's key lime pie too. There's no better atmosphere than at the Rex for playoff baseball.
Speaker 1:And Vinny Moline pitched a gem. His pitches stayed in the zone all night, landing in the mitt wherever catcher Jackie Niles set up. Vinny was ready for the moment and we needed him to be, because Baylen's pitcher had a big night as well shutting down our offense, but for one run in the first inning that came on a bases-loaded walk. The game was a nail-biter and had fans from both teams on the edge of our seats anticipating, leaning in, even praying for that big hit that might blow it open, but it never came. Inning after inning, the score remained Conks won, wolverines none.
Speaker 1:It's the top of the seventh and the Conks are three hours away from the district championship K-Crews on their feet, clanging bells and blowing horns. Those good seats don't come cheap. We got a job to do. The heart of the lineup was due up for Baylynn. Benny made quick work of their cleanup hitter, sending him down, looking at a nasty pitch for the first out, and the crowd got even louder. The Rex was rocking. This is the playoffs. The next batter gets on base at what I'm still calling a questionable hit by pitch. Omg, where else would you rather be? Vinny steps off the mound, wipes the sweat from his arm, catches his breath, steps up, throws the next pitch and gets a perfect six, four, three-3 double play. But we couldn't turn it after a hard slide disrupted the throw to first. Now there's two outs and the tie and run is still at first. But I already told you, vinny pitched to Jim. He gets the next batter to pop up to Javi at second Game over. Conks win, conks win.
Speaker 2:The lead gets mobbed on the mound. Game over Conks win. Conks win. What a performance by Moline here. He gets Lopez to pop up to Javi Perez in shallow right field to end the ball game and in such dramatic fashion the Cocks hold on to win, Knock off the win by the score of 1-0.
Speaker 1:Then he ended the night with 8 strikeouts and a complete game shutout. Watching him command the mound reminded me of what Coach Doug Mankiewicz preached about on my last episode control the controllables, Control the controllables.
Speaker 2:Baseball has been saying that for years Control the things you can't control. What can you control? I can control my demeanor, I can control my breathing and I can control my process, and the quicker you do that, the quicker you will be the guy that gets the game-winning hit more times than not.
Speaker 1:Conk fans will be talking about his performance for years to come. But yo pump the brakes. Don't get all nostalgic on me, we just getting started. The first round of regionals is coming to the Rex in the form of the Satellite Beach Scorpions. The series is a best of three. The Conks' winning record has earned the first two games at home. Wins aren't guaranteed, but required. Everyone has a job to do, from the players on the field to the fans across the islands, from bahama village to ocean's edge, ramrod cudjoe, sugarloaf and big cop it I'm talking to you too, it's a red out. Bring those pots and pans and show some Conk pride. First pitch 730.
Speaker 1:This episode is dedicated, in love and memory, to Joanne Webster. Memory to Joanne Webster. Down in the valley I heard a great noise. Was it mighty, mighty kunks, just a, beating them boys? I say hey, hey, hey, howdy, howdy. Ho, 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. Down in the valley I heard a great noise. Was a mighty, mighty conks, just a, beating them boys? I say hey, hey, hey, howdy, howdy.
