Josh Constable

WATCH: “This mentality in our society where everybody thinks that you're promised something, and that life's easy is really false. Because as you guys know, when you deal with life, there's gonna be some things that happen to you that you didn't create, and you still have to wake up the next morning, you gotta go to work, and you gotta provide for your family. And this college athletics situation that we're in, that doesn't teach them that. And it's unfortunate. It’s not that I don't want them to make money, but man, you gotta earn it when you're out there.” ECU Baseball Coach Cliff Godwin after the Pirates avoided a sweep with a 3-0 shutout victory over Rice,

Championship teams have elite defenders. Elite shortstops at the D1 level make less than 10 errors a season (and your mom or dad are not managing game changer stats). Thats 56 games, plus post season…. against elite hitters and many elite runners, with often thousands of people in the stands, and winning on the line every night. You better take your defense seriously and start training now if you want to play at that level. It’s not something you can just flip the switch on at 18.

This response is why playing the game of baseball sets you up in life to be a better human, teammate, brother, husband, and beyond.💡 Barkett (NC St. transfer) could’ve turned and bashed his former team, but INSTEAD he opened up about his mental health battle and how far he’s come in his faith since then. The culture in Deland is rich in character.

Every year, people go on a rant about how “kids these days” are soft or ungrateful for entering the transfer portal. But let’s talk about what’s actually happening because most people have no idea how this really works. There are tons of players in the portal who didn’t “quit” on their program—they were told they didn’t have a spot anymore. Coaches told them they should look elsewhere. Coaches pulled scholarships. Coaches pushed them out behind the scenes without ever owning that publicly. But you don’t see those stories. You just see numbers in the portal and assume it’s all selfish kids running from adversity. You’re not talking to the players. You’re not seeing what really happens. At the same time, those same coaches are hitting refresh on the portal, shopping for new players. They’ll tell one kid they’re “not part of the plan,” and then celebrate when they land a high-profile transfer from another program. Then they’ll start that new player over the one who’s been loyal for three years. And when that player enters the portal next year? They’ll trash him too. Meanwhile, fans and media will scream, “Where’s the loyalty?” But they’ll turn a blind eye when the coach takes a better job and leaves overnight, no exit meeting, no plan, no heads-up. He was doing what’s best for him. But the players aren’t allowed the same grace? The reality is, college sports have become big business. There are schools signing billion-dollar TV deals, and we’re still talking about how a “free education” should be enough? Do you know how hard it is to play a sport and earn a legitimate degree at the same time? Most of the time, they can’t even get into the real programs. They’re steered toward the majors that don’t conflict with practice or travel. Internships, labs, clinicals? All off the table. So don’t act like you gave these athletes some massive life-changing opportunity. You handed them a pre-selected major and an impossible schedule, and in return, they gave you their body, their time, their brand, and everything else. And when they ask for a little leverage, a little control over their future and you get pissed? This whole thing is built on sacrifice and the backs of kids who give up time with their families, who travel year-round, who carry the pressure of entire programs, getting shit on by hundreds of their home fans on social media because they went 0-4 tonight while barely keeping their heads above water academically and emotionally. But when it doesn’t work out, we treat them like they’re selfish for looking for a better situation. If you had a job offer in another state that paid better, was closer to family, and gave you more opportunity—you’d take it. No one would question that. But when a player does it, suddenly it’s betrayal? And let’s not forget—players built these programs. Decades of sacrifice from 18-to-22-year-olds who got nothing while their coaches cashed in, athletic departments built $50M facilities, and schools marketed the hell out of it all. It’s branding. It’s business. It’s not just a game anymore. And if it’s business on one side, it’s business on the other. You don’t get to shame a kid for protecting his future just because it makes your team worse. You don’t get to talk about loyalty while you’re actively replacing your own guys with better ones. You don’t get to be mad at the system while benefitting from it. At the end of the day, players are people. They get to make decisions, too. Give them some damn respect, love, and grace—instead of ignoring the inconvenient facts. You want to talk real numbers? Let’s talk about what people like to avoid because it’s uncomfortable: Between 2002 and 2022, suicide became the second-leading cause of death among NCAA athletes—only behind accidents. Even worse? The rate of suicide among college athletes has doubled over the last two decades. Players today are carrying pressures no one before them ever had to shoulder. (1 of 2)

NOT DONE YET. #PiratesWin

So nice, Stello did it twice ✌️

“The players inspired me to be a better person and live the word we were trying to get across to them.” Story below on Josh Constable stepping down as head baseball coach at Cathedral Prep. goerie.com/story/sports/high…

Following seven very successful seasons as Prep’s head baseball coach, Josh Constable has decided to step away from coaching. He amassed a record of 114-27 directing the program, good for a .809 winning percentage. He also captured six District 10 and four Region titles.

Congratulations to Prep senior Noah Handzel. He has committed to play Division I soccer next season at @Bucknell_MSOC on scholarship.

What. A. Moment. 🤟🏴‍☠️ @parkerbyrd11

Cathedral Prep Baseball back at The Bomb Shelter for their third year in a row 🤝 Best of luck this season boys‼️ @Prep_Ramblers @JoshConstable2 #bombshelter814 #eriebaseball #baseball #facilityrental #battingcages #eriepa #hittingdrills #pennsylvania #perfectgame #prepbaseballreport

"Send your kid to Maryland if they want to master hitting" @hunterpence putting people on notice about one of the best coaches in the game @PerfectGameUSA #DirtyTerps

‘24 Giovanni Briggs (@cosby_baseball) Minimum through the first 2 IP. Worked out of a jam in the 3rd w/ a pickoff and K. Effective running it away from RHH. FB 79-82 CB 70-72 @PBRVirginiaDC #PBRIsThere

Saturday at UPMC Park!