The podcast "Baseball's Last Frontier" tells the stories of the 2024 and 2025 Pecos League seasons through its players, coaches, managers and other insiders. For 15 years the league has been the first step in independent baseball for aspiring professional players. Join co-hosts Evan Katz and Bruce McClure as they share the challenges and successes of their guests in these fascinating 12-episode seasons.

Season 1 -2024

Scroll Down for Season 2 - 2025

Episode 1: Podcast Trailer

Welcome to the podcast with compelling stories of the Pecos League, pro baseball's independent minor league for "rising stars, falling stars, shooting stars and athletes with stars in their eyes." (Credit: Pecos League website)

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Episode 2: Introductions

A preview of the Pecos League and its desert, high altitude, run-scoring baseball, plus the pro baseball education of Evan Katz, pitching coach and preseason scout for the Roswell (New Mexico) Invaders.

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Episode 3: Training Camp

It's a one-week scramble to prepare the field, evaluate players and introduce coaching styles, notwithstanding the scorching desert heat, a flooded field, and a too-long search for lawnmower.

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Episode 4: Anything Can Happen in the Pecos League

A game is delayed by a dust storm; the Austin Weirdos double their 2023 season win total; a final score of 27-26; a fan visits his 290th minor league stadium; 100-degree temperature is okay because it's a "dry heat;" and a reminder that if you love baseball it will love you back.

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Episode 5: Todd Everleth

Manager, North Platte 80s

The first-time pro manager is undaunted by assembling an expansion team in 27 days and starting with a four wins in twenty-one games. On Father's Day Everleth aptly reflects, "I'm not here just for the wins. I'm here to help these kids become men as well as good ballplayers."

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Episode 6: The Swensons

Host Family Super Fans

On Opening Day Patty and George Swenson switch to Universal Baseball Time to prepare dinner at midnight and breakfast at noon. They accommodate player diets, schedules and personalities, and Luis Moreno, their 2024 “summer son,” starts calling Patty abuela (grandmother in Spanish).

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Episode 7: Jerry Liang, INF

Roswell, N. Platte, Dublin

Despite being released from the Roswell Invaders the same night as his first professional hit, Liang said, “You have to find the joy and have some fun.” That spirit buoyed him with the four-win, 23-loss North Platte 80s, and inspired him to flip the podcast and interview the co-hosts!

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Episode 8: Alex Westman

Outfielder, Austin Weirdos

The four-year Pecos League veteran reveals his secrets to prepare for ten weeks with the barnstorming all-road Austin Weirdos --- no home field, hotel life, and driving 6200 miles. Westman's baseball addiction helps. "The harder the pitcher is throwing the more alive you feel," he said.

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Episode 9: Kobe Head

Pitcher, Roswell Invaders

Virtual scouting through social media brought the Delaware State reliever to the Pecos League for an All-Star quality season and an invitation to play in the MLB Draft League. As a professional playing daily in the desert, Head said, "I want to be there everyday. I don't care if it's 106 degrees."

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Episode 10: Harmon Johnsen

TV Broadcaster, North Platte 80s

Less than a year after his high school graduation Johnsen was broadcasting pro baseball on TV, and much more. He was also the 80s official scorer and game video/audio tech guru --- with some family help. And he chaperoned this episode's tour of Nebraska pro baseball history.

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Episode 11: Peter Bocchino

First Baseman, Trinidad Triggers

Once he learned "to play with freedom" and won the battle of "me versus me," Bocchino became a power hitter and on-base machine. The five-year veteran has managed the cycle of hope and frustration while pursuing higher levels of play and is always wary of tarantulas and rattlesnakes on the field.

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Episode 12: Season Finale

Our Guests Look Back & Ahead

Manager Todd Everleth can't wait for 2025. The Swensons return to retiree life. Jerry Liang, Alex Westman, Kobe Head and Peter Bocchino's baseball aspirations thrive. Harmon Johnsen is a step closer to his broadcasting career goal. And Evan Katz has one more inspiring Pecos League story.

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Season 2 -2025

Episode 1: What makes the Pecos League unique and an introduction to North Platte, Nebraska and building the team

With mile-high, small dimension fields, Pecos League teams score ten runs a game without a designated hitter. Players carpool on the road, travelling thousands of miles, following their dreams, hoping to be one of the few dozen call-ups to higher level leagues.

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Episode 2: Spring training recap, then a preview of the team and players with North Platte 80s Manager Todd Everleth

After a four-day spring training in a quiet farm town outside of North Platte, the 25-man roster is set. Coach "T" profiles the second-year 80s, highlighting returning players and rookies. He shares his baseball philosophy that shaped the team and will guide the 80s in 2025.

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Episode 3: The 80s bring pro baseball back to McCook, Nebraska and 1959 McCook Brave Pat Jordan reminisces

A schedule conflict moves an 80s game south 70 miles, bringing back memories of the 1950s Nebraska State League. Former McCook Braves pitcher Pat Jordan recalls his 1959 season, which he chronicled in the award-winning book "A False Spring."

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Episode 4: Like Homer's Odysseus, KC/Iola manager Derick Dominguez is on a seemingly endless three-year road trip. Even though he manages a two-city franchise with home fields 100 miles apart it hasn't dampened his love of baseball or support for his players.

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Episode 5: Independent baseball requires behind-the-scenes work. Long-time Trinidad Triggers General Manager Kim Schultz shares her recipe for community and financial support for one of the Pecos League's long-standing competitive franchises.

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Episode 6: At the plate, a batter must decide to swing at a pitch or let it pass. North Platte 80s catcher John Haimowitz has been logging his at bats in a paper notebook for four years. John explains the evolution and use of his "Swing Decisions Notebook."

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Episode 7: North Platte 80s veterans, pitcher Joe Barrons and catcher Sean Bennett, discuss their long-time relationship as batterymates and their years in the Pecos League from Texas, to California to Nebraska, and points in between.

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Episode 8: There are fewer in-game moments for a part-time second baseman, pinch-hitter and pinch-runner, but Ivan Santos is always preparing. The Bronx, NY native shares how he gets game-ready and evaluates his contributions to the 80s.

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Episode 9: Cyndi and David Salbego have followed their son Pierce from high school to pro baseball with the North Platte 80s. David and Pierce reflect on Pierce's baseball journey and his being named to the Mountain Division North All-Star Team.

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Episode 10: Ryan Lutinski of the North Platte 80s is ready for anything --- pinch-hitting, bullpen catcher, playing right field, field maintenance and last-minute entry into the All-Star Game home run derby. He also explains how off-season work refined his bat swing path to elevate his batting average and power to new heights.

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Episode 11: The two-man umpire crew of Micah Scott (left) and Scott Cotton are an indispensable and ever-present part of the Pecos League Mountain Division. Since Opening Day they've travelled over 6000 miles, stayed in a hotel every night, and learned to cope with player and manager pleas and emotions for nine innings (or more) every game.

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Episode 12: Blackwell Flycatchers manager Mik Ebisu brings an international perspective to the Pecos League. He was raised in Japan and attended college in the U.S. Now in is his third year in the Pecos League, he played with Weimar in 2022, was an assistant manager in Santa Fe in 2023, and now manages the Flycatchers.

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