On this episode, Stephen chats up John Cichon. John is the head wrestling coach of the Tottenville Pirates from Staten Island, NY.They discuss his 20+ year career in the sport and beyond.Access to all platforms:https://linktr.ee/beyondtherulesInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/btr.podcast/Stephen Batistahttps://www.instagram.com/rmg.referee/

On this episode, Stephen chats up David Bloom. David is the head wrestling coach of the Mott Haven Mavericks out of the Bronx, NY.They discuss his near 20+ year career in the sport and beyond.Access to all platforms:https://linktr.ee/beyondtherulesInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/btr.podcast/Stephen Batistahttps://www.instagram.com/rmg.referee/

On this episode of Talkin' Shop, Stephen and Carlos delve into wrestling.Wrestling is both Stephen and Carlos' sport they excelled in the most, and also the first sport they officiated.They discuss how each prepares for the upcoming season, while also bringing what they've learned from the previous baseball season to the table.Access to all platforms:https://linktr.ee/beyondtherulesInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/btr.podcast/Stephen Batistahttps://www.instagram.com/rmg.referee/

Curtis and Stephen are BACK!In this episode the two discuss fall baseball and how the games season can prove to be a pivotal time for growth.Taking all the things you've learned from the season and using the relaxed environment "fall ball" offers. From there the two discuss whats next for them personally, and share snippets of their ideas for their future and the future of umpiring in general.Access to all platforms:https://linktr.ee/beyondtherulesInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/btr.podcast/Stephen Batistahttps://www.instagram.com/rmg.referee/

On this episode, it’s all the things football. While not being a football referee himself, Stephen enlists the help of the “handsome Honduran” Carlos and Will Jeffries. Both of whom are high school and college level officials of the pigskin variety.Stephen does his best to serves as a vessel and parse the information between two highly acclaimed referees.Access to all platforms:https://linktr.ee/beyondtherulesInstagramhttps:/Instagram:www.instagram.com/btr.podcastStephen Batista:https://www.instagram.com/rmg.referee/

As the baseball season begins to wind down, players, coaches, parents and umpires all have a unique kind of fatigue. The linear connection we all share is the emotional invest we (should) all have. Everyone who invests passion, effort and time into sports will experience a return. Stephen and Carlos share stories within that vein. The vein that pumps the blood necessary to be good at something, Sports will always offer that. Hopefully this episode represents that...Access to all platforms:https://linktr.ee/beyondtherulesInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/btr.podcast/Stephen Batistahttps://www.instagram.com/rmg.referee/

With the Little League World Series currently ongoing, BTR host Stephen Batista made sure to chat it up with someone with first hand experience. That someone is none other than Rich Ranalli Sr.Stephen has been lucky to work along side Rich for over 10 years as the two are also wrestling officials in the same association. Just like Stephen, Rich also is an umpire and has seen it all, including working at the mecca of Little League in South Williamsport, PA.Last year Rich was privileged (deservedly so) to umpire in the Little League World Series. The two discuss his time spent there while going through the "Rich" history of his career as an official.Rich is a man who demands respect and expects the same from everyone else. Stephen has been fortunate to be under his learning tree and is a better official for it,Access to all platforms:https://linktr.ee/beyondtherulesInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/btr.podcast/Stephen Batistahttps://www.instagram.com/rmg.referee/

Well this is like when worlds collide!!!On this very special episode of the podcast, Stephen chats it up with both Curtis AND Carlos. The three have a great time talking over their varsity and college seasons.Each have their own tales to tell as umpires on the grind. From the ups and downs, the life of an official always lends itself to a vocation built on competency but forged in brotherhood.Access to all platforms:https://linktr.ee/beyondtherulesInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/btr.podcast/Stephen Batistahttps://www.instagram.com/rmg.referee/

What else can be said about Tottenville athletics. A school on Staten Island that has created and harnessed a culture of success, forged in a sea of championship teams and clubs across all sports with an allure the big bad wolf would admire,So how does head baseball manager Michael Grippo fit into all of this? As a student athlete himself at Tottenville, he had to understand right away what it takes and means to be a "Pirate", Michael would take these values into a steady and successful playing career which set up his future off the field and into the managerial role.Eventually landing at Tottenville, now as a coach, Michael reached the pinnacle this year by beating Giorgio Luperon at Yankee Stadium to capture the 2023 "AAA" PSAL baseball championship.Experienced first hand by host Stephen, who had the amazing honor of being the umpire at first base, Coach Grippo explains in a wonderfully succinct manner what it takes to keep the legacy alive and all the pressure that comes with it.Access to all platforms:https://linktr.ee/beyondtherulesInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/btr.podcast/Stephen Batistahttps://www.instagram.com/rmg.referee/Tottenville HS:https://instagram.com/tottenvillehsfamily/https://instagram.com/tvillepirates/PSAL:https://instagram.com/nycpsal/

Start spreading the news….!On this episode, Stephen chats it up with Tom Harper and Marièl Checo. Together they are the coaches of the 2023 “AA” PSAL baseball championship team Hunter College HS.Both coaches retell their amazing journeys. Head coach Tom Harper talks about his amateur career that led him to his position at Hunter. Combined with assistant coach Marièl Harper’s amazing story, from playing and winning at Yankee Stadium, getting drafted by the Yankees, the winning formula was set for his return as a coach to where the glory all started.Down 1-0 with 2 outs and 2 strikes in the bottom of the 7th, the game was never over. Poise, heart and most of all amazing coaching led Hunter to an epic extra inning comeback and championship win to cap of an unforgettable season.Access to all platforms:https://linktr.ee/beyondtherulesInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/btr.podcast/Stephen Batistahttps://www.instagram.com/rmg.referee/Hunter College HShttps://instagram.com/huntervarsitybaseball/Tom Harperhttps://instagram.com/tharps14/Marièl Checohttps://instagram.com/mariel_checo/Checo Baseball Powerhttps://instagram.com/checobaseballpower/PSALhttps://psal.orghttps://instagram.com/nycpsal/