A new coach is leading the Grinnell College softball team this season. Sandra Faulkner is coaching the 2009 Pioneers replacing Tom Sonnichson, who’s involved with other duties on the college campus. Faulkner has past coaching experience at Grinnell High School and Eldora-New Providence.

She would like to see the play of her teams defense improve, as she says they need to be solid throughout the game. The Pioneers are 3-13 going into Midwest Conference play, coming off doubleheader losses to Iowa Conference teams Buena Vista, Luther and Cornell. She would like to see the offense come around as well.

Sonnichson says they want to be able to score more runs on offense, scoring every inning instead of scoring sporadically. She hopes the weather improves to allow them go get in more work outside to be able to improve on both sides.

Grinnell opens conference play with a doubleheader at Knox College today and two games at Illinois College Saturday afternoon.