After setting a school record for wins during the regular season the Grinnell College baseball team opens the Midwest Conference Tournament on Friday in De Pere, Wisconsin. The Pioneers finished second in the South division race and will play North division champ St. Norbert in the opening round.
Grinnell coach Tim Hollibaugh says in the big picture the most important thing is making the tournament, and he says they have the pitching depth, defense and offense to beat anyone. Hollibaugh says they don’t really want to face the top seed in the first game, but that’s the way it is.
The Pioneers enter the tournament with a record of 22-12, and he says they are hungry and have been playing good baseball.
Hollibaugh says Grinnell and St. Norbert have similar styles, with solid defense and good pitching. He says St. Norbert steals more bases and that is something they will work on stopping.
Monmouth and Beloit meet in the other first round game.