Our mission is simple - "First we will be best, and then we will be first." Our players train year round and take great pride in the game of baseball. They are committed to excellence in the classroom and on the baseball diamond. This is essential not only to success in athletics, but in life as well!

"We coach our players up." We are not big on change nor do we try to fit players into our baseball style when they arrive on campus. All of our coaches are teachers. We adjust our teaching methods to each individual players techniques. We fine tune every players mechanics, but it is our goal to work them out in practice so our players, in game situations, just play baseball. It is my belief as a coach, when a baseball player takes the field, he should not think…he should react. This is why we work so hard and take advantage of every practice. Championships are won on the practice field. Thinking and skill work should be done in practice, not in games. We are big in videotape usage. When I tell something, it may be heard. When a player sees a picture along with positive verbal reinforcement, what needs to be accomplished is realized and understood at a higher level. This is a powerful tool in coaching or teaching any skill.

Our philosophies are simple. The key to accomplishing each one of these in a game setting is the team and coaches ability to be on the same page which begins in practice:

Practice Philosophy: We win or lose during practice. When our players show up, the are expected to act like professionals. Game like tempo is stressed in every drill, situation or scrimmage. We routinely break down practices into three manageable parts: individual work, group work and finish with team work scrimmages or situations. Our coaching staff uses the whole, dry, part, whole method of teaching (teach the whole skill, allow players dry opportunities for success, break it down into part, and finish will the whole skill operated at game speed).

Team Philosophy We must be able to play team baseball in order to succeed as a unit. Players must be willing to work together, play together and be together away from the baseball field. A confident, skilled team working together is our goal.

Offensive Philosophy Be aggressive. Leadoff hitters must get on. We would rather steal a base or hit and run rather than give up an out with a bunt. Now, game situations differ. For instance, if we are facing a great pitcher, we may give up and out early with the short game. If it is late and we are down a run or two, we will use the short game. I want our guys to swing the bats. Be aggressive and know the situation.

Defensive Philosophy Make the routine play and the game will take care of itself. Always anticipate before a play happens…we want outs. To be good on defense, you must concentrate and hustle. Championships are won with solid team defense.

Pitching Philosophy The pitcher and catcher control the game. We want our pitchers to be aggressive. Get ahead early (first pitch strikes are the key). Accuracy is more important than velocity in our program. A pitcher must change speeds and hit their spots in order to succeed at the college level. We do not call pitches (in most occasions). Our pitchers must master their fastball and learn (fine tune) a change-up. If you come to Grinnell with a breaking pitch, all the better.