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TRINITY INTERNATIONAL TROJANS (0-0) vs. HANNIBAL-LAGRANGE TROJANS (0-4)
Friday, February 13 | 12:00 p.m. / 3:00 p.m. / 6:00 p.m.
GCS Stadium | Sauget, Ill.
This Week
TIU Baseball kicks off the 2015 season Friday afternoon, as they take on the Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) Trojans, in a triple-header starting at noon, from GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill.
Last Time Out
The Trojans improved their win total from 2013 to 2014, posting an 11-29 mark overall, and a 7-20 result in CCAC play. Trinity finished in a tie for 11th in the CCAC last season, and will look to return to the CCAC Tournament after missing the postseason the last three years.
Top Returners
Trinity returns five of the six hitters last season with at least 100 at-bats, including the two players who finished with above-.300 averages in 2014, Cameron Stanley and Adam Vignola. In all, the Trojans will lose just three players who compiled eight or more starts last season, bringing back a solid foundation of returners alonside seven new freshman and two transfer students.
Family Business
Head coach Paul Grotelueschen begins his second season in charge of the Trojan baseball program, after two seasons as the TIU pitching coach. Coach Grotelueschen came to Deerfield after 23 years of service in the United States Air Force. Before his military career, Grotelueschen played professional overseas, and then coached his teams to a pair of championships in both the Netherlands and Italy.
Joining Grotelueschen on the TIU coaching staff is his son, Paul Grotelueschen, Jr., in his first season as assistant coach. Paul Jr. played four seasons at Trinity International as a pitcher from 2010-13. Two current Trojans are also memebers of the Grotelueschen family: senior infielder Andrew, and junior outfielder Jonathan.
Double-Duty
Three TIU baseball players spent part of their winter pre-seasons playing for the first-year TIU Men's Volleyball program. Seniors Austin Galley, Andrew Grotelueschen, and Cameron Stanley made up to five appearances for the Trojan volleyball squad this season, before the start of the baseball campaign. Stanley recorded an average of 1.06 digs per set during his brief time with the team.
Last Time vs. Hannibal-LaGrange
• The Trojans last met Hannibal-LaGrange during the 2013 RussMatt Central Florida Invitational, when TIU suffered a 9-6 loss in seven innings, on Mar. 2, 2013.
• TIU led 3-2 through two innings, but HLGU put up four runs in the bottom of the 3rd to claim a 6-3 edge. After the Trojans tied the score at 6-6 in the top of the fourth, Hannibal-LaGrange scored three runs between the 4th and 5th innings to secure the win.
