By Seth Bartusek

bartusek@grinnell.edu

The Pioneer women’s softball team is doing big things this offseason by bringing in new coaches to lead the program. Along with new head coach Lynn Anderson comes assistant coach Ben Suchon. This addition marks an exciting stretch for the squad as Suchon, a former player scout for the Chicago White Sox, will help bring a new approach to the team.

Suchon grew up in Wisconsin and played baseball throughout high school, taking time off after graduation before coming back as an American Legion high school travel team coach for two seasons. Throughout the next several years, his resume in youth baseball has only grown. Just three years after landing his first head coaching job, Suchon worked for the Chicago White Sox.

“I was in charge of finding the players in Wisconsin to scout,” Suchon said. “Once I became more of a hitting coach I would go work with clinics and pass information up the chain of command. I liked helping quality baseball players find places to keep playing.”

Although Grinnell marks Suchon’s first attempt at college coaching, he plans on bringing much of his prior experience coaching youth softball and baseball to this year’s squad.

“I have had the ability to watch lots of softball and I am excited to work with our girls to make them successful on the field,” Suchon said. “There’s things that I’ve seen watching it that I’m excited to work on correcting on the field, little things like positioning and focusing on plate approaches.”

Getting a new coaching staff for the upcoming season promises an interesting transition for the softball team. The winter season will present an opportunity for the coaches to work with a clean slate and build on the team’s prior success.

“I think the key for us is getting people to buy in to our system,” Suchon said. “If we get the fourth-years to help us build a good foundation that trickles down and we get a team that has completely bought in. I am excited to see our players prove that, yes, this is an academic school, but you can come here and play sports and compete.”

With individual players, Suchon plans on handling the more offensive side of the game, something he has worked on as a youth coach and in his job with the White Sox for many years.

“For me, it’s all about approach,” said Suchon. “We need to be able to take in an at-bat, regardless of outcome, and take an approach from that rather than just going up to hit the ball. Softball is fast, way faster than baseball, so it’s all about slowing the game down and doing the little things.”

Suchon is excited to finally add college coaching, something he has planned on doing for a while, to his resume.

“I came here to get into college coaching and I’m excited to do that,” Suchon said. “I can’t wait to get to know the team and learn about the game in ways that I haven’t already. Softball is fun, it’s a fun game, and I can’t wait to settle in as a softball coach and help this team.”