No Grinnell College baseball team has ever played this late into the season. Grinnell is headed to its first-ever NCAA tournament. “A lot of frustration. I mean, we’ve been really close quite a few times,” said head coach Tom Hollibaugh. He’s been the head coach at Grinnell for 32 years.”Just to see the guys celebrate. When you get into coaching, that’s the most rewarding thing. This is not about me,” Hollibaugh said. “I just want them to have the best experience, and they had it, man.”Grinnell beat Illinois College 16-3 Saturday to win the MidWest Conference Tournament and book a trip to the NCAA Division III tournament. The win was number 500 for Hollibaugh.“It’s kind of insane to me that this was the group that finally pulled it off,” said junior infielder Stuart Cash. “He’s been around a long time. It feels really special to be able to deliver it for him.”“It feels surreal that we were the team to be able to do it,” said senior infielder Connor Goodson. “I believe in us and every single one of the dudes out here, but at the same time, I know there were hundreds of Grinnell College baseball players who came before me and had the same goal. “I know coach pours his heart and soul into every team every year. To get it done on his 500th win is like a storytale ending. Couldn’t get much better than that, to be honest.”Grinnell will face the number one team in the nation, Denison, Friday at 10 a.m. in Granville, Ohio.

GRINNELL, Iowa —

No Grinnell College baseball team has ever played this late into the season. Grinnell is headed to its first-ever NCAA tournament.

“A lot of frustration. I mean, we’ve been really close quite a few times,” said head coach Tom Hollibaugh. He’s been the head coach at Grinnell for 32 years.

“Just to see the guys celebrate. When you get into coaching, that’s the most rewarding thing. This is not about me,” Hollibaugh said. “I just want them to have the best experience, and they had it, man.”

Grinnell beat Illinois College 16-3 Saturday to win the MidWest Conference Tournament and book a trip to the NCAA Division III tournament. The win was number 500 for Hollibaugh.

“It’s kind of insane to me that this was the group that finally pulled it off,” said junior infielder Stuart Cash. “He’s been around a long time. It feels really special to be able to deliver it for him.”

“It feels surreal that we were the team to be able to do it,” said senior infielder Connor Goodson. “I believe in us and every single one of the dudes out here, but at the same time, I know there were hundreds of Grinnell College baseball players who came before me and had the same goal.

“I know coach pours his heart and soul into every team every year. To get it done on his 500th win is like a storytale ending. Couldn’t get much better than that, to be honest.”

Grinnell will face the number one team in the nation, Denison, Friday at 10 a.m. in Granville, Ohio.