The Joe Yegge era of Griffon Softball is set to begin with the club competing in five games this weekend at the Minnesota DII Softball Classic in Mankato, Minnesota.

Friday
Friday's slate is slammed with a doubleheader for the Griffons, as they gear up to play the University of Minnesota Duluth first at 9:30 a.m. Missouri Western walks into their season-opener against the Bulldogs winners of their last two matchups. It will also be the first time the Griffons take the diamond since 2000 without Jen Bagley-Trotter, giving Yegge a chance to add to his 616 career wins in his 15 years as a head honcho.

"It's not my first rodeo," Yegge said. I'm excited to keep what she did going."

Missouri Western next plays Concordia University St. Paul at noon on Friday. 

Saturday
Saturday's schedule is also set with another doubleheader starting at 3:30 p.m. with Maryville University. Next up is Minnesota State University-Mankato at 6 p.m.

Sunday
Sunday follows suit with an 11:30 a.m first pitch against Lewis University.

Bringing Back the Big Bats and Buying In 

With six fresh faces meshing with 15 returning players, including NFCA First Team All-American junior Sydni Hawkins, Yegge is confident in his team's chemistry. Freshman Bubba Hoelscher joins her older sister Taylor Hoelscher, a junior, while Emma Hoffart, Rachel Stewart and Kalyn Damgaard return as the seasoned senior leaders for the squad.

"We've got things rolling," Yegge said. "We've had good buy-in to what we're doing and what we're implementing. We're trying to change the culture a little bit to the Yegge era, but they bought in and I think they're working hard and we're excited."

All In
For Yegge, he's inheriting a team that went 27-19 with an MIAA Tournament appearance in 2021. The Griffons bring back five players from 2019's NCAA Central Region run with junior Brea Blanton, Damgaard, Hawkins, Hoelscher and Hoffart. The 25-year coach says the team does not have any small goals but just one season goal overall.

"Postseason or bust," Yegge said. "For me, it's not a five-year plan or anything. We've got to win and we've got to win now. That's kind of what we're putting in the minds of them is there's no waiting around. We're gonna build off prior success. Just amp it up."

The MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll ranked the Griffons as fifth in the conference with 118 points.