Q&A with Bay Port's Quinn Pierner
Original photo credit: Evan Siegle/Green Bay Press-Gazette
Bay Port junior Quinn Pierner finds himself in a unique situation this spring. The infielder is the lone returning starter for the Pirates, who have made it to the state tournament in each of the last four years but graduated eight seniors last spring. He's geared up for a season that will be full of fresh faces for the powerhouse from Green Bay. Read an interview with him below.
Alex Cheban, lead writer for WBC: What is it like being the only returning starter for Bay Port this year?
Quinn Pierner: It’s a lot more weight on my shoulders this year than last. I was really just a small piece of the puzzle last year with all the seniors on the team, but this year I am expected to be a leader, and I have expectations for myself to perform like a leader should.
AC: What is the team looking like for the upcoming season with the lack of varsity experience?
QP: I have complete faith in our team this year, I’ve played with all the juniors since I was a young kid, and have played with the seniors for the past two years. Both offensively and defensively, we have weapons all over the place, we just need some time for everyone to get comfortable and find a position that fits them. We are flying under the radar this year, and I am okay with that. We have an opportunity to surprise a lot of people.
AC: What is it like playing for a school that's known for baseball like Bay Port?
QP: It comes with some added pressure trying to live up to the name, but every year we have new young guys that step up and that is an accomplishment of our coaches who can find talent in any grade. All of us have been playing together since we were very young, so we all know how to play, and win, as a team.
AC: Why do you choose to play Legion baseball for Ash Port instead of travel baseball?
QP: I actually had a very tough decision this year deciding whether to play for the GRB Rays or Ash Port. I had the opportunity to play for the Rays this upcoming summer, and I am very grateful that Greg [Reinhard] reached out to me to play for his team. However, I just thought that I made some great friends last summer and would be more comfortable playing for Ash Port again which would keep me loose and playing to the best of my ability. I figure that if I am good enough to play college baseball, at whatever Division it may be, that the colleges will notice me even if I did just play Legion ball.
AC: Who is your favorite baseball player/team?
QP: Kris Bryant and Mike Trout/Milwaukee Brewers.
AC: What's your favorite pregame meal?
QP: I get a sub from Cousin’s Subs before every game.
AC: What's your go-to song before a game?
QP: “I Don’t Get Tired” by Kevin Gates, it was a player’s walk-up song that we played against in Florida last year, and it’s been my pregame jam ever since.
