Greg Grupp's hitting philosophy is remarkably simple.

See the ball. Hit the ball.

That's as complicated as it gets for Grupp, a Slippery Rock High School graduate who has been assaulting opposing pitchers for the Grove City College baseball team for three-plus years.

"I just try to be aggressive," Grupp said. "I probably hit more first pitches than anyone on the team. If it's good, I'll hit it."

Now a senior outfielder/pitcher, Grupp is poised to put little doubt in pundits' minds that he is the best hitter in the Presidents' Athletic Conference.

He thought he had that on his resume last year when he finished the season batting .462 with four home runs and 27 RBI.

Grupp led the PAC in batting average, on-base percentage (.533) and slugging percentage (.756) and struck out only 13 times in 78 at bats, but he was named second-team all-conference after the season.

It was a perplexing snub that Grupp has used to motivate himself this season.

"It's been slightly a motivational factor for me," Grupp said. "No matter what happens, I always try to do my best."

His biggest motivation this season is to live up to the lofty numbers he recorded last season.

Grupp is off to a good start. In a recent trip to Fort Myers, Fla., he hit .389 with four doubles and seven RBI in 18 at bats.

But even he realizes matching his production last season will be a challenge.

"Last year - I probably hadn't hit that well since I played in (Little League) with my dad pitching to me," Grupp said. "Anytime you hit over .300, you're doing decent. My dad talked to me and told me he hoped I wouldn't be disappointed if I didn't hit that well again. He said, 'Those things just don't happen.'"

Grupp, though, is setting out to make it happen again - and perhaps exceed those robust numbers.

Before the season started, Grove City coach Rob Skaricich asked everyone on the team to write down some personal goals. Grupp's were lofty.

"I want to hit above .450," Grupp said. "Or at least come close to it. I want to lead the team in doubles, home runs and RBI. I want to execute all of our plays, don't make any errors."

Skaricich doesn't see a reason why those goals can't be achieved.

The seventh-year coach who just notched his 100th career victory, plans to leave Grupp in the No. 5 hole in the batting order, giving him plenty of opportunities to collect hits and to drive in runs.

Grupp is not concerned about how pitchers will approach him this season.

Neither is Skaricich, who did say teams in the PAC might need to take better care when dealing with Grupp.

"I think on that we'll have to wait and see," Skaricich said. "He hit well as a sophomore and people pitched to him as a junior and he murdered the ball. I think he's a guy in our league teams really will be concerned with. I know if I were facing him, he'd be a guy I'd make sure I gave special attention."

Grupp hit .354 with one home run and 12 RBI in limited action as a sophomore. Since his freshman season, Grupp has hit .417 with a slugging percentage of .535.

Grupp takes the most pride in his hitting in the clutch.

On the trip to Florida, Grupp collected a three-run double with a two-strike count.

"I get really excited when I have guys on base," Grupp said. "I almost feel like I'm putting pressure on me, but I like that. It's that little extra motivation to get myself a hit."

Grupp has also become one of the leaders on the Wolverines, as well as one of its top pitchers.

Skaricich said the biggest difference in Grupp this year has been how he has taken the leadership role in stride.

"He's taken his leadership to the next level," Skaricich said. "The biggest example of this was during a game he pitched in Florida. He had a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning and we made some errors. He didn't let it bother him. He told the guys not to worry about it. Some people would have yelled about that, but he didn't. That speaks a lot about him."

Grupp hopes his bat will speak just as loudly.