_Robbie Glendinning hails from Perth, Australia, and is a sophomore shortstop at Northern Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, Iowa. He is hitting .378 with 25 home runs and 87 runs batted in._

_Glendinning will be transferring to Missouri next year, where he will play baseball and study sports management. After the junior college season ends, he will play summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League._

**The Maneater**: How have you enjoyed playing in Iowa?
**Robbie Glendinning**: I’ve loved it. The junior college I’m at has really helped me develop as a baseballer, and I love it.

**ME**: How did you get involved in baseball coming from Australia, which isn’t normally known as a baseball country?
**RG**: My older brother played baseball. (He) started with T-ball and played baseball, and I just followed in his footsteps.

**ME**: And you were able to find leagues down there?
**RG**: Yeah. We don’t do it in high schools or anything. There’s club leagues, and it’s all in a club in your local area. It’s a bit different here.

**ME**: How did you find your way from Australia to Iowa?
**RG**: One of my coaches in Australia named Steve Fish, he knew the head coach here at NIACC called Travis Hergert. And every year, Steve Fish brings a bunch of prospective college kids out to play in a little tournament and college coaches come and watch. And that’s where Coach Hergert saw me.

**ME**: What drew you to Mizzou?
**RG**: Coach (Jerry) Zulli recruited me. And pretty much just the fact that it was in the (Southeastern Conference), good school, has everything I need to take my game to the next level.

**ME**: So is your goal ultimately taking your game to the major league level?
**RG**: Yeah, that’s my goal, but it’s not really what I’m focusing on right now. What I’m focusing on right now is just the end of the season here and then getting to Mizzou and trying to make an impact.

**ME**: Are there any guys in particular you are looking forward to playing with?**
**RG**: Yeah, all the guys really. There’s a bunch of freshmen and sophomores in the lineup now. It’s exciting.

**ME**: What are some goals for your first SEC season?
**RG**: Obviously I’ve got some goals, but I’ve still got to earn my playing time. I’m not just going to walk into the starting lineup. I need to prove myself in the fall and really work hard at it.

**ME**: Your power numbers have been up this year. What’s been the difference there?
**RG**: I worked hard in the weight room over the winter … put on some weight, tried to get stronger.

**ME**: What is the velocity you are seeing this season?
**RG**: Obviously it’s junior college, so it’s not SEC level. So that’ll be a bit of a jump. It’s not too great, maybe we will see a couple of guys 90 plus (mph) a week, but other than that it’s 85 to 90 (mph).

**ME**: What are you looking forward to about the Cape Cod league?
**RG**: Just playing against the best competition. Just trying to prove myself against the best there is, so that will be a good measuring tool heading into the fall at Mizzou.

**ME**: How much will that help prepare you for the jump to SEC play?
**RG**: It’ll be huge. See some good arms and see velocity … just be comfortable playing in that environment and playing against better competition.

**ME**: When was the last time you traveled back to Australia?
**RG**: I just go back every Christmas, which is tough, but I’d rather be over here doing what I love.