Varsity Baseball Team Meets Elis Before Big Reunion Crowds Today

An angered and favored Yale varsity baseball team, which was upset by the Crimson before a large reunion crowd in New Haven Monday, will seek to return the favor at 3:15 this afternoon at Soldiers Field.

The varsity's earlier in the week evened its 1954 record with the Elis at one victory apiece; the Bulldogs had previously edged Harvard in May, 5 to 2, behind the steady pitching of sophomore Ken MacKenzie, who is scheduled to start today. The star of Coach Ethan Allen's staff, Mackenzie brings a 6-2 record and a 1.50 earned run average into today's game.

Facing MacKenzie will probably be senior John Cooke, a surprise selection by Coach Stuffy Mcinnis. Cooke is a southpaw with three years of varsity experience and excellent control.

McInnis aces, junior Andy Ward and sophomore Ken Rossano, who combined to win Monday's game, are both available for a few innings of relief if necessary today. And with this his last contest of the season, the Crimson coach will spare no manpower.

The varsity starting lineup for the 214th meeting between the schools since 1868 includes Ned Felton or George Anderson at first, Art Noyes at second, Ed Krinsky at short, Jim Rahal at third, one George MacDonald behind the plate. In the outfield, Captain Dick Scheer in left and Don Butiers in right will flank Bill Cleary.

Scheer and Krinsky are seniors, while the rest are juniors except for sophomores Noyes, Cleary, and Felton. Thus it is a relatively young Harvard team--perhaps a year or two away from its peak--which has won but seven of 21 starts so far this season.

The Crimson, further handicapped by the rainiest May in Boston's rainy history, has massed several games and innumerable practice sessions this spring. And even this afternoon the weather bureau has announced a third starting pitcher, Jupiter Pluvius, whose efforts could conceivably preclude the appearance of Cooke and Mackenzie.

Pruett to Catch

MacKenzie's receiver should be Don Pruett, while around the infield, Allen will go with Huge Guidotti at first, Joe Wennik at second, Bill Schifine at short and Phil Mathias at third. Captain Bob Wablers will start in right, with Bill Colvillo in left field and Ray Walker in center.

Boasting a 280 average, Walker is Yale's loading hitter; he also tops the squad in stolen bases with 12. Colvillo has batted in the most runs (15). Wablers, the team's dependable captain, is hitting only 244, but is second in the RBI department.

In last year's Commencement game, the Elis rallied in the eighth to down the Crimson, 8 to 6. Walks and a home run by Guidotti were the winning combination for Yale