Varsity Nine Clinches Greater Boston Title

Although Harvard drubbed Northeastern, 11-2, in a very dull baseball game, Huskie fans left the field entertained.

Dave Ignacio smashed three hits for three RBI's, Dan DeMichele blasted a home run, and J. C. Nickens hurled a seven-inning two-hitter to clinch the GBL title. But the memorable moments were performed in the stands by a cast that ran from a Harvard alumnus to a Globe reporter.

The Curtain Rises

The first act of the show opened before the game when the alumnus's wife went over the scorecard. "I like this Jim Bianco." she said.

"That's Giambianco, ma?am," the Northeastern manager pointed out.

"That Jim's a good ballplayer," she replied.

"The name's Steve Giambianco, lady."

"My husband always watches that Jim Bianco."

"Listen much lady? It's Steve Giambianco!"

"Looks like a sea breeze coming up," she commented.

And sure enough, in walked the biggest windbag the team has ever met. As Vince McGugan stepped to the plate, the "Month" began.

"Hey Vince! Hey Vince! Look over here, Vince," he shouted over and over and over. What the Huskie voice lacked in variety, he made up for in volume and persistence.

As the broken record clicked on, the Harvard alumnus sharpened his wits. "Northeastern is a wind direction, Harvard," he chuckled.

But at this point, the Northeastern director of athletics, Herb Gallagher, began a monologue of old tales. Highlight of the act was the "scoop" that the Northeastern Huskie is actually female. The sports information director verified the point by revealing that he was arrested this winter and charged with "illegally harboring a bitch."

By this time the game was dragging into the sixth inning and the score had climbed to 8-0. With plenty of Falstaff flowing and sunbeams falling, everyone but the Globe reporter was having a good time.

"C?mon. I need a hero." he said. "Varney and DeMichele have already been covered. Hey, this guy Nickens has a one-hitter going. There's a big break. Where's he from?"

The Globe reporter wandered to the Harvard bench. After interviewing the trainer and the bullpen, he meandered back smiling, only to watch Nickens come out of the game and DeMichele hit a home run. Back over to the Harvard bench and more talk with the trainer.

Now it was the ninth inning, and five Harvard reserves were in the field. Three batters later DeMichele yelled. "We're only one out away from GBL ?ame." Varney and Bill Kelly hugged each other.

Tom Waldstein struck out the Huskie batter, the team headed for the bus, and a GBL title faded into the Harvard record book.