Practiced Infield

There's only three weeks left in the Harvard women's softball season, but Crimson Coach John Wentzell feels like the team hasn't even started playing.

Softball

1986 record: 15-9

1987 record to date: 3-2, 2-2 Ivy

(four Ivy games remaining)

Even though the squad began practicing way back in early February, last Saturday's home opener against Princeton marked the first time the Crimson had set foot on its home turf at Soldier's Field.

And when Harvard hosted the Tigers that sunny afternoon, the Crimson only had one game under its belt--a marked contrast to Princeton's 22 contests.

"Our biggest obstacle this year has been the weather," Wentzell says. "We spend more than two-thirds of our time indoors, and there's very little time to make up for experience if it's not brought to campus."

Due to rain and poor field conditions, Harvard's first two games were postponed, and a tight schedule will make it difficult to make up those missed contests.

If the elements have been the biggest hindrance to the Crimson, the infield has been its major asset.

"Our strength is our infield," Wentzell said. "We've got a tremendous amount of experience there. They've been together as unit for three years."

Co-captain Gia Barresi (catcher) and Lisa Rowning (third baseman), and first baseman Trisha Brown are all four-year starters, while shortstop Sharon Hayes and second baseman Mary Baldauf are putting in their third years as first-string infielders.

The only position without several years of experience behind it is pitcher--but the Crimson hasn't suffered on that count. Sophomore Lora Rowning, who was 5-5 last year with a 1.27 earned-run-average, has shown great talent and poise on the mound.

"Lora makes Harvard competitive with just about anyone else in the East," Wentzall says. "She's very talented, perhaps as talented as anyone in the league."

Behind Rowning is senior Janet Dickerman, a four-year member of the team, and freshman Lee Polikoff. Polikoff has made two appearances thus far this season, and recorded a pair of wins--one of them a shutout.

"Lora is super, Lee has been coming on and Janet has been in for four years," Wentzell says. "They do the job, we just need to score the runs. We have problems scoring runs off top-flight pitching."

Hitting has been a weak point for the Crimson, but one player who hasn't suffered is sophomore outfielder Nancy Prior. Prior currently boasts a .455 batting average, which is tops on the team.

Prior is joined in the outfield by junior Hanya Bluestone, who started two years ago before taking a year off from the sport, and sophomore Elizabeth Crowley.

Designated hitter Ellen Cox, outfielder Elizabeth Wald and backup infielders Brita Lind and Nancy Colbert round out the line-up.