Batswomen Looking for Sunny Weather

Captains: Mary Baldauf and Sharon Hayes

1987 Record: 10-6 overall, 4-4 Ivies

Home Field: Soldiers Field

Last year, it rained on the Harvard softball team's parade.

Many times.

Rain or unplayable field conditions caused countless games to be postponed, which may or may not have contributed to the Crimson's 4-4 Ivy League record.

This season, Harvard is hoping that the sun will shine on both Soldiers Field and the softball program. But the job must be done without graduated pitcher Janet Dickerman, first baseman Trisha Brown, third baseman Lisa Rowning and catcher Gia Baressi. The latter three had started for four years.

"We've had fairly good luck in the past, but we've lost some pretty good people," Co-Captain Mary Baldauf said.

Indeed, the loss of last year's seniors has set off a wide-open competition for some positions, especially in the infield. Freshman Beth Reilly is battling juniors Ellen Cox and Brita Lind for the thirdbase position, and on the other side of the diamond, Nancy Colbert and Beth McNamara are going for the first-base slot.

Outfield positions are also up in the air. Elizabeth Crowley--who was first-team All-Ivy last year--and freshman Beth Wambach are favorites for two of the three outfield positions, but the third outfield slot--as well as the designated hitter--is wide open. Look for freshman Beverly Armstrong or a spare infielder to fill these positions.

Prior Experience

In other positions, replacements have already been found. Nancy Prior, who led the team in batting average last season, will make her third move in position in three years. In her freshman year, she was an infielder. Last year, she played left field. This year, she will catch.

"She's going to do a great job," Harvard Coach John Wentzell said. "She's very valuable to the coaching staff."

The pitching staff will be led by fireballing junior Lora Rowning--Lisa's younger sister--who had a 4-2 record and a 1.84 ERA in Ivy League games last season.

"She's an exceptional pitcher," Wentzell said. "This year, she's stronger than ever."

Sophomore Lee Polikoff, a finesse pitcher, will also see a good amount of mound time.

The greatest stability will be found in the middle infield. Baldauf and fellow Co-Captain Sharon Hayes, another member of the 1987 All-Ivy Team, will return as second-baseman and shortstop.

"Sharon can get to anything that is hit near her," Baldauf said.

The Crimson has been practicing on the vast expanse of Astro Turf in Briggs Cage for the past few weeks and has not ventured outdoors yet.

But Harvard will be making its traditional trip to Myrtle Beach, S.C. It is a tradtional spring break ritual; many other softball teams travel down at the same time for spring training. The trip will be good preparation for the Crimson's opening doubleheader on April 2 against Vermont.

"We're looking forward to go to Myrtle Beach so we can at least be outside," said Hayes, who like several of her teammates played basketball in the winter.

Harvard's competition will be coming mostly from Princeton, which has won or shared the Ivy League title five years in a row.

As the only two seniors on the team, Hayes and Baldauf will be asked to anchor a team stocked with juniors and freshmen.

"We have some good, talented, athletic freshmen," Hayes said.

"We have a young team and hope to make a good showing," Baldauf said.

And if they do, the Crimson players will have their day in the sun. And they'll enjoy every minute of it. 1988 SOFTBALL SCHEDULE

April Sat. 2  VERMONT (2) Tue. 5  at Providence (2) Thu. 7  SMITH Sat. 9  at Princeton (2) Sun. 10  at Pennsylvania (2) Thu. 14  BOSTON COLLEGE (2) Sat. 16  at Holy Cross (2) Tue. 19  at Bentley (2) Sat. 23  MAINE Sat. 23  BROOKLYN COLLEGE Sun. 24  at Boston College Tue. 26  at Tufts Thu. 28  BOSTON UNIVERSITY (2) Sat. 30  YALE (2)

May Tue. 3  BROWN (2)