Perfect Pitching Paces Batswomen Over Break

Spring break has been very good for Harvard athletics.

Yet, as the hockey team and swimmer David Berkoff rolled to national championships, another squad's success went less noticed.

The Harvard women's softball team (4-2 overall) also had a great vacation. A season-opening series of three doubleheaders last Wednesday through Friday in Myrtle Beach, S.C., left the Crimson optimistic and ready for the fast-approaching Ivy League race.

On Wednesday, the Crimson won their opener, 3-0, against Russell Sage behind the brilliant pitching of junior Leigh Polikoff.

Game two was a tough 2-1 loss to a competitive Bucknell team. Julie Fromholz pitched well, but the Harvard bats didn't come around.

Thursday, the Crimson pounded Alfred State, 12-2, and followed that with another victory, 5-0, over Russell Sage.

Harvard maintained its high level of play on Friday. Bucknell squeaked away with another one-run defensive thriller, 1-0, in the first game. The Crimson had chances to score--including a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the third inning--but was unable to come up with the timely hit. Bucknell scored on a bang-bang play at the plate.

Harvard ended its round-robin action with its second 12-2 rout over Alfred State.

Four wins, two close losses and a good deal of hope that the Crimson can play with anyone...and win.

"It was an excellent trip, both on and off the field," Captain Nancy Prior said. "It was camaraderie building, and we played great."

Fundamentals

First-year Coach Barry Haskall's pre-season emphasis on fundamentals and consistency was apparent in the Myrtle Beach series. The common denominator in each Crimson outing was flawless defense and spectacular pitching by Polikoff and Fromholz.

The offense, hitting against live pitching for the first time this season, was sluggish at times but showed signs of coming around. Three Beth Wambach home runs were especially promising.

Haskall's aggressive style--which focuses on stealing bases, hit-and-runs and suicide squeezes--promises to pay greater dividends as Harvard becomes more accustomed to game play.

"When we first started in February, I thought to myself, 'This is going to be a long season,'" Prior said, "but now I'm really excited for our team."