Batsmen Take Spring Break Seriously

Captains: Frank Caprio and Frank Morelli

1987 Record: 19-7 overall, 12-4 EIBL, 4-2 GBL

Home Games: Soldiers Field

Everyone's supposed to take it easy over spring break, right?

Most people head south to lie on the beach, soak up some sun and take a break from the academic life for a week. No stress. No hard work. No sweat.

Florida is the epitome of spring break sloth. Bikinis and beers. Beaches and babes. It's a vacationer's paradise.

The Harvard baseball team will be traveling to Florida over spring break, but it won't be enjoying the sites or the sights.

The Crimson will be playing some serious ball.

Beginning at the end of the month, Harvard will play against the Boston Red Sox farm teams and three college teams.

Last year, the Crimson went up to the plate against Cy Young winner Roger Clemens in a game, and was no-hit by the hard-throwing righthander. The rest of the American League also had trouble with Clemens last year, too.

Although it doesn't look like Harvard will come up to the plate to face Clemens or Lee Smith this year, the week of spring training will certainly help the Crimson, which has been practicing inside Briggs Cage over the last few weeks.

The lighting in the cage isn't as good as it is outside, so it's not really possible to get an idea of either the hitting or the pitching. And the artificial turf on which the team has been fielding so far this season gives rather different bounces than the ones the team will face outside on natural turf when it competes in the Greater Boston and Eastern Intercollegiate Leagues.

"Everything is a nice hop," Harvard Coach Alex Nahigian said. "When you go outside, the nice hop isn't there."

Having the cage lets the team to work out more than the chilly New England winter would have allowed. That extra practice time should help the early parts of the season go much more smoothly for the Crimson, especially for the freshmen.

"Freshmen have to make the transition," Nahigian said. "They don't face sliders in high school. Our pitchers throw sliders. It makes the transition easier."

Nahigian, who is entering his 10th year as Harvard coach, is looking forward to heading south so he can get a better idea of his squad.

"It's difficult for me to give a genuine analysis right now," Nahigian said. "There is quite a difference between when a team is playing against each other and when it goes up against another team."

The team opens its collegiate season with a twinbill against Toledo University March 26. It will also play Stetson on the 28th, and the University of South Florida on the 31st, with games against the Red Stocking minor leaguers on the rest of the days during the break.

"Last year we didn't play any college teams [on the Florida trip]," sophomore righthander Mike Dorrington said. "The game against Toledo will give us a good idea of how good we really are."

One of the things that everyone will be looking for in Florida is starting pitching. The squad has graduated pitchers Chris Marchok, Kevin Curtin and Jim Cheveney, who helped to anchor the staff last year.

Sophomore Bob Baxter returns to the mound for the Crimson this year. The sophomore lefthander had an outstanding freshman year, posting a 5-1 record and an amazing 0.63 earned-run average. That mark, the second-best ERA in Harvard history, was good enough to earn Baxter first-team All-Ivy and second-team All-EIBL honors.

"Baxter's our stopper," sophomore hurler Vic McGrady said. "No doubt about that."

Sophomore Dorrington and junior Greg Ubert will also start for the Crimson this season. Ubert had a 4.29 ERA in 14 innings last year, while Dorrington posted a 3-0 record. Although each struggled at times last year, the two are expected to help carry the load this year.

The identity of the fourth starter is still unknown. With the Crimson scheduled to play 14 doubleheaders. Nahigian is hoping for a solid hurler to round out the starting quartet.

"You need four starting pitchers to win the Eastern League," Nahigian said.

Fortunately, the 10th-year coach is not shorton arms. Juniors Dan McConaghy and Rick Renninger,sophomores Chip Lippman and McGrady, and freshmenJon Biotti, Zach Hope, John Jakimczyk, Will Mercerand Cody Weston will all be given a chance to earnthe fourth spot.

McGrady, who had a 3-2 record a year ago comingout of the bullpen, will be counted on to put outa few fires this year as well. To throw off thehitters, McGrady is experimenting with his windupand delivery.

"Last year I only threw submarine," McGradysaid. "This year I'll be going overhand andunderhand. It should keep the hitters offbalance."

Batter-up

The Crimson offense looks like it has fewerquestion marks than the pitching staff, butNahigian isn't going to take that for granted.

"I always say that good pitching beats goodhitting," Nahigian said. "Hitting's an intangible.You can hit the ball very hard, but hit it rightat somebody, or you can get a bleeder to fall in."

Co-Captains Frank Morelli and Frank Caprioshould provide more than a few runs. Caprio, agood defensive outfielder, was second on the teamin stolen bases last year with eight. He batted.252 and scored 21 runs.

"Frank Caprio is the silent leader type,"Dorrington said. "He leads by example."

Morelli, who catches, hit .268 with a home runand 11 runs batted in last year. Morelli lookslike he'll be one of the best hitters in theleague.

"It's very tough to get a hit in the cage,"Nahigian said, "but still Morelli's hitting thehell out of the bail."

In the past, Morelli has been hindered bycatching both games of a doubleheader. ButNahigian said that freshman third-baseman AronAllen will spell Morelli in the second game of afew twinbills to give the senior a well-deservedrest.

McConaghy, who plays outfield when he's not onthe mound, is the top returning hitter forHarvard. The junior south-paw hit .409 last year,and garnered second-team All-Ivy honors. He wasalso an All-ELBL Honorable Mention.

Junior Rick Renninger looks like he will havethe first-base slot. The slugger hit .309 lastyear, and seven of his 17 hits went for extrabases. Renninger also has a good eye--he walked 20times in 1987.

Sophomore Dave O'Connell and junior Casey Cobb,two solid defensive infielders, look like theywill get the nod at the shortstop and second-basepositions, although they may be challenged by someof the freshmen.

Outfielder Greg Agran, who hit a solid .309with good power in limited plate appearances lastyear, also figures to provide some offense.

Last year's Eastern League winner, Dartmouth,figures to be in the race again, but there are anumber of strong teams around the league.

Navy has won more games since the formation ofthe Eastern League than any other team, and theMiddies should put out another strong team. Pennand Columbia have some very strong young arms, andcould challenge.

"The league gets tougher every year," Nahigiansaid. "I used to think that if you lost fourgames, you would still have a shot at the leaguetitle. But now the winner has only two losses."

"We're really psyched for Florida," McGradysaid. "We're more motivated since we're playingcollege teams. But it's always fun playing the RedSox."1988 BASEBALL SCHEDULE

Southern ScheduleMarchSat. 26  Toledo University (2)Mon. 28  Stetson UniversityThu. 31  South Florida

Northern ScheduleAprilTue. 5  at Boston College (2)Wed. 6  NORTHEASTERN (2)Sun. 10  BOSTON UNIVERSITYTue. 12  TUFTSWed. 13  at Holy CrossSat. 16  at Brown (2)Sun. 17  at Yale (2)Wed. 20  BRANDEISSat. 23  NAVY (2)Sun. 24  PENN (2)Wed. 27  at MITSat. 30  at Columbia (2)MaySun. 1  at Army (2)Tue. 3  RHODE ISLAND (2)Wed. 4  at Providence (2)Sat. 7  CORNELL (2)Sun. 8  PRINCETON (2)Wed. 11  UMASSSat. 14  DARTMOUTH (2)

CrimsonGavin R. VillarealHarvard's DAN McCONAGHY