By sheer numbers, the baseball team should not win this weekend's Ivy League championship series. Following trends only points in the same direction. And in terms of the predicted outcome, the Tigers are the clear underdogs.
But in a weekend in which the entire season is wiped clean and the cream of the Gehrig Division meets the cream of the Rolfe, one thing is certain: The numbers can lie, momentum can shift and anything can happen in three short games.
Princeton (21-17 overall, 13-7 Ivy League) faces a dominant Dartmouth squad in a winner-take-all, best-of-three-game series for the Ivy League Championship and an NCAA tournament berth. The two teams start off the series with a doubleheader tomorrow at noon and a third game Sunday, if necessary.
The Big Green (28-12, 17-3) is coming off the most successful season in school history, one in which both pitching and hitting came together in a package that few Ivy League teams could handle.
The key for both teams this weekend will be pitching. Both Princeton and Dartmouth put up similar numbers at the plate — the Tigers batted .307 and scored 243 runs while the Big Green totaled .304 and 286 — but the pitching numbers show inequality. Dartmouth led the league with a team 3.25 ERA, while the Tigers were only fourth at 4.54.
Front line
Leading the charge for the Big Green is the league's preeminent hurler, righthander Conor Brooks. In his final collegiate season, Brooks led his division in nearly every significant category: His 1.49 ERA, .219 opposing batting average, 79.2 innings pitched, 84 strikeouts and 8-1 record all outdistanced the closest competitors.
Of his nine starts, six were complete games. He went the distance in last week's 11-inning victory over Harvard. His only loss was to defending national champion Miami. He was the Ivy League pitcher of the week on four occasions this season. He is the real deal.
But the Tigers are not scared.
"We've seen Brooks once," junior right fielder Max Krance said. "We're hitting a lot better and are more confident at the plate [than we were in the league opener against Dartmouth]. If we sit back and get a little deeper in the count, we should be all right."
Brooks may be the staff ace, but righthander John Velosky is a close number two. In just his second season in the league, Velosky is 7-1 with a 3.12 ERA.
Counterattack
The Tigers will counter with a true ace of their own, sophomore righthander Chris Young. With a team-low 1.06 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 34 innings, Young should be able to match Brooks pitch-for-pitch in the series opener.
Princeton can then choose from the trio of senior Jason Quintana, sophomore Tom Rowland or freshman Ryan Quillian to start the second game. All three have put up similar numbers on the season and would be equally effective in the game — the one thing that favors the Tigers in the series.
With such a deep staff, Princeton will not suffer any lapse going into the third game and might have an advantage if it can get past the doubleheader. All the Tigers need to do is claim one game against either Brooks or Velosky. If they can do this, Sunday — and thus the series, Ivy championship and NCAA berth — could be theirs.
The team played two non-conference tune-ups this week, an 11-9 comeback win over Rider on Wednesday — sparked by sophomore Ryan Achterburg's solo home run and junior Casey Hildreth's bases-loaded double — and a 4-2 loss to Seton Hall yesterday.
Read More
Back to Back: No. 11 women’s water polo repeats as CWPA champions
JP OhlFor the second time in program history, the Princeton women’s water polo team repeated as CWPA Champions. The squad will open the NCAA tournament with a quarterfinal match against No.2 Hawaii.
For the second time in program history, the Princeton women’s water polo team repeated as CWPA Champions. The squad will open the NCAA tournament with a quarterfinal match against No.2 Hawaii.
Cornell’s Ben Syer to take the reins as new head coach of Princeton men’s ice hockey
Ava Seigel and Cole KellerAfter ten years, Princeton men’s hockey head coach Ron Fogarty will not be returning behind the bench next season. Instead, 25 year coaching veteran Ben Syer will be taking over as head coach. Bringing top-notch defensive acumen and an eye for recruiting, Syer hopes to lead the Tigers back to championship-level success.
After ten years, Princeton men’s hockey head coach Ron Fogarty will not be returning behind the bench next season. Instead, 25 year coaching veteran Ben Syer will be taking over as head coach. Bringing top-notch defensive acumen and an eye for recruiting, Syer hopes to lead the Tigers back to championship-level success.
Dartmouth demolition derby: Vinci breaks home run record as Tigers sweep series
Joseph UglialoroThe Tigers are currently second in the Ivy League standings and will play current top-seeded Columbia this weekend in New York City. The three-game series will determine the seeding for the Ivy League tournament.
The Tigers are currently second in the Ivy League standings and will play current top-seeded Columbia this weekend in New York City. The three-game series will determine the seeding for the Ivy League tournament.
