As the sky clears and the weather warms up, the baseball team has finally gotten its opportunity to emerge from the underground practice facility in Jadwin Gym to take the field. This year's objective is clear: reclaim the Ivy League title that Harvard usurped last season.
After beating Dartmouth for the Ivy League title in 2000 and 2001, the Tigers dropped two straight games to the Crimson last year in the Ivy League championship series. This year, Princeton will take on the role of underdog as it attempts to dethrone Harvard.
For its 2003 campaign, the Tigers are returning most of their talent from last year. Virtually the whole starting lineup from last season's championship series against Harvard — eight out of nine players — is back and ready for more this season, giving Princeton a very experienced look.
With eight of nine starters returning, the Tigers naturally have a great deal of depth this season. Depth in college baseball is very useful for keeping players fresh, since teams will usually play two doubleheaders every weekend.
"I think that overall we look very solid all around," junior middle infielder Steve Young said. "No matter who coach [Bradley] throws out there, one through nine can hit. The big difference this year is our depth as far as position players. We have a lot of different options this year, and as far as what options he chooses, we'll be good to go."
In the outfield, for example, the Tigers have six different players who have all proven that they are deserving of playing time. Senior Mark Grayson, junior Eric Fitzgerald, sophomores Adam Balkan, B.J. Szymanski and Will Venable, and freshman Andy Salini will all be battling it out for playing time.
Salini, a power hitter from Andover, Mass., has had an impressive season so far, hitting two home runs and registering a team-leading 11 runs batted in.
To make more room in the outfield, Balkan, last season's center fielder, may see more time at first base this year. Balkan was second on the team with a .308 batting average in 2002 and tied for the lead in RBIs with 32.
"It's going to be a lot of rotation this season," senior pitcher Ryan Quillian said. "Whether it be shortstop or in the outfield. A lot of moving people around, especially on the weekends."
Now would probably be a good time to mention the Tigers' major off-season loss, shortstop Pat Boran '02. Boran led the team last year with a .312 batting average and was tied with Balkan with 32 RBIs — no small feat for someone who hit in the leadoff position, normally not a good spot for driving in a lot of runs.
Filling Boran's shoes will be no easy task, but senior Mike Chernoff, Young and freshman Matthew Becker will probably be sharing time in the shortstop role. Becker seems to be going through some freshman jitters, registering only two hits in 33 at bats so far this spring. The starting role looks to be Chernoff's at this point, but Becker will probably see some time as well, with Young playing his traditional role at second base.
"No matter who [Bradley] puts at short, the guy will be the right man for the job," Young said. "Our middle infield will be solid this season."
As for pitching, the Tigers will have a solid rotation, with Quillian, fellow senior David Boehle and sophomores Ross Ohlendorf and Jason Vaughan slated to take care of most of the innings.
After posting a 3.08 ERA and a 6-3 record, Ohlendorf was last year's Ivy League Rookie of the Year. He is looking sharp this spring, sporting a 3.21 ERA in 14 innings pitched.
In 2001, Quillian was named Ivy League Pitcher of the Year after going 4-1 with a 1.30 ERA. Last year was somewhat lackluster for this star, after getting hit for a 5.17 ERA. Quillian is already on the road to turning things around this spring, pitching solidly in his first three appearances.
The Tigers have one of the league's finest relievers in junior Thomas Pauly, who posted nine saves and a 1.43 ERA last season. Pauly was the only Ivy League player named to an All-America team.
With more experience and depth than the Tigers of last season, this year's team should fare better in its quest for the Ivy League title.
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