Playing without Princeton's version of Babe Ruth won't be easy for softball this season, but things could have been worse. At least Shirley Tilghman didn't sell Brie Galicinao '02 to Harvard.
With the graduation of Galicinao, last season's Ivy League Pitcher of the Year and Ivy League Player and Pitcher of the year in 2001, the Tigers (3-9 overall, 0-0 Ivy League) lost far more than just a single star player. In truth, they lost their best pitcher, top hitter and clubhouse leader.
Still, the defending Ivy League champions are confident that they will find success in the post-Brie era.
"I think we're as talented as, if not more talented than, last year's team," head coach Maureen Barron '97 said. "Winning the Ivy League again is a reasonable goal, but it comes down to working hard and getting better day-today."
Blocking Princeton's path to repeating as champs is Harvard. Last season, the Crimson finished 12-2 in the league, splitting their games with the Tigers. Their first baseman, senior Tiffany Whitton, is the reigning Ivy League Player of the Year. Dark-horse Cornell will also challenge for the title.
Still, Princeton has a strong shot at repeating. Most of the elements of the lineup return from a team that finished last year, 34-18, including a school-best, 13-1, in league play. Other than Galicinao, the squad lost just one major contributor, shortstop Kim Veenstra '02.
That said, for a team with seven returning starters, the Tigers are still incredibly young. There are just four upperclassmen on the team, and three or four freshmen will start.
Barron juggled the Tiger lineup during the southern road trip over Spring Break, attempting to find the best combination in the field and the strongest batting lineup. While the exact positions are not yet set in stone, it is clear who the team's key players will be.
Among the freshmen expected to contribute immediately is pitcher Erin Snyder, for whom Barron has "great expectations." Already this season, the rookie has logged 40 innings over eight appearances, striking out an astonishing 57 batters.
Sophomore Melissa Finley entered the season as Princeton's number two pitcher, but has struggled her way to a bloated 18.36 ERA so far. Finley had emerged last year as a reliable second pitcher. She will also need to help carry the Tiger offense — her three home runs and 7 RBIs lead the team thus far.
Rounding out the staff is junior captain Wendy Bingham, who will pitch in from the bullpen. Bingham went 8-4 with a 1.70 ERA during last year's campaign.
Sophomores Ty Ries and Lauren Palmer are splitting time behind the plate for Princeton. Ries is a steady defender who started 36 games as a freshman and made just two errors. Palmer, meanwhile, leads the team with a .500 batting average so far.
A mainstay in the middle of the Tiger offense is power-hitting junior first baseman Kristin Del Calvo. In addition to leading the team last year with 12 homers and 42 RBIs, Del Calvo batted a robust .340.
Hoping to fill the role of offensive sparkplug is sophomore Kristin Lueke, who led the team in steals last year while shuffling between the middle infield spots. She will see time at second base and in the outfield this year.
Heralded freshman Christina Cobb-Adams takes over the shortstop position from Veenstra and should contribute immediately.
"Christina's got the best arm I've seen in a long time," Del Calvo said. "She plays shortstop like a baseball player; she's so quick and smooth and fluid. And she's got a great bat."
At third base, the Tigers are without sophomore Becky Nemec, who will miss this year due to back surgery. A plethora of players will see time at the hot corner in her place: Ries, freshman Amanda Erickson, and freshman Lindsay Motal, who also plays second.
Likewise, a patchwork of players comprises the Princeton outfield. Senior captain Erin Valocsik, batting .353 thus far, will see time, as will Finley and Bingham when they are not pitching. Sophomore Nicole Davida is next in line.
With a lineup stacked with young talent, the biggest challenge for Princeton may not be replacing Galicinao's physical presence but rather overcoming the mental burden of playing without her.
"We try not to focus on what we've lost," Del Calvo said, "but instead on what we've gained."
Sill, the Tigers should be wary of history: the Curse of the Bambino has afflicted the Red Sox for 83 seasons and counting.
But if the youngsters can contribute immediately, the Tigers might be able to end the "Curse of Brie" before it even starts.
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