Right now, roughly midway through the Ivy League season, softball sits alone atop the standings. But the pinnacle position is up for grabs this weekend in New York.
In all likelihood, this weekend's road trip to Cornell (22-4 overall, 5-1 Ivy League) and Columbia (13-5, 3-3) will determine whether Princeton (15-11-2, 5-0-1) will remain at the league's zenith at season's end.
Friday's doubleheader in Ithaca will feature the Ivies' two hottest teams and four of its hottest players. The Big Red is led by two award-winning juniors, centerfielder Kate Varde and pitcher Sarah Sterman.
Varde, who was recently named Ivy League player of the week for the second time this spring, has been unstoppable at the plate. Bolstered by an 18-game hitting streak, she's currently batting .513, the third highest average in the entire country. Her bat packs a wallop too — her .949 slugging percentage and 31 runs batted-in lead the league.
Cornell isn't a one-woman team at the plate, however, with a lineup that is strong from top to bottom. Its 139 runs scored are far ahead of the 100 tallied by the Tigers, the second highest scorers in the league.
"They're a great hitting team, so we need to play great defense," head coach Maureen Barron '97 said. "We'll try to mix things up to keep them off balance at the plate."
The Tigers will also have to contend with Sterman, arguably the league's top pitcher. Considering her 14-3 record and miniscule 1.47 ERA, it's no surprise that she's twice been named Ivy League Pitcher of the Week. Still, Princeton will not be intimidated — according to Barron, the Tigers hit Sterman hard last year en route to a victory.
There will be no respite for Princeton in the second game. Most likely, hurler Whitney Smith, named both Ivy League Pitcher and Rookie of the Week this year, will follow Sterman to the rubber.
With an award-winning pitcher and hitter of its own, Princeton has the firepower to match Cornell. Sophomore pitcher/outfielder Melissa Finley has, like Varde, twice been named Ivy League Player of the Week. The Tigers also boast the current Pitcher of the Week — freshman Erin Snyder.
Great expectations
Entering the season, much was expected of the heralded hurler. She has more than lived up to those expectations, becoming the team's ace. Her 8-5 record and 2.42 ERA are both team bests, and her 128 strikeouts easily lead the league. As the staff workhorse, she's pitched nearly 100 innings already this season. Yet rather than wear down, she's gotten stronger.
"Erin's right where we expected her to be," Barron said. "She's actually gotten mentally tougher during the season.
"She's used to throwing a lot of innings, since she was the ace of her summer ball team. There's no sign of her wearing down."
Snyder has also been a pleasant surprise at the plate. After struggling early in the season, a swing adjustment made by the coaches helped get her on track. Her .299 average and 15 RBIs place her third on the team in both categories.
Most likely, Snyder will start one game Friday and a second on Saturday. Additionally, Finley and junior captain Wendy Bingham should each take the ball once.
The competition for Saturday's twin bill in New York City will be significantly less imposing than what Princeton will face Friday. Still, the Tigers should not take Columbia lightly. The Lions handed Cornell its only league loss.
"Cornell is a pretty new team [third year as varsity], but they're playing much better," Barron said. "They've been splitting [doubleheaders] with a lot of teams."
Senior center fielder April Jarvis leads a young Columbia lineup. Sophomore first baseman Marisa Marconi, batting .385 with six home runs and 15 RBIs, leads the offense. Though only a freshman, Jackie Adelfio is the top pitcher, with a 5-2 record and 2.04 ERA.
Maintaining focus will be critical for Princeton. The Tigers can't afford any mental lapses against Cornell's loaded lineup, nor would it be wise to underestimate Columbia.
"We need to play 14 innings worth of solid softball [each day]," Barron said. "We've been strong the first game, but we haven't been finishing well enough."
In the next two days, the Tigers will either take control of the Ivy League or find themselves in an unwanted hole. After all, anything can happen in a New York minute.
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