Pitching remains a question, but Schaus to anchor starting rotation

Even though there's more snow on the ground this week than last week and winter coats still pile up in eating-club coatrooms, it's time for spring.

As winter teams transition into their postseasons and off-seasons, their endings mark other Tigers' beginnings. The two-time defending Ivy League champion softball team begins its season tomorrow and is already gearing up for warmer weather — and a dryer infield.

"We are really looking forward just to getting outside and playing," head coach Maureen Barron '97 said.

After going 34-19 overall and 12-2 in the Ivy League last year, Princeton opens play this weekend with one gaping hole to fill in its roster, but it aims to build on new strengths for an even more successful 2007.

The biggest question mark for the Tigers will be its starting pitching, following the graduation of Erin Snyder '06, who was named Ivy League Pitcher of the Year for both the 2005 and 2006 seasons.

A solid rotation, always a priority on any coach's mind, will have to come from new faces as well as old. Junior right hander Kristen Schaus will provide an excellent anchor for the Princeton pitching staff after emerging as arguably the best starter in the league last season other than Snyder. Schaus was named first-team All-Ivy last year after compiling a 16-9 record and an ERA of 1.69.

The No. 2 starting spot could be filled by senior tri-captain Calli Jo Varner, who started four games last season while batting .319 and earning first-team All-Ivy honors as a designated player. Freshman righty Jamie Lettire is also sure to be given opportunities out of the bullpen, if not as a starter.

Coupled with a potentially explosive offense, Princeton's solid corps of pitchers gives the team hope that this year will prove just as successful as last year.

"We have a really strong lineup all the way around," senior centerfielder and tri-captain Stephanie Steel said. "We get stronger every year."

The Tigers have a fairly even distribution across the classes, and, with only three seniors to replace next year, Barron has the rare opportunity to build for the future without sacrificing immediate success.

To that end, Barron will look to take advantage of a strong freshman class. Five new players will join the Tigers this spring, bringing with them a range of specific skills and talents, as well as — Barron hopes — the ability to integrate into an already fluid team dynamic.

"The freshmen are a great addition to the team," Barron said, "both in terms of ability and chemistry. At least three of them are going to be making significant contributions right away".

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While Princeton auditions players throughout the infield and the outfield, proven producers like Steel and Varner will provide stability in the top half of the lineup.

"Our offense is going to be really strong, and we have a lot of strength in the younger players," Steel said. "[We have] a lot of great sophomores."

Sophomore leftfielder Kathryn Welch — the defending Ivy League Rookie of the Year, who led the Tigers last season with a .331 batting average, 33 runs scored and 51 hits — will see time in both the infield and outfield. Junior Beth Dalmut, who earned second-team All-Ivy honors last year, is also expected to fill a regular utility role as Barron figures out what she has at each position.

"The lineup can change on a daily basis," Barron said. "That keeps us on our toes. We want to see how things go and let everything develop."

The Tigers have one thing they can count on to start the season: their bats. Princeton had nine players with batting averages over .250 last season, and three who hit over .300. The Tigers will aim to bring strength and focus to the plate during the next few weeks.

"We obviously want to play hard every game," Steel said, "but more importantly, we never want to play down if we're the stronger team. We don't want to give up any game on mental errors."

The Tigers open play tomorrow afternoon at the University of North Carolina Tar Heel Invitational, facing Liberty and Rhode Island in first-round pool play of the eight-team tournament. Saturday morning, the Tigers will play Marshall to conclude the first-round, with a chance to advance to second-round games later in the weekend.

"We are looking at every game individually," Steel said. "Obviously, we get a little more psyched for Ivies, but we take every team very seriously for its own strengths."

Princeton's foremost advantage could be its flexibility. As the Tigers strive to overcome the loss of Snyder, new additions and improved veterans have them looking forward to an exciting and successful season of competition.