Tigers seek redemption down South

Heading into every season for the past 10 years, head coach Scott Bradley has made sure that his baseball players know two essential truths: one, that they would be a serious contender for the Ivy League title; and two, that the tough early part of the season, though not meaningless, is just preparation for those crucial Ivy League contests.

"The goal is for this team to hit its stride at the start of league play," Bradley said before the season started. "Everything about our season is in the Ivy League. Ivy teams don't get at-large bids, so the only way into the [NCAA] tournament is to win the league."

The early non-conference games that the Tigers play are still official games, but in the grand scheme of things, the team views the first half of the season merely as a tuneup — a way to build team cohesion and set the roster for the 20 games against Ivy opponents. That explains why even after last weekend, in which Princeton (1-5 overall) lost three games to the University of Houston and was outscored 33-4, the Tigers are far from worried.

"It is really too early on in the season to pinpoint any serious weaknesses," senior catcher/third baseman Sal Iacono said. "We are still figuring [out] this team, trying to see what works and what doesn't."

Over spring break, while most Princeton students are sunbathing on faraway beaches, the team will conclude the southern half of its schedule with games at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (7-8), Davidson (11-6) and Longwood (15-6).

"This spring trip is critical every year," said Iacono, who is currently batting .392 with a team-leading 11 hits. "We are going to play a bunch of games in a short amount of time, and the team is going to learn a lot about itself. We are going to get a sense of what our best lineup is, who our best pitchers are, and get a real idea of where we are as a team heading into Ivy League play."

The series at UNC-Greensboro, which features games on March 16, 17 and 18, will be the Tigers' first chance to return to the win column. The Spartans have struggled at times this year but still have the offensive firepower to be a dangerous team.

Junior infielder Greg Feltes leads the squad with a .452 batting average, two home runs and 15 RBI, and speedy junior infielder/outfielder Tim Carrier has stolen bases on all eight of his attempts this season. The Spartans' pitching staff, also not to be overlooked, is anchored by senior lefty Ryan Falcon, who is currently 1-3 with a 3.10 ERA.

Following their games in Greensboro, the Tigers will head to the upper corner of North Carolina to play on March 20 and 21 at Davidson. The Wildcats, a solid hitting team, are paced by its two senior captains: outfielder Gregory Zage and infielder/pitcher Alden Crissey. Zage hit .320 last year and led Davidson with 12 homers and 49 RBI, while Crissey hit .322 with 31 runs and 44 RBI.

The team also returns perhaps its best pitcher from last season, senior Rob Wilson, who went 1-2 with a 3.85 ERA. The arrival of left-handed freshman Mac Read, who is currently 1-0 with a 3.22 ERA, has also bolstered the club.

Finally, on March 23-25, Princeton will travel to Farmville, Va., to take on Longwood. One of the better teams that the Tigers have on their schedule, the Lancers boast a powerful offense and stellar pitching staff.

Sophomore catcher Jon Quigley is currently batting .441 with 15 runs and 16 RBI, and senior outfielder Tyler Childress leads the team with three home runs and 20 RBI. Last week, Childress was named the Division I-Independent player of the week for a four-game stretch in which he batted .689 with six runs and 14 RBI.

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The Lancers' offensive numbers may seem daunting, but it is their pitching that has turned the most heads this season. All three Longwood starters boast ERAs under 1.80, including sophomore right-hander John Walker, who is currently 2-0 with a 0.83 ERA.

For the Tigers, the team's progression over the course of these eight games will be crucial. They head into the break as a team still searching for its identity but need to return to campus next weekend as a team playing its best baseball and ready for its real season.

"Everything has to get going at the right time," Bradley said.

And for Princeton, that time is now.