Baseball: Road to Gehrig Division title will likely run through Ithaca

The baseball team finished with an 18-19 overall record last year and went an even 10-10 in Ivy League play. Head coach Scott Bradley, in his 12th season, will look to the addition of eight freshmen to his returning crew to finish atop the Ivy League.

Princeton opens its 2010 schedule against Radford on Friday. After a 26-24 finish in 2009, Radford will look to Big South Conference 2009 Rookie of the Year shortstop Jeff Kemp to lead the team.

Next up for the Tigers is Elon, where 2009 Southern Conference Coach of the Year Mike Kennedy has led his team to a conference title three times in the past four years. The Phoenix will look to its pitching, where it returns Thomas Girdwood, who is Elon’s all-time saves leader.

Princeton faces Bucknell the same weekend. Though head coach Gene Depew and his players won the Patriot League regular-season title last year, he lost eight key players, including pitcher Chris Yamaguchi. But the Bison return outfielder Andrew Brouse and catcher B.J. LaRosa, who were named to the Patriot League’s first team last year.

Princeton opens its spring break looking to avenge a 2009 loss to the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. Head coach Mike Gaski hopes to kickstart a lineup that finished last in the Southern Conference last year with 10 newcomers. UNC-Greensboro has an 8-1 record against Princeton since 2006.

A true test will come against No. 11 North Carolina, Bradley’s alma mater. The Tar Heels won the Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division in 2009 and were ranked No. 5 in the country. UNC’s staff will be headlined by fifth-year senior pitcher Mike Cavasinni.

In 2009, the Tigers bested North Carolina A&T 18-7 and hope for a repeat result this season. The strength of North Carolina A&T lies in the pitching staff, which includes Esterlin Paulino, Nick Boles and Xavier Macklin. All three pitchers return after receiving extensive playing time as freshmen last year.

Princeton also defeated Navy in three games last year and looks to challenge a squad that is already 6-1 in 2010. Though head coach Paul Kostacopoulos’ team was plagued with injuries last year, it graduated no seniors. Captain and catcher Steven Soares will lead the team after being named second-team All-Patriot League in 2009.

Princeton next travels to the West Coast for four games against Santa Clara, which finished 19-34 in 2009. Santa Clara hopes a class of 20 newcomers can revitalize a diminished squad that lost almost half of its members.

Princeton opens Ivy League play in April against Harvard, which also finished with a .500 record in league play last year. Harvard’s pitching staff will be much stronger this season as it returns three pitchers who were injured in 2009. Outfielder Dillon O’Neill, shortstop Sean O’Hara and catcher Tyler Albright will lead the Crimson batting order.

Dartmouth beat Princeton in both of their meetings last year and went on to defeat Cornell in the Ivy League championship. Head coach Bob Whalen had four players on the all-conference first team, including 2009 graduate Nick Santomauro, who was the Ivy League Player of the Year.

Princeton next aims to avenge a 2009 loss to in-state rival Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights return seven position starters who participated in a 22-31 season last year. Rutgers boasts a 21-7-1 record against Princeton since 1984.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

Brown loses leading hitters Matt Nuzzo and Steve Daniels but returns its entire bullpen and adds a strong freshman class. Brown finished 15-5 in the Ivy League last year, and the Tigers will be challenged by the team they lost two games to last year.

Yale returns first-team All-Ivy honoree first baseman Trygg Larsson-Danforth among its 21 letter-winners from last season. Head coach John Stuper has had a successful record at Yale, but the loss of 2009 Ivy League Pitcher of the Year Brandon Josselyn will boost the Tigers’ chances against the Bulldogs.

Monmouth lost two pitchers to the draft and two more to graduation but returns a strong outfield. Last season, the New Jersey team finished 32-25 and made an appearance in the NCAA tournament.

Last year, Princeton went 3-1 against Columbia in a key late-season series. The Lions have a talented incoming class that will join their upperclassman leadership of catcher Dean Forthun, outfielder Jason Banos and pitcher Derek Squires.

Princeton breaks up its Ivy schedule with a game against St. John’s. The Red Storm had five All-Big East selections last year, including All-American shortstop Joe Panik. A nationally ranked recruited class joins the 17 returning letter-winners.

Penn was 1-3 against Princeton in 2009 and finished 5-15 in Ivy play last year.

Still, the Quakers return all but one of their starters from last year and did not lose any of their starting pitchers. Shortstop Derek Vigoa, the 2009 Big 5 Rookie of the Year, will lead a young squad.

Princeton was unable to score in a loss to Rider last year. The Broncs boast a strong pitching staff and return their top three pitchers based on ERA from last season.

Rider is hoping to return to the NCAA tournament after making it to the postseason in 2008.

Princeton wraps up its season against Cornell, which defeated the Tigers for the Gehrig Division title last season.

The Big Red later defeated Princeton in a playoff game to advance to the Ivy League Championship Series.

Cornell returns six starting position players and has lost only one member of its pitching staff. The Big Red has been picked by Baseball America to win the Gehrig Division this year.