As the temperatures skyrocketed way into the 30s last weekend and the Big Green morphed into something that resembled a chocolate milkshake: the boys of mud season were in Wilmington, North Carolina. The Dartmouth baseball team headed south to start another exciting season with games against Villanova, UNC-Wilmington, and Hofstra.
Last Saturday, the Big Green showed flashes of brilliance against Villanova. Tim Grant '04 started the game and kept the Wildcat's hitters at bay, but left the game trailing 4-2. After Jeff Speights '05 hit a solo homerun in the fourth inning, the offense was quiet until the eighth when the Big Green gained the lead, scoring four runs. Josh Cushman '03 ha and RBI single in the inning and the next hitter, Scott Shirell '04, picked up a sacrifice fly to tie the game.
Dartmouth hitters then used their patience to draw three consecutive walks and take a 6-4 lead. The Big Green held on to the lead and gained a victory in their first game of the season thanks to three innings of shutout relief from freshman righthander Josh Faiola who picked up the win in his first collegiate contest.
In their second game on Saturday, the Big Green took on the host team UNC-Wilmington. The Big Green hitters showed increased initiative, scoring ten runs in the game. Brian Zurhellen '05, Mike Mileusnic '03, and Shirell all put balls into the cheap seats. Shirell continued where he left off last season, adding two other hits to go with his grand slam homerun. Zurhellen was the other offensive star for the Big Green, finishing the game with three RBIs. Unfortunately, UNC-Wilmington also muscled up at the plate and took a two-run lead on Matt Sutton's two-out, three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning. Unable to spark any late inning magic, the Big Green fell 12-10.
Due to a rainout that cancelled their game against Hofstra on Sunday, the Big Green returned to frozen tundra of Hanover with an even record. Although there are still some kinks to work out, the Big Green competed very well considering that they have been holed up in the Leverone Dome for the entire winter. This is a highly anticipated season for the Big Green who look to improve on last season's solid yet disappointing record of 21-20 (9-11 in the Ivys). With most of last season's starters returning this spring, this year's team is poised to compete for the Red Rolfe Division title.
Offensively, the Big Green has all of their top nine hitters returning, including team offensive player of the year and first team All-Ivy left fielder Shirell. "Scooter" led the team with an astonishing .366 batting average combined with six homeruns and 45 RBI. He is joined by senior leadoff hitter Jason Dacosta who patrolled centerfield and led the team in stolen bases. Jason will spark the Big Green offense this season with his speed and ability to hit into the gaps. Fellow senior Cushman will see time in right field and provide power from the left side of the plate.
Moving to the infield, it will be exciting to watch the corners of the diamond this spring. Ed Lucas III '04, finished last season second on the team in batting average and third in both slugging and RBI. Look for Lucas to have another big season at the plate and to use his cannon-like arm to make amazing plays at third base. Across the diamond, Mileusnic, who hit .314 with 34 RBI last spring, will hold down the fort at first base again this season. "Moose" has been the model of consistency for the Big Green over the last three seasons and there is little doubt he will have another stellar year at the plate.
The double play combination of Cooper Chapin '04 and Joshua Baily '05 will be exciting to watch in the field and at the dish. Chapin gives the Green an experienced contact hitter from the left side. Baily had a solid freshmen season and showed signs of his budding potential, look for him to have a breakout season as a sophomore this spring.
The Big Green is deep behind the plate. Zurhellen, Speights and Tom Hackney '03 will all compete for at-bats and signal calling duties again this season.
Despite losing two top starters to graduation, including all-Ivy honorable mention and team workhorse John Veloksy '02, the Big Green's greatest strength could be its pitching staff. Hard throwing starters Pat Dowling '04 and Tim Grant '04 will lead the staff this season. Dowling is coming off a season in which he had the best ERA among the starters and Grant had a perfect 2-0 record despite an injury-plagued season. Andrew Brown '05 will mix up the competition throwing his heater from the left side. The Big Green bullpen will be strong this season. Late inning specialist Nick Peay '05 returns as the team's closer after notching a 1.29 ERA, five saves, and an all-Ivy second team nomination. A trio of seniors, Bryn Alderson, Brian Gattis, and David Lopez should carry most of the middle relief load, allowing the Big Green the stay competitive in close games.
The complicated part of any season preview is trying to predict the contributions of the team greenhorns. On the mound, look for appearances by Pat Pfeiffer '06 and Faiola. Pfiffer brings a Rickie Vaughn quality to the hill with his unpredictability and fastball in the 90s. Feiola combines his fastball and a slippery breaking pitch to keep hitters off guard. In the field, look for Tom Myette '06 and Seth Emery '06 to compete for time up the middle and John Huelskamp '06 to find a few innings in the outfield.
It is an old baseball adage that a team will be successful if it can win two out of the three main parts of the game: hitting, pitching, and defense. However, this is college baseball and thanks to the aluminum bat some of baseball's traditional wisdom does not apply, as last year's team proved. Overall, the Big Green retains the main portions of a team that was close to the top of the Ivis in pitching and defense. Unfortunately, opponents bettered the Green in almost every offensive category.
The key to success this season will be hitting. Solid batting from every position in the lineup combined with timely hitting and proven defense and pitching will be the keys for the Big Green in their run for the Ivy League title. So risk the swampy green this spring and check out what will be a truly exciting team. The first home game is April 2, assuming that the snow melts.
