All cylinders seem to be firing in unison for the Dartmouth baseball machine as it opens its Ivy League season at Columbia and Pennsylvania this weekend.
After a productive spring trip to California, which Head Coach Robert Whalen called "an opportunity to evaluate our roster [and] gain experience and confidence," against typically stronger West Coast teams, Dartmouth appears prepared to take on its first Ivy League opponents.
Co-Captain first baseman Todd Seneker '95, who was 6-13 at the plate during the spring trip, despite an injury that limited his play, likes the attitude of his teammates going into the season. "I think we have a lot more focus, and we are playing more as a team than this time last year."
The young team, according to Seneker, has continued its reputation from last year of tearing up opposing pitching staffs, with an impressive .315 team batting average thus far into the season.
Particularly impressive among the rookies during the trip were the performances of heavy-hitting catcher Mike Stacy '98, who was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week with a .600 batting average and 2 home runs, and pitcher Peter Sellers '98, who was 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA on the trip.
The pitching staff, however, remains a concern, as the Big Green's most experienced starting pitcher, Mike Tallman '95, is out indefinitely with the recent flare-up of an old elbow injury.
Tallman's injury has opened a spot for the number four pitcher in an extremely young rotation, behind starters Scott Simon '97, Peter Sellers '98, and Eric Walania '98. According to Whalen, Jon Aljancic '97, Travis Farrel '98, and Matt Tarver-Walquist '98 will battle for the remaining job while Chris Van Vliet '96, Dan Godfrey '98, Bob Spillane '98, and probable closer David Stefanowicz '97 will open the season in the bullpen.
Despite the inexperienced pitching staff, Seneker forsees a promising season for the team. "If the pitching can stay solid we should do well," he said.
A "solid" pitching staff could turn formidable if the lineup, backed by sluggers Andrew Spencer '97, Jake Isler '96, co-Captain Greg Gilmer '96 and Seneker can pick up where it left off last season.
Dartmouth opens with "historically the strength of [the Lou Gehrig] Division," Whalen said, with doubleheaders at Columbia on Saturday and at the University of Pennsylvania on Sunday. "Both teams have a lot of experience," Whalen said. Pennsylvania and Columbia finished first and second, respectively, in their division last year.
Dartmouth, in the Red Rolfe division, swept its games with Penn last year and split its series with Columbia, but according to Seneker, "we still have something to prove" against the two Ivy League powerhouses.
Left fielder Craig Pawling '96, who had key home runs against both Penn and Columbia last year, is understandably looking forward to Dartmouth's upcoming tests. "Basically we are psyched to start the season," he said. "We're just hoping to get some good weather."
