A chance.
That is what the youthful Dartmouth baseball team has earned this weekend, a chance to rip first place from the hands of powerhouse Yale on the Bulldog's own turf.
It is a long shot, to say the least, but it is all the players can ask for.
This weekend, the Dartmouth baseball team makes the long trek to New Haven for a four-game series against the leader of the Red Rolfe Division, Yale.
All signs point towards a fourth consecutive title for the Bulldogs, who are 9-3 in the Ivies, three games ahead of second-place Dartmouth. Dartmouth, however, may have other plans. The Big Green, 6-6 with eight games left to play, are still in the hunt .
"Obviously, these games are very important," Coach Bob Whalen said.
The series could either wrap up Yale's fourth consecutive Red Rolfe Division pennant, or make giant killers out of the Big Green, vaulting them into a tight race for first.
The Big Green will realistically need three of four to stay in the race. A sweep would put them ahead of Yale and in first place in the League.
If Dartmouth can slay the historic strength of the Ivy league, and take four, it will put the Big Green in first place for the first time in years. A good performance against the Bulldogs will also probably ensure Dartmouth its first winning record in League play since 1991. Butif Dartmouth fails to win at least two, chances are it will fall to third in its division.
Long shot or not, it is more than the upstart Dartmouth baseball team has had in recent memory.
Dartmouth has not won a championship since 1987, when it won the now-defunct Eastern Baseball League. Since the birth of the baseball Ivy League in 1992, the Bulldogs have taken the Red Rolfe pennant and the League title each year.
Dartmouth-Yale baseball history dates back to 1888. Since that game, which the Big Green won, their record against Yale is 47-85-1.
Exactly one year ago, Yale took three of four hotly contested games from Dartmouth at home. The weekend was highlighted by a come-from-behind victory by Dartmouth, which rallied from a 9-1 deficit to win, 11-9.
"In many ways this is an extremely different year," Whalen said. "I think we are a better team than last year. We are more experienced [and] have more depth."
The veteran Yale team has arguably the strongest pitching and defense in the league. On offense, two sluggers carry the load for Yale: Dave Feuerstein and Dan Thompson. Centerfielder Feuerstein, the Bulldog's leadoff hitter, is second in the Ivy's in home runs, with four, and the league's leading stolen base man, with 20. Thompson, who doubles as a right fielder when he is not starting on the mound, is among Ivy League leaders in batting average, hits and RBI.
Dartmouth is led at the plate by co-Captains Todd Seneker '96 and Greg Gilmer '96, centerfielder Andrew Spencer '97 and designated hitter Travis Horton '96. Dartmouth has one of the most powerful offenses in the Ancient Eight.
Shortstop Brian Mosley '98 and catcher Mike Stacy '98 have provided unexpected freshmen help with the glove as well as at the plate, where they are both batting over .300.
"If we can get our pitchers to have good poise and throw a lot of strikes ... we'll let the defense take care of it from there," Whalen said.
Starting pitcher Eric Walania '98 may be the biggest surprise of the year.
The hurler leads the Ivy league in overall ERA, at 1.34. Number-one starter Scott Simon '97, coming off his best appearance of the year, also seems poised for a strong start against the Bulldogs.
Whalen said he is confident. "If we focus on playing to our strengths ... I like our chances," he said.
