The Spring season is upon us. There are two details that give it away: first, the dark, gloomy days of winter are no longer the endless days without sunlight are a memory of the past.
Secondly, America's favorite pastime has started up. Walking past Red Rolfe Field and looking at the green turf, the fresh, crisp infield and taking in the smell of a baseball park makes my toes tingle. Dartmouth baseball has started.
The baseball team has a unique position among Big Green sports, as it will enter its 138th season being the hunted, not the hunter. After Dartmouth won the Ivy League title last season, Baseball America has tabbed the Big Green to repeat as champions in the Ancient Eight.
In order for back-to-back titles, however, the team will have to fill in the holes left by players who graduated last year. That shouldn't be a problem, seeing as the Big Green has significant depth at every position.
Last year's offense set a school record with 341 runs, and crucial returning starters like Joe Sclafani '12 will go far to compensate for the loss of last year's seniors, particularly Nick Santomauro '10, who was drafted by the New York Mets in June.
Sclafani, who was selected as the Preseason Ivy League Player of the Year, will surely post eye-popping numbers similar to, if not better than, last year's. Early last season, I noticed Sclafani was putting up some seriously good statistics, but never imagined the rookie would keep that up the whole season.
This time around, I have become a believer. I have faith the sure-handed shortstop will lead the team to a great year.
There's always the "it" factor argument among sports players. When players show the "it" factor, people nod and agree that a certain player understands baseball and has the confidence to excel every single game. I don't mean to keep touting Sclafani's accomplishments, but last year, I went to most of the home games, and it is clear Sclafani has "it."
He can definitely lead the team in multiple offensive categories this year, but may also emerge as a leader of the team. Last season, Sclafani showed early on he was taking advantage of the starting gig and made the most of it, by eventually being the Rookie of the Year. Expect him to live up to the expectation this season by being Ivy League Player of the Year.
Speaking of early-season numbers, I noticed that Ennis Coble '13, the starting third baseman for the Big Green, is posting eerily similar numbers to those that Sclafani did at the beginning of the season. I'm not saying that Coble will end up as the Ivy League Rookie of the Year like Sclafani, but he is definitely someone to keep an eye on his starting role and place in the lineup are sure signs of success.
If the offense isn't clicking for the Big Green, you can be sure the pitching staff will be there to pick up the slack. Two starters were chosen to the preseason all-conference team, as well as closer Ryan Smith '11, who holds the school record for saves with 18.
The starters, Kyle Hendricks '12, who was selected as the Preseason Ivy League Pitcher of the Year, and Robert Young '10, anchor the starting rotation that has many fans believing the team will repeat as Ivy League champions.
Although the season has begun relatively slowly the team lost back-to-back games to the No. 1 University of Virginia following a walk-off victory against Wright State you can bet the team is hungry to win and to live up to the expectations. With a 4-0 lead over the nation's top team at the end of two and a half innings on Sundays, however, the Big Green has already shown promise.
The core of the team is back to compete ferociously against their Ivy League foes and out-of-conference opponents. Dartmouth seems to have every spot on the field covered, and with Bob Whalen coaching the team for his 21st season, these kids have the chance to put their names in the record books. Fans, all you have to do is show up to the games, and root for what is arguably Dartmouth's most successful team of this era.
