The varsity baseball team faces a champion with its hands tied on Soldiers Field at 3:45 p.m. today, when it plays boast to Holy Cross, 1952 NCAA titlist.

Like the Crimson, Holy Cross has been handicapped severely by lack of practice because of consistent bad weather. Crusader Coach Jack Barry described this as "the worst spring I remember." His ream has nevertheless won both its games, over Brown, 10 to 6, and Boston University, 8 to 6.

A cold cast wind hampered Crimson practice yesterday for the second day in a row. The team practiced lightly for about two hours Tuesday. Monday, the nine practiced in Briggs Cage. Coach Stuffy McInnis predicted a good game, however.

He will start John Arnold on the mound against Holy Cross. Arnold in his only other starting assignment, lost a four-hitter to Northeastern. Opposing him will be Jack Londergan, who pitched for the Crusaders in the NCAA finals last year.

Heavy-hitting Jack Mooseman, Holy Cross captain, will start in centerfield. Jack Hetherton and Dick Hogan will play at other outfield posts. Bob Johnson will start at third base, Gene Schiller at short, Paul Brazett at second, and Fran Dyson at first. Pete Maton will catch for the visitors.

The Crimson will be seeking its fourth win in a row. The nine trimmed Bowdoin, 6 to 2, last week and collected two Ivy League wins, defeating Dartmouth, 11 to 2, and Navy, 3 to 1, over last weekend.

Harvard dropped its first three games, to Amherst, Springfield, and Northeastern, and holds a three-win, three-loss record. Two Crimson games have been rained out.

In the outfield, McInnis will start Dick Sheer, Bob Gremp, and Don Butters. Butters tripled against Navy, and Gremp doubled for two of Harvard's three hits.

Hard-hitting Captain Russ Johnson is scheduled to start at first base. Walt Greeley will again open at second base, and Ed Krinsky will start at shortstop. Tim Wise, who batted in and scored a run against the Middies is on third, and Dick Clasby will start behind the plate.