Coach Dolph Samborski expects to send a "strong, well-balanced" freshman team onto the field here tomorrow when the Yardlings open the baseball season locally against Governor Dammer Academy.

Six weeks of preparation have readied the freshmen for the opening game, with the original 73 candidates having been reduced by two cuts to a varsity squad of 18. Pitching the opener will be Pat Groper, formerly of Lawrenceville, while Ron Peyton, who played for Hamilton High in Los Angeles, will catch.

Jim Kiggen of the Montclair School will be at first base, Howie Shurdut of Boston Latin will be at second, George Anderson, who was last year's Noble and the enough captain, is slated for short, and Ray Macsacs of Hawaii will complete the infield at third. The outfield will be made up of George Donevan of Boston in center, Chuck Schuer of Brooklyn in left, and Neil Bortz of Cincinnati in right.

The other men who will be in uniform tomorrow are John Arnold, John Cooke, Dave Lanier, Bob Mundheim, Bob Gremp, John Semmelmeyer, Ed Krinsky, Joe Oakley, and Jeb Bray.

Despite his favorable forecast, Samborski has been plagued with troubles since practice began Besides the usual problem of having too many men to watch and too little time in which to choose, Samborski has been unable to see his men in action outdoors more than twice.

Weather Hampers Squad

Unfavorable weather has kept the nine cooped up in Briggs Cage for an especially long time. Samborski has found it difficult to tell who the long ball hitters are, since inside the cage, a Texas leaguer and home run blast look only slightly different. Nor is indoor running the same as outdoors. In addition, John Arnold, a pitcher with a good fast ball and change of pace, found himself with a broken left wrist after a fall during outside practice recently. His right pitching arm has not been harmed, but his batting will have to be strictly limited to bunting. Arnold had a 9-1 record with Andover last year.

The war situation presents another difficulty. George Anderson, first string shortstop, has been called up by the Air Force and will be shipped off to Texas May 9. His replacement will probably be Joe Oakley, a Kentucky boy who shows great promise and is "very steady," according to Samborski.

Otherwise, the first team seems well set, although the outfield is fairly open. Job Bray, who plays both infield and outfield, and Bob Gremp, a catcher, are strong contenders for the starting nine. Gremp and Ed Krinsky are two Yardlings who also played basketball.

Rooters will find a strong pitching staff to cheer about, however. Groper, tomorrow's starter, has a smooth overhand curve and excellent control. Left-handed Dave Lanier has both a fine curve and a good fast ball. Cooke, another lefty, also shows promise.

Shortstop Maosaka is expected to be the squad's leading long ball hitter. Maosaka, who's from Oahu and went to Ponahau High School in Hawaii has sprayed his drives all over the cage recently.