After a win, loss and tie in pre-league competition, the crippled varsity baseball team opens its Eastern circuit competition this afternoon, travelling to Annapolis to meet Navy.

Coach Stuffy McInnis' nine will be considerably different, however, from the one that has compiled the unimpressive 1-1-1 record. Part of the shuffling will be due to McInnis' search for a winning infield combination. At two positions, however, changes are unavoidable because of injuries.

McInnis will start promising sophomore Ken Rossano on the mound against the Middies: Rossano is rapidly improving, but probably would not be starting if top pitcher Andy Ward were not suffering from a sore arm. At shortstop Stuffy will probably start another sophomore, Harold "Bones" McKinney.

Except for Ray Maesaka at third base, the rest of the infield will also be re-staffed. Outfielder-pitcher Bill Chauncey is expected to turn infielder as well, and take over at first for John Mahar, powerful but slumping sophomore. And Dick Hoffman, almost completely recovered from an early season leg injury will probably rate the starting nod over Art Noyes.

Outfield Intact

George McDonald will probably catch, and McInnis' powerful outfield of Don Butters, Bill Cleary, and dick Scheer should remain intact.

Yesterday, Norm Shepard's JV's played for nine innings before darkness forced the end of their game with Newport Naval Training Station, with the score tied, 5 to 5.