At Pehanick best Columbia in the first game on a five-hitter, but after that, the moundsmen are inconsistent at best.
The Bruins, 1-1 in Eastern play after splitting with Princeton, jumped off to a 5-0-1 start, but have fallen to 6-4-1, the ace of the staff, Chuck McGrath, is 2-0 on the year, and right fielder Mike Lapierre currently paces the Bruin batters with a 427 average. After that, there are questions.
Columbia, one of the league's younger squads, finished seventh in last year's EIBL. The Lions are off to a 3-3 start in League play this year, including a doubleheader split against Navy, a sweep of Princeton, and a double loss to Army.
Columbia is currently batting a collective 300-plus, but mediocre pitching (team ERA: 5.78) will probably render them only a .500 team this year. Lack of depth and power will also hurt the Lions. If the hitting continues (they are averaging eight runs a game), though, Columbia could be a contender. Two juniors with .400 averages, second baseman Frank Antonelli and catcher John McGivney lead the team.
The problem on the mound is largely one of depth, as there are few prospects beyond junior righthander Kurt Lundgren, a 5-5 pitcher last season best known for his strike-outs. In 1982 Lundgren has 30 strikeouts in 26 innings to go with his 2-1 record, but one man does not a pitching staff make.
Coach Tom O'Connell, who earned his stripes at Brandeis, takes over a Princeton team which has now seen three coaches in as many years. O'Connell's ability has been proven, but he won't have much of a team to work with in this year's Tigers.
Ace Bob Holly (1-1 in 1982) is a one-man pitching staff for Princeton, which is so far 2-4 in the EIBL and overall.
Returness Paul Steinhouser at second base and first-baseman-pitcher Steve Kordish will provide whatever offensive punch exists for Princeton.
Penn, although last in the league a year ago with a 3-9 record, may pose problems for some of the top teams with their fairly potent offense.
Through 18 games sophomore shortstop Rich Syrek leads the team with a 439 average, including seven doubles and classmate Brian Flynn swings a .419 bat and has scored 15 runs, the team's power comes almost solely from designated hitter Joel Mock (.318, five homers, 19 rbi's) but he's got plenty to go around.
As for the pitching and defense, well, they exist but go little beyond that.
The Quakers have split with Princeton and lost a double-header with Navy so far this year, for a 1-3 record.
Bringing up the rear in the EIBL this year will most likely be lowly Dartmouth. The Big Green is already 0-9 for the year and shows no signs of relinquishing its grip on the cellar.