It seems nothing short of sacrilege to talk about to talk about a second straight Eastern Intercollegiate Baseball League EIBI title.
With the Harvard baseball team still mourning the loss to graduation of its top four latters and half its starting pitching staff, nobody's another 27-8-1 record But don't 1984 a rebuilding year.
"I hate that word," says Coach Alex Nahigran challenging year. They have to accept challenge.
The challenge begins on the mound, where semors earned more than half of the team's wills last season. Gone are starters Bill Larson The returning starters juniors Charlie Marche1se and left Musselman, will lead an inexperienced staff A lot depends on how well freshman pitchers make the transition form high school to college ball, where the latters are betters the road trips are farther and the season in longer. The Crimson's offense is also making a big transition from power hitting to line drives Harvard 26 of 42 homers and 430 of 235 RBIs to graduation. Catcher Vinnie Martelli took his 426 bating average and his Harvard career RBI record to the Cleveland Indians, who drafted bum the 15th round Right fielder Don Allard walked out of Commencement with the school's career home run mark. First baseman Ed Farrell graduated after pounding a team leading eight round trips last year. And Captain Brad Bauer retired after hitting 359 in his final campaign. What left are some good averages and average power. "We're going to have to play a little different style," says Captain Bruce Weller. "We can't wait for a home run. We just won't be able to win games by hitting the ball out of the park." "I think we're going to be the kind of team that scratches for its runs," says Nahigian, a 24-year veteran who has always preferred the tuckel-and-dime and dime attack. Even last year, with an incredibly powerful team. Nahigian played for one run at a time. Elliott Rivera, whose 300 1983 average is tops among returning regulars, sacrificed 19 times, more than two out of every three times he came to bat with a runner on and nobody out. You can count on even more sacrifices this year, as well as alert baserunning and solid fundamental play. "We're not going to beat ourselves," says Nahigian. This year's squad has spent a lot of time working on the basics. Part of the reason for this is inexperience. Weller and second baseman Gaylord Lyman are the only seniors on the roster, while half a dozen freshmen could make the team Like his predecessor. Weller doesn't do a lot of talking "If some of the players have problems. I'd hope they'd come to me," he says. Lyman's ready to be the old man of the infield "I'm going to have to be a leader whether I want to or not, he says "Freshmen are going to be a big part of the program." Balancing the freshmen will be the sizable junior class Nahigian may put five or six juniors into the order. With only two seniors in the line-up, the underclassmen could be excused for looking ahead to 1985. They aren't. "Some people think this is a rebuilding year," says junior outfielder Scott Vierra "I don't think so A lot of guys have something to prove." What will they prove Nahigian says he'll know after the team's spring break trip to Florida "The trip will tell us a lot of things," Nahigian says. Some of those things have to do with injuries Almost half the players are recovering from some sort of ailment, and not only hasn't the squad played a game. It hasn't even practiced outdoors. The schedule works to Harvard's advantage this year. The Crimson will make just two EIBI road trips, one of them to nearby Yale and Brown last season the Crimson bussed as far as Navy (Annapolis, Md.) and Cornell (Ithaca, N.Y.). But the bottom line is that this year's squad is less experienced and less talented than its predecessor. "All we had to do last year is make up the line-up cards." Nahigian says "This year we've got to coach." * * * The team hasn't played a game yet, and almost everything is subject to change. As Lyman says, "There's no spots sewn up right now. Coach Nahigian is very flexible." However, the team has been practicing for a month. Here's what to expect: Pitching: Righthander Charlie Marchese (7-1, 3.21 ERA) and southpaw Jeff Musselman (4-1, 3.85 ERA) will fill two of four starting sports. Marchese led the squad in strikeouts (58), led starters in ERA and tied for the team lead in complete games (five) while earning all-league honors last year Musselman's season was hampered by a muscle pull in his shoulder. It hasn't hurt him thus far this year. They should have outstanding years," says Nahigian. "There's no question they're the best [pair of] pitchers in the league," says catcher Mickey Maspons. Listed at 6-ft, 175 pounds, Musselman gets a lot of speed on the ball. His fastball tails away from a righthander, and he's got an incredible slider. Marchese also has a fastball and a slider, and he's good at changing speeds. Sophomore righthander Doug Sutton (1-0, 1-5 ERA) couldn't contribute much last year because of a sore arm. It has improved considerably. He pitched 11 2/3 fine innings last year. He's throwing hard, and if he can keep his arm healthy he could take a starting job. Sophomore rightly Cocil Cox returns after a year off. No one throws the ball harder, but his arm's a bit sore and he needs more control. Four freshmen could also win a spot in the rotation. Lufty Chris Marchak places the ball well and has a smooth motion. Rightly, Mike Press has a strong fastball. Presz will be working relief in Florida, but Nahigian says it isn't necessarily permanent. Lefty Jim Chenevey has a knuckle curve that sinks faster than the Titanic. Righty George Serbara is also in the hunt. In general, the oldtimers are impressed with the freshman crop. "The freshmen have really surprised me," says Maspons. But are they good enough to step in and pitch right away? Marchese and Musselman did when they were freshmen. "The freshman pitchers impressed me more than Jeff and Charlie did when they were freshmen," Vierra says. "If they can progress like Jeff and Charlie did, we'll be in great shape." Catching: Junior Mickey Maspons (.319) and freshmen Jim DePale are both looking for playing time, and neither is likely to be disappointed. Maspons didn't catch much last year, because Nahigian was concerned about his arm. Maspons says he's fully recovered from the shoulder injury that plagued him freshman year. "It's never been better," he says. "I feel I can do the job behind the plate. Since I've been here, I've never felt this good. Whoever's looking better's going to play." It's likely that they'll both play. DePalo, an all-state player out of Natick, was considered a prize recruit, and he has looked strong in practice. "He'll be able to step right in and play at this level," Weller says. Maspons saw action as a designated hitter last year, and Nahigian is strongly considering using the catcher who doesn't field at DH. The problem is that such a move makes it impossible to change catchers without forcing the pitcher to bat. But both Maspons and DePalo have bats that Nahigian can't afford to leave out of the line-up. Maspons would like to catch every big game, just as Martelli did last year. Like all EIBL teams, Harvard plays back-to-back doubleheaders, and Martelli's legs took a beating from catching four games in one weekend. "Physically, I know I could do it," Maspons says, explaining that he played five or six games a week over the summer. Both Maspons and DePalo will hit near the middle of the line-up. Infield: Next to pitching, firstbase is probably the least firm spot. Junior first baseman Chris Schindler (.218) pulled a hamstring and is questionable for the Florida trip. He'll play against righthanders when the team begins its Northern season. Third baseman Elliott Rivera (.300) may move to first if he can't shake tendonitis in his throwing arm. Sophomore Bob Kay could see action at first, second, short or third. In addition, he's fast enough to pinch run. Senior Gaylord Lyman (.207) will take care of second. The Kanerohe, Hawaii native--Nicknamed Pineapple--fields impeccably, but he has struggled with the bat. The key to an offensive turnaround could be a good start down South. "The past three years I've been struggling down in Florida," he says. "I'm looking for a change." Freshman Jay Nugent will back up Lyman. After a year of arm troubles, junior Tony DiCesare (2.18) returns to shortstop. "Koots" saw action at second last year. As a freshman, he did an excellent defensive job at short, and Nahigian is counting on him to come through again. "It's pretty much all healed up," DiCesare says. "It's nothing like it was last year. I'm really excited about it." DiCesare worked his arm in the fall as quarterback of the j.v. football team. Together DiCesare and Lyman should provide excellent defense up the middle Defense will be especially important this year with run production expected to be down and some young pitchers forced to enter into the fray. Rivera did a great job at the hot corner last year, but he overworked his arm. After Harvard placed second out of four teams at the NCAA Northeast Regional last year. Rivera went straight to summer league play. Then tendonitis flared up. "At one point during the summer I couldn't lift my arm over my head." Rivers says. "Right now I'm throwing 80 percent. By the time the season starts it should be 100 percent. I'd like to stay at third base," he adds. The injury didn't hurt Rivera's hitting. He led last year's team in sacrifices (19) and steals (six) and leads returning players in hits (34) and homers tied with Maspons and Vierra at (four). He batted third over the summer and will begin this year at clean-up. "I've changed my stance a little," he says. "Now I'm more of a standup hitter." By changing his stance and choking up less on the bat. Rivera gave himself more power. Batting fourth will give him more RBIs. As for the 19 SACs. Rivers says. "I think I graduated from that role last year." Outfield: Only Don Allard is gone from last year's team. Junior Scott Vierra (.299) will move over from left to right. Senior Bruce Weller (.294) will play center against lefties and left against righthanders. Sophomore Paul Vallone (.194) will play center against righthanders. Juniors Chris McAndrews and Jay McNamara (.243) should also see some action. Vierra will move up in the batting order from nine to five or six. He leads returning players in RBIs (24) doubles (six) and homers (tied with Maspons and Rivera at four). "I have to drive in a lot more runs," he says. "I'll just be looking to hit the ball hard." Weller's batting average is deceptive. As leadoff man last year, he drew 47 walks, 21 more than anybody else on the squad. As a result, he got on base more than half the times he came to the plate. Despite his ability as a leadoff man, Nahigian will probably move him to the third spot against righthanders. If he doesn't win a spot in the field, McAndrews may pinch run. * Eastern Intercollegiate Baseball League games
Read more in Sports
Scoreboard
