Catcher Barresi is "Paisan," defined in the dictionary as an Italian countryman. And freshman Suzanne Cocca is "Paisan, Jr." -"Because she's Italian, too," Huber says.

Some names come directly from other names. "Last year's captain asked me what my middle name was," notes Wilson. "I said 'Terese', but she thought I said 'Trees'. They still call me that."

"Also, she's such a good hitter that we say that she'll reach the trees," Paul emphasizes.

Initials, too, can spawn nicknames; P aul is M.P. while Brown is T.B.

My own mother, whose first name is Vivian, balks at being identified by her initials, but the courageous Brown insists that she is not afraid of being confused with a disease.

"All my friends at home call me T.B., too, "she insists."

The initials themselves are sometimes transformed with J's often becoming H's.

Thus McHugh becomes "Hane" instead of "Jane", and Cunningham's "Joan" is mangled beyond recognition into "Hoanawanafusco".

"I don't know why, we just call her that," Paul explains. "It turns out she went out with Scott Fusco's younger brother in grade school."

Even the mysterious world of the subconscious can contribute to the treasury of nicknames.

"One name that stuck more than she would have liked is Mary MacKinnon's--'Myrtle,'" Cunningham says.

While the team was at spring training in Myrtle Beach, S.C., MacKinnon's roommate heard her mumble in her sleep, "Myrtle, what a stupid bird." The next night she did it again.

In addition to being permanently tagged "Myrtle". MacKinnon was lucky enough to receive an ugly, black bird as a present at the team's post-season banquet.

On a team with three Marys, however, nicknames are practically essential. "When John [Wentzell] calls 'Mary, the ball is coming to you,' three people would turn their heads," Wilson explains.

"It's fun if people have nicknames but you can't force it," Cunningham says. "We had a lot of spontaneous nicknames popping out."

Paul agrees: "It's the same principle--we say anything that comes to mind, but we always know who we're talking to."