A strong confidence-building start is especially important because the team has suffered a couple of key injuries.

Senior Tony Lancette, who had a record of 2-0 and an ERA of 4.01 in 24.2 innings pitched last year, injured his shoulder over the summer and is out for the season.

Joining him on the DL with an ankle injury is senior Pat Hegarty, who started at third base last year and hit .272

"[Losing Hegarty] is a severe blow to the infield," Zarate said. "He was a great fielder and a good hitter."

Another adjustment will have to be made by Morgan, who will play first base for the first time in his career.

"I am a big guy, and it seemed logical that I would be chosen to play first base," Morgan said.

Stat Freaks

One of the team's problems last year was an overemphasis on statistics by the players, according to Hill.

And while last year's team was fifth in the nation in batting average at .317 and beat opponents by an average score of 7.6 to 5.5, Harvard cannot go in to games this year expecting one man after another to blast a pitch out of Soldiers Field.

The "scratch and claw" offense and a vastly improved pitching staff will be the keys to success-and the early returns are promising.

"Coming out of Florida, the pitching is our strong-point," Morgan said.

Desrocher, whose 1992 ERA was a rather high 7.62, looked especially strong in the games in Florida, as did Poncy, according to Zarate.

Harvard's hitting on the other hand, is still a little bit off, the result all the snow and bad weather this winter/spring has brought the region..

"We need to defrost," Zarate said. "Most of us haven't seen live pitching in quite a while."

S. Davidson (Sr., RHP)