Like Michael Jordan, Harvard softball is back.

Blessed with a new, full-time coach, Jenny Allard, and a talented group of freshmen, the Crimson looks to improve last year's 18-25 mark.

"We're very optimistic about this season," senior co-captain Elizabeth Walker said. "We're coming together and starting to gel [in practice]. We've got a lot of talented players and fantastic new coach."

So far, Allard has drawn rave reviews from her players.

"Practice is a lot more structured than it was last year," junior shortstop Amy Reinhard said. "Coach was a pitcher herself, so she's coming from a softball background. And we're using a lot more strategy this year, too."

The Crimson infield will be anchored by Reinhard, a second team All-Ivy selection last year, sophomore third baseman Katina Lee, junior second baseman Danielle Feinbergand sophomore first baseman Melissa Reyan, in all probability.

However, according to Walker, "We've got nineteen players and every position is up in the air. The talent on this team is pretty even."

Harvard welcomes six freshman to the team, including center fielder Jenny Franzese and pitchers Natasha Cupp and Heather Brown.

Franzese adds a left-handed bat and quickness to the Crimson attack and is slated to hit lead-off this season.

Cupp, a southpaw, is one of the harder throwers on the pitching staff, and coupled with the right-handed Brown, should provide some depth, an element missing last year.

"With the injuries last year we sometimes had only one or two pitchers available," Walker said.

Offensively, the new coach has implemented a more aggressive style of baseball. Straight steals, hit-and-runs and bunting should be staples of the Crimson attack.

"We're going to be scoring first this year," Walker said. "In the past our opponents have gone ahead and we've had to play catch-up."

Defensively, Harvard remains solid, returning most of last year's starting infielders. But the team feels that it has to cut down on giving up "biginnings" to other teams.

"Coach has given us some strategies on how to prevent big innings," Reinhard said. "That really hurt us last year."