Perhaps no graduating senior will be more sorely missed than left-handed starter Frank Hogan. Hogan, the Ivy League Pitcher of the Year, posted eight wins, including victories over Miami and UCLA, and was a mound workhorse all season. His biting breaking ball left hitters across the nation clueless.

But only one of Hogan's mates in the rotation--junior right-hander Don Jamieson--will be back on the hill come today's opener. Classmate Andrew Duffell, the staff ace with an 8-1 record and a 2.35 ERA, underwent ulnar nerve surgery in the off-season and will be unavailable until at least April.

Duffell, junior southpaw Quinn Schafer and sophomore closer Mike Madden will all begin the season on the disabled list, but Walsh holds onto hopes of seeing them join the squad.

Walsh and pitching coach Marty Nastasia, however, find themselves blessed with the deepest staff in seasons. Jamieson--who finished 5-3 with a 3.36 ERA--will be the number one starter, but juniors James Kalyvas, Huling and Garrett vail will see substantial time on the rubber.

"Two guys who I think are going to be major contributors are Vail and Huling," Walsh said. "Vail has added the ability to change speeds, he's got some pop on his fastball, and he seems to want it more this year. I think Huling was underutilized last year on the hill."

Rounding out the pen are several rookies--and a quarterback. Freshmen John Birtwell, who brings a potent fast-ball and slider, and Graham McKay, who sports a decent curve as his out pitch, could break into the box scores. Sophomore Rich Linden, crossing from Harvard Stadium to O'Donnell Field, abandoned the outfield he played in high school to attempt to crack the staff.

Junior catcher Jason Keck, who won the starting job last season and rapidly made a name for himself as a team leader, will handle the revamped staff. Keck's ability to frame grey area strikes and call the best game in the Ivies will bring out the best in his staff.

Looking Forward

The Crimson will compete in a league which managed to beat it only three times last year, all at the hands of Princeton. The second-place Yale Bulldogs, who finished two games, out graduate five of their top six hitters, as well as ace Rich Perez. Only senior Eric Gutshall, who posted a 2.97 ERA with 86 strikeouts, can keep the Elis in contention.

The Crimson expects another Ivy crown but clearly looks beyond the Eight to establish itself as a national-level power. Nothing exemplifies that mentality better than the story Walsh tells of his first Ivy League Championship Series in 1996.

"My first year, When we lost to Princeton 1-0 in the championship game, I watched the pileup on the field and I said, 'This is gonna be great some day when we win this," Walsh said. "Last year, when we won the Ivy league championship, it was a different feeling. I had guys come up to me after the game and ask, 'Hey coach, when's practice tomorrow?"

For now, practice is in Florida and another dream season my well be in the works. Harvard has the manpower to pull it off.