The scrappy Harvard baseball team goes back to work this weekend to face an onslaught of our Ivy games in two days at O'Donnell Field.

The Crimson (9-9, 3-1 Ivy) will face Princeton and Cornell this weekend with a chance to take a commanding lead in the Ivy League.

Even with its modest 9-9 record, Harvard looks to mold its young squad into league champions and make a significant dent in the NCAA tournament.

Coach Joe Walsh has used the beginning of the season to feel out his deep array of rookies. As they gain experience throughout the season, they could be the key to the Crimson's success.

"We're a little disappointed with the results so far, but we feel that we haven't shown our potential yet," senior catcher Jason Keck said. "We know that we have a good club, and everyone is upbeat and confident."

The Crimson has combined improving pitching with solid hitting to give itself a good shot at almost any opponent.

Harvard is led at the plate by senior outfielder Andrew Huling, who is hitting .403 with three home runs and a .726 slugging percentage. He is joined by senior second baseman Peter Woodfork, who is hitting .406. They should be critical to the Crimson's success this weekend.

Still, the Crimson is confident it can do better at bat.

"We're just not getting the big base hits when we need them," senior first baseman Erik Binkowski said. "But everyone has faith in each other that we'll play better."

After gaining valuable experience on the road earlier in the season, the Crimson returned home on Wednesday, only to have its home opener spoiled by Rhode Island in a 6-5 nail-biter.

True to his style of multiple substitutions, Walsh used 19 players in the defeat. Huling once again led the Crimson offense, going 3-for-3 with a home run.

Harvard will have to quickly bounce back from the upset and focus on the more important Ivy games coming up.

The Crimson is more than confident, however, in its ability to win this weekend. The squad feels that other teams should come to Cambridge with fear in their eyes.

"We don't really make adjustments," Keck said. "We have our own style of play; we let [our opponents] adjust to us."

Princeton rolls into town tomorrow riding a three-game winning streak. The Tigers (8-13, 2-2 Ivy) are an improving young team, much like the Crimson. Their season got off to a rocky start in a trio of losses to national powerhouse Miami, who outscored the helpless northerners 48-7.

But Princeton boasts last year's Ivy League Rookie of the Year, outfielder Max Krance, who hit .411 last season. The Tigers also boast an array of talented athletes including quarterback Tommy Crenshaw, 6'10 basketball standout-cum-pitcher Chris Young and All-Ivy punter and baseball co-captain Matt Evans.

Young has a fastball around 90 mph, and Evans, a powerful presence at first base, led the Tigers in round-trippers last season.

On Sunday, Cornell visits Cambridge in an effort to gain respect among Ivy League critics. The Big Red (2-15, 1-3 Ivy) have been nothing short of awful this season. Losers of 13 of their last 14, the beleaguered squad hopes to add to its lone Ivy League win against Brown last Saturday.

Having been outscored 157-89 thus far, and with a team ERA of 8.66, that will be difficult to accomplish unless the Big Red can get some quality pitching and a little pop at the plate. With a struggling pitching staff, they will have to ride the metal ore of their outfielders' bats.

Co-captain Michael Macrie, a fouryear starter is hitting .367 on the season, including a homer. Junior Jordan Schaeffer provides the power with a .288 average, 2 home runs and a team leading 11 RBI.

Although the Crimson won't worry as much about Cornell, there is a lot at stake.

"If we play well this weekend, we know we'll be in the driver's seat in the Ivy League," Binkowski said.

Still, it's a long road to Omaha.