Among the returning players are two of the league's top pitchers--Thoke and Tiffany Whitton.

Thoke will play a pivotal role for the Crimson this year. In 1999, she won Ivy Player of the Year honors after winning seven league games with a 1.12 ERA, despite often pitching both ends of doubleheaders. Thoke, who presently boasts 422 career strikeouts, is on pace to break the school record of 475, which is held by Tasha Cupp '98. She will be a vital leader on and off of the field.

Whitton is Harvard's most versatile player, one who splits the season between the mound and left field. After being sidelined by a quad injury early in the season, she came back to hit .395 for the season from the leadoff spot and post a perfect 3-0 record as a pitcher. In her season debut against Pacific, she gave up just three hits and one unearned run off of a wild pitch through five solid innings.

"We have a lot of depth in pitching," Bloodwell said. "Chelsea and Tiffany are crucial players. Chelsea has had three stellar years and is looking forward to a nice finish."

Behind the plate, the Crimson has the league's best tandem of catchers in McKendry and sophomore Monica Montijo. Both were First-Team All-Ivy players last season.

With a top fielding percentage and an offensive drive, McKendry led the 2000 team with eight home runs and 27 RBI from the cleanup spot. She will be one of the great offensive forces in front of the plate and one of the key defensive forces behind the plate.

Among the returning stars, Montijo had a standout freshman season. However, in the recent game against Berkeley, a Golden Bear slashed Montijo's thigh with her cleats as she was sliding home, leading to a wound that required 300 stitches. Montijo will have the stitches out on Monday and will then wait for approval from the doctor and Allard before returning to the field.

A two-time All-Ivy selection, junior Sarah Koppel will also be a key all-around player for the Crimson. After a few pitching stints early in her career, she has been Harvard's every-day right fielder. Last year, as the big bat following McKendry in the lineup, Koppel hit .333 and finished second on the team with six home runs and 21 RBI.