Crockett says he is trying not to let the major-league attention affect him.

"It's something I'm trying not to pay attention to," he says. "If you let anything get into your head, it can only hurt you."

Summers at the prestigious Cape Cod League have become a rite of passage for Harvard pitchers. Walsh's former position as a pitching coach in the league has helped Crimson hurlers earn competitive spots.

Both Birtwell and junior Justin Nyweide joined Crockett in the Cape League last summer, and sophomore Kenon Ronz will represent Harvard after this season.

"It gives you an opportunity to face some of the best competition in the country," Crockett said. "It gives you confidence, and you learn all sorts of things about the game and different coaching styles."

Enthusiasm for Crockett's summer performance was dampened by an arm injury which was discovered this fall. Crockett says his nagging arm trouble developed after he overcompensated for soreness that he felt in his arm during the season.

However, after several months of rehabilitation, Crockett says that he has fully recovered--just in time for the start of the season.

"He's just working harder now," Birtwell says of his fellow ace. "Everyday, whether we had practice or not, he was in the training room doing rehab, strengthening his arm. Pitching-wise, he's just going to be better for it."