Forgive senior pitcher Suzanne Guy for feeling a little like a freshman on the Harvard softball team this season.

After missing last season for personal reasons, Guy returns to a team that features only three other holdovers from 2000, junior Tiffany Whitton and seniors Cherry Fu and Sarah Koppel.

“It’s weird coming back to the team,” Guy said. “They have a chemistry of their own, but I’m developing a chemistry with them.”

With her return, the Crimson gains a former staff ace, as Guy led Harvard with 24 appearances and started in the NCAA regionals against eventual national champion Oklahoma as a sophomore.

“I gave 100 percent to softball two years ago, but 100 percent of what I had then isn’t as much as I have now,” Guy said.

Guy avoided softball completely during her semester away from Harvard, choosing only to work out to stay in shape. Still, she says taking time off has made her a better pitcher this season.

“More of my pitching has to do with my mental stage right now,” Guy said. “Sophomore year I had a lot of other things going on outside of life. Now mentally I’m a much stronger pitcher.”

Guy’s performance thus far supports this claim. Through Sunday, Guy is 2-1 with a 1.28 ERA, and opponents are batting just .186 against her. In 2000, opponents hit .294 against Guy, although she did face tougher nonconference competition that year.

Guy’s 11 walks—by far the most allowed on the team—is the only blemish on her stat sheet this year, although as a power pitcher she has always given up her share of free passes.

“Suzanne is throwing the ball the best I’ve seen her throw,” Harvard Coach Jenny Allard said.

Guy’s pitching style makes her unique on the staff. Describing herself as a “downball pitcher,” Guy mixes curves and sinking pitches with her fastball. Harvard’s three other regular starters—Whitton, sophomore Kara Brotemarkle and freshman Lauren Tanner—all tend to keep their pitches up in the strike zone.

Guy returns to a much deeper pitching staff than the Crimson had two years ago. Only Guy and Chelsea Thoke ’01 appeared in more than seven games in 2000. Five pitchers are on pace to break that mark this season. While the Crimson’s depth might translate into fewer appearances for Guy, she welcomes the advantages it will bring to the team.

“Every pitcher can go out there and do a great job,” Guy said. “Sure I enjoyed playing a lot in 2000, but this gives me the opportunity to rest and be 100 percent for every game.”

With Guy vowing to give her all this season, her return adds another threat to the Crimson’s run at an Ivy Championship.