“Virginia came through in some pretty clutch situations,” Williamson said.

Later that week, Fritsch again demonstrated her penchant for the heroic, as the Crimson faced off against Yale and Brown in the penultimate Ivy weekend. With the team’s Ivy title hopes on the line, she batted 6-for-13 with three home runs and drove in six runs.

Fritsch was again honored as Ivy Rookie of the Week.

She was a member of a deep and talented freshman class that certainly made its presence felt this season and will be a force for the next three seasons.

Like Fritsch, freshmen infielder/outfielder Julia Kidder, pitcher Becky Voaklander, outfielder Susie Winkeller and infielder/outfielder Lauren Brown were given the opportunity to see significant time and made the most of their chances.

“The freshmen came in and were just willing to put everything on the line,” junior first baseman Cecily Gordon said.

Hard work enabled Fritsch to make the adjustment from high school to college ball smoothly and finish the year in the top 15 in the Ivy League in batting.

“She’s very focused during hitting practice,” Williamson said.

A reinjury of a recurring shoulder problem forced her to miss the last three contests of the year.

But unlike Henry, who forever lost his ability to compete at a high level after a freak injury to his arm, Fritsch will be around for years to come, terrorizing Ivy pitchers all the while.

—Staff writer J. Patrick Coyne can be reached at coyne@fas.harvard.edu.