Rounding out its non-conference schedule, Harvard swept Holy Cross, split with Rhode Island and surrendered two to Boston College to end just above .500 with a 22-20-1 record.
Harvard also landed individual honors for several players, highlighted by Brotemarkle’s recognition as Ivy League Pitcher of the Year, the second in Crimson history. She was also named to the second-team all-Northeast Region. Brotemarkle was joined on the first-team All-Ivy by Fritsch at third base and junior pitcher/utility player Lauren Bettinelli. Freshman outfielder Julia Kidder and junior outfielder Lauren Stefanchik received second-team honors, and co-captain second baseman Sara Williamson earned honorable mention.
In her last year of a standout career, Brotemarkle recorded a 10-11 record and an ERA of 1.93. In 138 innings on the mound, she struck out 134 batters, including a career-high 13 against Rhode Island. Her career strikeout total of 406 was the third-most all-time by a Harvard pitcher. Brotemarkle pitched in 11 of the Crimson’s 14 Ivy games, including the 20-inning marathon against the Tigers.
Fritsch—the only freshman on the Ivy first team—received Ivy Rookie of the Week honors twice this season. Her .306 batting average tied her for second on the team with Kidder. She led the team in home runs (five), RBI (26) and slugging percentage (.519).
Bettinelli made the first-team list as a utility player. She hit .264 with a home run, six RBI and five doubles. On the mound, she went 9-8, held opposing batters to a .232 average, struck out 85 and finished with an ERA of 2.28.
Kidder led off for Harvard’s lineup for most of the season and led the team in walks with 14. She racked up five doubles, a triple, nine RBI and crossed the plate seven times.
Stefanchik led the team in stolen bases for the third year in a row. Her 10 stolen bases placed her fourth in the Ivy League. Her batting average of .302 was good for fourth on the Crimson, and her 35 hits were second-highest.
Williamson was one of two players on this year’s roster to appear in all 43 games. She received first-team honors her freshman year and honorable mention in 2002. This year, she hit eight doubles, one home run and 14 RBI with a batting average of .260.
With the loss of Brotemarkle, Harvard aims to focus on pitching in the offseason.
“Our biggest goal will be the developing of the pitching,” head coach Jenny Allard said. “We have a lot of refining and growing and just gaining experience to do.”
And what are the players expecting next season?
“An Ivy League title,” Williamson said. “They now have the tools and drive to accomplish this goal and will only improve.”
“It might sound conceited,” freshman shortstop Lauren Brown said, “but I have never played with such talented people before, and if we put it all together we can be Ivy Champs.”
This year’s team also developed a cohesiveness that has been missing from Harvard in the past. Internal disputes and communication problems that have affected the program in recent years were few and far between this time around.
“I’ve enjoyed coaching this year much more than I did last year,” Allard said. “This year, I love my team.”
—Staff writer Carrie H. Petri can be reached at cpetri@fas.harvard.edu.