After rehabbing his shoulder, Brown has returned to his position and proved to be a Crimson cornerstone, starting all 23 games.

“Defensively he’s been very solid at shortstop,” Mann said. “He’s made a lot of big plays that in the past we haven’t been able to rely on. He’s huge for the team in that position.”

Compounding the defensive challenge for Brown and other Harvard regulars this season has been transitioning to grass from artificial turf, where the team opened its season-opening series at Minneapolis’ Metrodome on March 11. Brown has handled the challenge.

“He’s been able to transition from the turf to the fields really well,” Mann said. “He’ll be out there the rest of the season.”

For Brown, returning to shortstop has been somewhat of a homecoming.

“This is where I am most comfortable,” Brown said.

And as the condition of the grass improves while the season progresses, so too will Harvard hope to put forth a steady defensive effort.

Mann noted that the number of team errors has dwindled and fieldwork has improved.

“I think we’ve done a really good job, and it’s definitely something we’ve improved on,” Mann said. “It’s going to be huge for us to play defensively this weekend.”

And what about those notorious Yale pitchers? Brown and company may be able to take care of the field, but handling the Bulldogs’ arms should prove an entirely different story.

Enter junior Josh Klimkiewicz, Harvard’s third baseman, who leads the team with a batting average of 0.355.

“As a team, we have to not strike out,” Klimkiewicz said. “We need to get the bat on the ball and put the ball in play. Once we do that, we will be able to get started.”

Even as Harvard’s top hitter, Klimkiewicz knows that putting up big numbers won’t necessarily guarantee victory. Getting the ball in play, hitting line drives and getting runners on base is what the Crimson needs.

“If they give me pitches to hit, I am going to capitalize it,” he said. “I am just looking to hit the ball this game.”

Other key hitters include Mann and freshman Steffan Wilson. Wilson currently boasts a 0.350 batting average, making him the team’s second best hitter so far.