“She has some of the best hands on the team. She has quick hands and a quick read,” Allard said. “So far, she’s making some adjustments.”
This season, Bettinelli will most likely settle at second or third base when not pitching.
Over the last year or two, third base, plagued by injuries but filled with depth, has resembled a revolving door. This year, the hot corner will most likely be manned by a combination of Bettinelli, and juniors Rachel Murray and Pilar Adams, along with Halpenny.
IN THE GRASS
Four-year starter senior Lauren Stefanchik brings her speed and reliability back to left field and continues to contribute offensively as the Crimson’s leadoff hitter and one of the Ivy League’s most dangerous base runners. Her quick feet have earned her first-team All-Ivy honors once, and second-team honors twice, and she already holds Harvard’s career stolen base record with 58.
“She’s our leadoff hitter, our threat on the bases,” Allard said. “We can generate a lot of offense from her. She reads the defense really well. She’s a very smart player. Nobody wants to walk her.”
Opposing teams don’t seem to be doing very well at keeping her off base paths, as her on-base percentage of .421 leads the Crimson.
Junior co-captain Kerry Flaherty starts in centerfield, where she started 32 games last year.
“She is our anchor out there in center,” Allard said. “She gets to balls that you think no one will get to. She can cover a lot of ground out there and that’s what we need.”
This could be a breakout year for Flaherty as she settles into a permanent starting role on both offense and defense.
Next to Flaherty, the right field starter had yet to be determined by the end of non-league play and may rotate game-to-game. Susie Winkeller has laid an early claim on the position and is third on the team with her .278 batting average, but watch for Adams and senior Beth Sabin to contribute from right as well.
HOW IT ALL ADDS UP
Undoubtedly, Harvard has talent and depth throughout the field combined with confidence and reliability at the plate. The real question is whether the Crimson will effectively convert its prized youth and veteran experience into an Ivy championship.
If it continues to improve after rough early season losses and can stay alive in early Ivy play, this Harvard squad stands to make a big run at the end of the season and be a major power to be reckoned with in the league.
Early season struggles could continue to plague this roster throughout the season, however, which might leave the Class of 2005’s fingers empty. The team combined for a .177 batting average and seven errors in its first 12 games.
The story unfolds this weekend with the start of Ivy play. The Crimson hosts 2004 Ivy co-champion Brown (2-7-2) for a double header at 1 p.m. tomorrow and Yale (8-14) at the same time on Sunday.
—Staff writer Carrie Petri can be reached at cpetri@fas.harvard.edu.