Whew. That’s how Joe Walsh described how his Harvard team felt before its Ivy Championship Series date with Princeton last spring. After surviving the brutal gauntlet of the Rolfe Division—last-place Yale finished with an 11-9 mark, or the same record as the Gehrig Division-winning Tigers—the Crimson exhaled when it saw black and orange in the visitors’ dugout. “Maybe we needed to be on edge like we were every weekend,” Walsh said, “knowing that if you drop two of four, if you split, you’re going to the bottom.” New-look Harvard, which promises to win games with speed, pitching and defense, will definitely be on edge this time around, as it tries to survive the Rolfe climb back to the top of the Ancient Eight heap.


ROLFE DIVISON

1. HARVARD

Eager to erase the disappointment of last season’s Ivy Championship Series loss to Princeton, Harvard trots out a squad in 2007 that will bring small ball back to O’Donnell Field and rely on a green but talented pitching staff. Preseason Ivy League Player of the Year Steffan Wilson anchors the lineup from his spot at third base.

2. BROWN

Last spring, Brown came to Cambridge with an 8-4 Ivy League record and left with its title hopes dashed, having lost three of four to Harvard. A young Bears squad is led by seniors Bryan Tews, who led the Ancient Eight with a .390 batting average last season, and Devin Thomas, an All-Ivy First-Team selection at catcher in 2006.

3. DARTMOUTH

You know the Crimson has the two Dartmouth doubleheaders already circled on its calendar (April 28 and 29). Even with the departure of perennial Harvard-killer Will Bashelor, the strength of the Big Green still lies in its outfield, with sweet-swinging junior Damon Wright and rookie Nick Santomauro.

4. YALE

With the most reliable starter gone from a pitching staff that posted a collective 5.28 ERA a year ago, the Bulldogs, with the exception of closer Brett Rosenthal, are unsettled on the mound. But speedy Josh Cox returns atop the Yale batting order, and 1B Marc Sawyer, owner of a lifetime .363 batting average, is back in the middle.


GEHRIG DIVISION

1. PRINCETON

The last time neither Harvard nor Princeton won the Ivy League, the year was 1995. But with both the Crimson and the Tigers losing key players, 2007 might break the streak. Princeton skipper Scott Bradley graduated two of his top three hitters and the senior ace of his staff, Erik Stiller, from last year’s NCAA Tournament team.

2. CORNELL

Picked to threaten Princeton for the division title last season, the Big Red instead sank to the bottom of the standings with a 6-14 mark in Ivy play. The same youthful core that sank a year ago now looks to swim with junior Brian Kaufman in the lifeguard role. Kaufman had nine home runs and 11 steals in 2006.

3. COLUMBIA

The Lions are looking to stay out of the Gehrig gutter this season after their 6-14 Ivy record left them tied for last place with Cornell last year. In 2006, Columbia’s lineup sported a paltry .340 OBP and scored only 211 runs while the pitching staff had a combined 6.94 ERA and allowed opposing batters to hit .321.

4. PENN

The Quakers struggled to a 12-27 record last season but finished second in the Gehrig Division. They have some talented players, including outfielder Joey Boaen and catcher Josh Corn, but desperately need starting pitching on a staff that had an absurd 8.26 combined ERA in 2006. Both Boaen and Corn batted above .345, and the pair combined for seven home runs and 49 RBI.