The freshmen also have the challenge of adjusting to varsity athletics at the Division I level, in which they will face the best of the sport.

“Though we all played on really competitive teams with either high school or travel ball, college softball is just more intense,” Cooley said. “Our team is so focused on improving that the time commitment and practices...are the things that will separate us from our competition.”

The Crimson is growing closer together as the season nears, and its developing chemistry is allowing the team to push itself even more.

“Playing together with these girls is almost like playing with family members. We eat and do stuff outside of softball together, which makes for a better team,” Lange said. “It’s more fun to play with someone you trust and can push you because you know they’re looking out for your best interests.”

Harvard’s first test will come at the hands of Seton Hall when the team takes its skills down south to Boca Raton, Fla., to compete in the Florida Atlantic Invitational Tournament this week. This will also be the first chance for the freshmen to taste collegiate play.

Their first opportunity within the Ivy won’t come for another month, but Allard believes both her team and her freshmen are going to be ready.

“Coach Martin is our recruiting coordinator and is the first pass with a lot of correspondence and evaluations, and I thought she did a great job,” Allard said. “We have one of the best freshman classes we’ve ever had.”