Peters Faces Powerful Navy Nine; Eastern League Lead Is at Stake

Harvard's baseball squad can take a giant step toward the Eastern Inter-collegiate League title with a victory over powerful Navy today at Soldiers' Field.

Coach Norm Shephard will rely upon the right arm of Ray Peters to preserve the Crimson's 4-0 record in the Eastern League play.

Last year Peters blanked the Middies, 1-0, in a major upset.

Although Peters came down with mononucleosis in the spring which hampered his early season effectiveness, the 6'5" hurler has recently flashed the blistering fastball that last year helped him compile a 9-3 record.

Bat Strangers

In an outing against Brown two weeks ago, Peters spun a three-hit shutout, whiffing 16 Bruins.

Harvard's defense was shaky early in the season, but "We're really starting to jell as a team defensively. Our main problem will be putting together some hits," Shepard said. "Sometimes we're strangers with the bat."

Even in yesterday's 9-1 romp over hapless Brandeis, few Harvard batsmen fattened their averages. The 13 bases on balls given up by Brandeis pitching made the game an easy walkaway.

The Crimson attack could muster only eight hits, three from the bat of third baseman Bill Cobb. Harvard's three leading sluggers, Jeff Grate, John Ignacio and captain Carter Lord, accounted for only two hits among them.

No Crown

The victory was the team's first in Greater Boston League competition. With a 1-3 record in the GBL, Harvard has no chance of retaining the crown.

In the Eastern League, however, Harvard is tied with undefeated Dartmouth for the league lead. Navy and Army are one game behind.

Shepard will start junior Bob Dorwart against Army on Saturday.