Crimson Nine To Face Lions

After a week of spring warm-up down South and a final tuning-up against Boston College on Monday, the Harvard baseball team travels to New York today and Philadelphia on Saturday to play what should be the easiest and toughest contests of the season against Columbia and Penn.

In last year's game, the Columbia team members played musical positions as almost each of them got the chance to pitch as well as play any other spot they wanted to.

This year's squad does not look to be much of an improvement. The pitching corps, again a weak spot for the Lions, is headed by junior Bill Casey. The 6 ft. 6 in. hurler had a 2.42 ERA as a sophomore and will probably get the call to face the Crimson today.

Ron Pettinger is the leading hitter for Columbia; he knocked out hits at a rate of .357 last spring. Pettinger held down the receiving end of the battery where he garnered an All-EIBL second-team berth, but could move to third to further bolster an already pretty good defensive infield.

The Lion batmen roared South for a spring tour but came back winless against six losses.

Penn on Saturday appears to be the toughest squad in the East this spring. "Penn has got to be the best team in the league this year," Harvard coach Loyal Park said Wednesday. "They'll be our stiffest competition."

With the entire team back from last year plus an outstanding freshman team up, Penn is incredibly stacked with talent. They have many good players waiting to play because they are in line behind great ones.

Eight of the nine positions have been staked out by these returning veterans and sophomores, and the only question mark might be pitching. But the Quakers have one of the finest pitchers in the East in Andy Muhlstock. Last year Muhlstock boasted a 9-2 record with a sterling ERA of 1.69.

In addition to the best pitching arm on the staff, Muhlstock also carried one of the biggest bats, as he posted a .344 average last spring.

First baseman Ed Boone was the All-EIBL first team selection in 1973 and was seventh overall in Eastern batting at .324. Don Valenzano, a junior, was Penn's other .300 hitter last year. He will most likely play in the outfield this season.

Key men out of the lineup will be the most important factor for the Crimson. There is still no final word on the eligibility status of All-EIBL third baseman and Harvard captain Jim Stoeckel. Senior outfielder Dave St. Pierre is not back from an injury and catcher John Friar is still hurting.

The rest of the team, however, looks good. Junior Jim Harrell will pitch for the Crimson today against the Lions, with veterans Mike O'Malley and Milt Holt slated to toss tomorrow against Penn.

"The Penn games will be our two big games," Park said. "The win over Boston College really got us rolling and we're looking forward to a big weekend."