Nine Will Face Big Green In Today's Home Debut

Under yesterday's cloudless skies and glistening sun, the Harvard baseball team filled Soldiers Field with the sights and sounds of the summer game, as it prepared to face Dartmouth in today's Eastern League home opener.

Ron Stewart, who will pitch this afternoon's opener, took time out from his workout for a drink of water and some optimistic words.

"I'll be disappointed if I don't pitch a perfect game," the senior said. "Seriously, I'm really up for this one."

Stewart and Bill Doyle--who will hurl in the nightcap--will be responsible for maintaining the Crimson's unblemished (3-0) league record. Both have looked extremely sharp in three previous outings, each sporting 1-0 records in EIBL play.

Call Me

If they falter, coach Alex Nahigian can call on just about all of his staff to pitch. Bill Larson would be the only questionmark, as he pitched five innings on Wednesday, but the righthander says hurling this weekend would be "no problem."

Slip Slidin' Away

While a recent lack of hitting has caused some concern (the team batting average stands at .232 not including Wednesday's 1-0 loss to Boston College), the expected warm weather and big crowd should spur the Crimson.

The knowledge that his game is "for keeps" should help, too. "We like to win the others, of course," Mark Bingham, the hard-hitting first baseman, said after practice. "But we're really concentrating on winning the league."

A sweep today will go a long way toward fulfilling that goal. "A 5-0 record would look mightly good," rightfielder Chuck Marshall commented. "4-1's not bad, either." Asked about a possible 3-2 record, meaning a double loss today, Marshall replied, "Well, that's not going to happen."