Crimson Nine Will Battle Cornell, Yale, in Playoff

The Harvard baseball team--minus three top players--will begin its playoff battle for the Eastern League crown and NCAA tournament berth today in a three-way round-robin competition at West Point, N.Y.

Shortstop Brad Bauer, right fielder Dan Skaff and pitcher Bill Doyle have Spanish examinations today and will fly to West Point tomorrow to join their teammates for the second game of the tourney.

Deadlocked with Cornell and Yale in EIBL play with 10-4 records, the Crimson begins play this morning at 10 a.m. against the Big Red. The winner of the double elimination tournament will advance to NCAA champ ionship regionals in Worcester.

If all three teams wind up today's mini-schedule at 1-1, the fun carries over into tomorrow. The squads will draw for a bye into Sunday's second game, in which the lucky team will meet the winner of Sunday's first game for the title.