Softball Seeks Sweet Redemption in Georgia

The Harvard softball team is hoping for something more satisfying than sun and relaxation this Spring Break--sweet redemption.

A year after going 3-9 on a tough and tumultuous Spring Break trip to Georgia, the Crimson (1-5) will return to the Peach State to improve upon last year's showing, as well as to measure itself against quality competition before the start of the Ivy season.

"We're excited to get playing again, and we know we can perform well," said tri-captain Chelsea Thoke. "It'll be good to go out with a win under our belts. The competition will be good test."

Harvard will face will its first challenge starting today at the start of the annual Buzz Classic in Marietta, Ga. The Crimson will play this morning against Mercer and the University of California, and will continue tomorrow against Wisconsin and Southeast Missouri State.

Last year, the Crimson went 0-4 at the Buzz Classic, losing to Maryland, Mercer, Southwest Missouri, and Coastal Carolina University by a cumulative score of 22-7.

One positive for Harvard going into this weekend's games will be the return of sophomore catcher Monica Montijo. Montijo suffered a massive leg injury that required 300 stitches when she was cleated over two weeks ago on the team's California road trip. Ironically, Montijo will be making her return against the same Golden Bear team that inflicted the leg injury.

"It was very frustrating to have to watch the team," Montijo said. "It'll be great to get on the field and feel like a part of the team again."

After the Buzz Classic, Harvard will have little time to rest as the Crimson continues its tour of Georgia. Harvard will play games against Georgia Tech on Tuesday, Mercer on Wednesday, and Georgia State on Thursday.

In all, the Crimson will play a minimum of eight games this week and will have one final chance to retool lineups and gel as a team. So far, though, the team has made significant strides and the freshman contingent has contributed a great deal.

"Our hitting seems to be on track and the pitching keeps getting better," said sophomore left fielder Grace Bloodwell. "The freshmen are learning quickly, and playing better than we expected."

Harvard will begin defense of its Ivy League title immediately after spring break, with games against Penn and Princeton the weekend after school resumes.

And if last year was any indication, the Crimson's performance this week will not necessarily indicate how successful it will be once the Ivy season rolls around.

In other words, maybe sun and relaxation should be further up the Crimson wish list than sweet redemption.

--Staff writer Robert A. Cacace contributed to the reporting of this article.