With Farkes Out, Wilson Fills Void

During the Harvard baseball team’s 2-2 weekend split at Bethune-Cookman, the offense looked fine—reference Saturday’s 17-3 thrashing of the six-time defending MEAC champions—but one member of the Crimson lineup remained conspicuously absent.

Zak Farkes, the reigning school single-season home run king who passed up a chance to sign with the Boston Red Sox to return for his junior season, was scratched from the lineup with a strained right shoulder.

He sat out the entire weekend in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Junior pitcher Frank Herrmann, who pitched five innings of one-hit ball in a 3-2 victory on Sunday, said he was unworried, hinting that Farkes’ absence was only “precautionary.” Coach Joe Walsh could not be reached for comment.

“When I saw that he wasn’t in the lineup,” said captain Schuyler Mann, who trailed Farkes for the team lead in home runs with 11 last season, “I knew it probably wasn’t great. Zak, he’ll do anything to get in the lineup.”

“But I also realize there are people looking out for his best interests,” Mann added. “He can’t do anything that’s going to hurt his professional career, which he’s obviously going to have.”

STEFF FORWARD

If the lineup missed Farkes’ prodigious bat, then freshman Steffan Wilson certainly did his part to cover up.

Wilson terrorized Bethune-Cookman pitching all weekend by batting at a .588 clip (10-for-17), driving home 10 RBI, and knocking the first two home runs of his college career.

Yesterday, the league office dubbed him Ivy League Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week.

“Steff kind of stepped it up all weekend for us,” junior right fielder Lance Salsgiver said. “He made real solid contact.”

Rarely do first-year college players break out with such force. Wilson’s 1.176 slugging percentage in the season’s second weekend helped drive his numbers to the top of nearly every team category—including hits (12), home runs (2), RBI (12), and total bases (25).

“It didn’t take him too long to take his strides,” Salsgiver added.

Herrmann was named to the Ivies’ weekly honor roll with his pitching on Sunday.

BRINGIN’ MO’

Senior Mike Morgalis, a 6’5 righthander who expected to return to the rotation this season for his final year of eligibility, suffered a broken foot during the offseason that jeopardized his playing chances.

But there he was on Saturday, pitching Harvard back into contention (the Crimson eventually lost, 8-6) with five innings of sharp relief.

After taking over for freshman Shawn Haviland and facing a 6-2 deficit through three innings, Morgalis yielded only one earned run for the remainder of the game.

“That was great to see,” Mann said. “He showed me over the weekend that he’s going to give us a lot of good innings.”

Morgalis continues to pitch through discomfort, and surgery possibly awaits at season’s end.

But Morgalis’ performance on Saturday was a promising sign for a young pitching staff that stands to benefit from some unexpected depth.

“He hopped off the mound, fielded a bunt,” Mann said. “He’s moving, he’s fielding his position, which is more than just pitching well. He’s ready to go.”

CATCHING THE GRIFF

Freshman Griff Jenkins complicated coach Joe Walsh’s infield picture with an outstanding debut weekend at second base.

In the first half of Saturday’s doubleheader, he went 2-for-5 with three RBI and three runs. But Jenkins’ composure at the keystone most impressed teammates and coaches.

“He made an awesome play while Frank was pitching, up the middle,” Mann said. “Flipped it up with the glove to Morgan for the force, and almost turned two.”

Most importantly, added Mann, “he showed no fear.”

With several other candidates seeking playing time up the middle, including incumbent sophomore Brendan Byrne, Harvard benefits from an overabundance of infield depth.

“Any of the middle infielders can start,” Mann said. “Looks like coach is going to figure a way to get everybody innings.”

“Too many good players,” he said.

—Staff writer Alex McPhillips can be reached at rmcphill@fas.harvard.edu.