SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: Josh Klimkiewicz

When Harvard first baseman Josh Klimkiewicz said, following the Crimson’s division-clinching 23-9 win over archrival Dartmouth on April 30, that “the pitches looked like beach balls today,” he wasn’t daydreaming about the leisure activities of his senior spring. Instead, he was describing his focus at the plate at the most important juncture in the baseball season. During the regular season-ending doubleheader against the Big Green, with Harvard’s season—and Klimkiewicz’s career—in danger of ending, the powerful righty reached base in eight of ten plate appearances, going 6-for-8, getting beaned twice, driving in four runs, scoring five, and hitting a moonshot home run.

All year long, Klimkiewicz was the critical cog in the middle of the Crimson order and an imposing presence for opposing hurlers. The masher’s team-leading seven home runs upped his career total to 25, while the intimidation factor earned him a league-leading 26 walks. And after going unrecognized for three seasons by All-Ivy voters, Klimkiewicz was finally named to the first team in 2006 with a line of .331/.471/.559, just missing out on Player of the Year honors.

Sounds like the man deserves a day at the beach.

—JONATHAN LEHMAN