SOFTBALL '07: Senior Duo Ready To Lead Team to Ivy League Title

It has been said that offense wins games, but defense wins championships.

Staying true to that phrase, Julia Kidder and Lauren Brown, senior defensive stars on the Harvard softball team, may just be what the Crimson need to claim an Ivy League title this season.

Harvard has not captured an Ivy League title since 2001, something that Brown, the team’s shortstop, is longing to change.

“Every year you have to go in thinking you’re going to win an Ivy championship,” Brown says. “Because without that mentality, then things will start to fall apart. If you always go with that goal in mind, then you know what to work for.”

Kidder, a seasoned veteran at second base, already knows what to work for. She will return to her rank as captain again this season, and has faith in her new teammates.

“I’m really excited,” Kidder says. “There’s no reason why we shouldn’t win our division, and we’re definitely looking at going towards the goal of winning Ivies.”

One of the most noteworthy parts of this year’s team is its defensive ability, led by Kidder and Brown.

“They are just solid up the middle,” head coach Jenny Allard says. “It is very key.”

Kidder and Brown have been working together at the double-play spots for the past three years, which has helped to improve their communication and speed.

“At times we look at each other on the field and we’ve already answered each other’s question,” Kidder says. “We know what to expect. We know each other’s range. We know how the other’s feeling, how to bounce back, how to help each other out.”

Brown agrees, adding, “In two words to sum it up, quick and strong.”

Both will also be assets to the Crimson’s offense. Brown had a .302 batting average last season out of the leadoff spot, and statistically, is very effective with runners in scoring positions.

“She has that leadoff energy, like she’s ready to go,” Allard says. “She’s a good tone-setter.”

Kidder, who hit .232 last season, will also be in the top three, helping Brown to set the pace in Harvard’s offensive efforts.

“Getting the game going and starting off on a good note is really important,” Brown says. “If they see that the top of the lineup has gotten hits, the people go up to bat with more confidence and they kind of expect that they can do the same.”

This kind of leadership is what Allard considers one of her team’s greatest strengths.

“All of our seniors have really shown great leadership by example and have really brought our freshman along,” Allard says.

And the Crimson, which is welcoming seven freshmen into its ranks, needs that kind of leadership if it is to be sucessful this season.

“With such a young team, they’ll be looking to the seniors and us in general to show them exactly how it’s done,” Brown says. “There are going to be bumps in the road. They’ll just be looking to us for our reaction and how we handle that.”

One of the bumps in the road for Harvard could come as a result of its small roster, a problem that it dealt with last year as well. The Crimson only has 16 players in uniform.

“Right now we’re all healthy and we’re all looking strong,” Kidder says, “but you know, two or three injuries and we’re hurting.”

However, that weakness seems small compared to all of Harvard’s strengths this season.

One advantage that the unit possesses is a great team chemistry, something that is new and welcome to Brown.

“I think our whole team is friends, pretty much,” Brown laughs. “It’s the first year we’ve actually had that with everybody.”

This camaraderie will help the Crimson in its quest for an Ivy League title. For Kidder, there is no doubt in her mind that the team has the ability to come together this season to capture that coveted championship that has eluded it for five straight years.

“We look at this team as the best team in our four years,” Kidder says. “So we have high expectations.”