Interstate rivalries

The 1998 Yale baseball squad was something of a juggernaut: the Elis made an impressive showing, finishing 21-21 (11-9 Ivy). If this past weekend's preseason play was any indication, the 1999 team promises to have an even more successful campaign this season.

On Fri., Oct. 2, in the opening match of New Haven's annual City Series, the Bulldogs defeated the University of New Haven 11-9. And on Sat., Oct. 3, they took Southern Connecticut State University to 10 innings, ultimately losing 5-4.

In the spring, the baseball team hopes to capture the Ivy League title, which will automatically qualify them for the NCAA regional tournament. Infielder Tony Coyne, BK '00, last year's Ivy League Player of the Year, will undoubtedly be a key element in the Bulldogs' success. Coyne earned the Blair Bat for having the highest batting average in the Ivies and led the league in home runs and RBIs.

On Sat., Oct. 10, Yale will face the University of Connecticut. Connecticut is a perennial baseball power, and promises to be a challenge for the Bulldogs. Yale's most effective weapon against this perennial powerhouse will be its pitching. Catcher Ben Littman, BK '02, said, "The depth of our pitching staff affords coach [John] Stuper the luxury of managing in a more professional style. He will be able to manipulate certain game situations, such as lefty/righty match-ups, to our advantage."

--Kate Moran

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