Baseball: Key injuries fail to dent Elis' confidence

JULIA TIERNAN/YH After a spate of injuries, the Elis will rely on strong pitching.

To most major league baseball fans, "The Big Hurt" refers to White Sox first baseman Frank Thomas. However, the Yale baseball team is experiencing a Big Hurt of its own. With the losses of shortstop phenom Tony Coyne, BK '00, to a torn ACL this week, and third baseman Shea Treadway, PC '01, to a broken leg, the team faces tremendous adversity as it enters the season. Coyne won the triple crown in the Ivy League last year, hitting .378, driving in 43 runs, and slamming 10 home runs, while setting a Yale assist record with 133--one of the greatest seasons for any Yale player in history.

Despite the obstacles the Bulldogs have faced so far, the team's 6-13 record paints an inaccurate picture of their potential. The Elis' pitching is particularly strong, with three of the team's four starters returning to the mound this season, including hard-throwing pitcher, captain Mike Finnegan, SY '99. Additionally, the return of the lightning-fast major league prospect Ben Johnstone, BR '00, who recorded 26 stolen bases and a team-high 41 runs last year, assures offensive strength as well.

Even with the loss of Coyne, the players remain confident. "We've got a lot of pitching depth this year," outfielder Steve Barnett, SY '01, said. "We also swing the bats really well. But most of all, we come to play every day." The team is hoping its work ethic will push them to victory against its toughest Ivy competitors. "Harvard won the Ivy title for the past two years, so they should be tough," Barnett said. "Princeton should be really tough too. But we're confident that we can compete successfully and do well against them." Beating Harvard and Princeton will be crucial if the Elis are to contend for the league title this year.

Whether they're plagued with injuries or not, the Bulldogs are unwavering in their commitment to bring home a championship this year. "The only goal we have this year is to go home with a new piece of jewelry," Barnett said. "Right now, that's what we're trying to do."

--Alison Morris

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