Members of the Harvard baseball team greet the season with buckets, not bats, as they drain water from the basepaths during an early spring practice.

Following back-to-back record-setting seasons in which the Harvard baseball team dominated the Ivy League and held its own with some of the nation's top teams in NCAA Regional play, the Crimson will surprise nobody in 1999. Harvard has its sights set on its third straight Ivy League title and is expected to once again make a formidable opponent for any team in postseason play.

Last year, the Crimson set a school record for wins while going 36- 12 and finishing as the 24th-ranked team in the country in the Associated Press poll. It marked the second straight year Harvard finished in the top 30. Also for the second consecutive season, Harvard placed third in NCAA Regional play in 1998.

"Last year was exciting because we accomplished a lot of the things we set out to do," said fourth-year Head Coach Joe Walsh. "But we're just as excited about this year, because we have a lot of the same guys back plus a lot of young talent and we feel we may be even deeper."

Indeed, there are a lot of familiar faces around O'Donnell Field, as 21 lettermen from last season's squad are back -- including five position starters and 11 pitchers. But even though Harvard has much talent coming back, that is not to say that none was lost to graduation. A lot of baseball matriculated in '98.

But as amazing as the contributions of the outgoing class were last year, this year's seniors have not only contributed, but have been the foundation for the Harvard baseball program's resurgence. In 1995, the Crimson struggled to a 10-25 record, marking its fewest wins since 1961. However, since the arrival of this year's eight seniors, which coincided with the arrival of Walsh to the program's helm, Harvard has gone 93-45 overall, 48-12 in Ivy League play, and won four NCAA Tournament games and two Ivy League titles while shattering virtually every major team offensive and defensive record.

Leading the talented senior class is the team captain, third baseman Hal Carey. From his 1996 Ivy League Rookie of the Year campaign throughout his All-Ivy career, Carey has epitomized all the things that have brought Harvard its recent success. He is fundamentally sound with both the bat and the glove, and is determined to find ways to win.

Returning to second base is another four-year starter, senior Peter Woodfork. Woodfork, who had his best season yet in 1998, hitting .290 while swiping 17 bases, began this season auspiciously enough with three RBI in the second game of the March 12 doubleheader against Charlestown Southern (CS) (Harvard won 13-5).

Junior Erik Binkowski returns to first base, where he was tops on the team with a .995 fielding percentage last year while adding some extra-base thump to the batting lineup. Junior Jason Larocque and sophomore Graham McKay also saw time at first last season and both have ability at the plate. With shortstop David Forst's departure, the Crimson infield had a hole in the hole, but freshman Nick Carter has proved in the early going that he is capable of filling it.

Hardest hit by graduation is the outfield. With Brian Ralph gone, versatile senior Andrew Huling moves over from right to center field. Walsh feels Huling is the best defensive outfielder in New England, and Huling's career .356 batting average and 38 stolen bases prove his worth to the offense as well. Huling has begun this year with a bang, going 5 for 12 in the two doubleheaders against CS on March 12 and 13. Sophomores John Portman and Scott Carmack, who saw limited time last year, are playing left and right field respectively. Carmack also went 5 for 12 in the season's opening weekend.

Behind the plate, senior Jason Keck emerged last season as both a great leader as well as one of the top all-around players on this team. Keck also proved he knew a thing or two about offense, hitting .386 with 37 RBI in a First Team All-Ivy campaign.

With a blend of experienced veterans and contributing freshmen in '99, Harvard's recent success in pitching should continue. Seniors Andrew Duffell and junior Derek Lennon have each chalked up a win this season, Duffell in relief. Lennon demonstrated tremendous control last year, as he struck out 22 and walked just seven in a steady and durable rookie campaign.

Last year's number one starter Garrett Vail looked great in his March 12 appearance against Charleston Southern, although the Crimson was edged out by one run. And sophomore starter John Birtwell, who pitched well in a 4-2 loss to CS, could be the bulldog of the staff after putting up 4-0, 2.29 ERA numbers as a freshman.

"We feel as though we have that special combination of speed and defense that has led to two Ivy League titles and two strong NCAA showings," Walsh said. "But the name of the game is pitching, and our depth on the mound this season will be the foundation for any success we achieve. This team has the ability and desire to go even further than it has the last two years."