Baseball

Ulysses J. "Tony" Lupien took charge of Dartmouth's baseball fortunes this spring, replacing Bob Shawkey, and it looks as though the ex-major league player and coach could have a real coming out.

Dartmouth's varsity nine split four games on their spring trek south, with the final three contests rained out. Dartmouth lost the opener to the Quantico Marines 7-2, but the following day reversed things by dropping them 10-3, as veteran Ron Judson and sophomore Art Quirk handled the pitching chores and the Big Green batters collected 13 hits. Dartmouth's pitching didn't hold up against George Washington University, which won 12-4. In the final spring game, the Indians showed signs of the team they could become by upsetting powerful Maryland 6-5 in ten innings. Dartmouth trailed 5-3 with two away in the ninth inning when sophomore shortstop Dave Richards singled, catcher Fred Hilderbrandt singled and then Dick Portland, stepping in as a pinch hitter, doubled them both home to tie up the game and pave the way for Dartmouth's winning run in the tenth.

In past years Dartmouth has been a solid defensive club but has lacked hitting power. This spring, the Big Green is strong defensively, and seems to be getting the hitting also. Six men hit above .300 on the road trip, led by Fred Hilderbrandt and Dick Portland at .500 and first baseman Ralph Manuel at .400.

In the first regular game of the season the Big Green defeated Brown 2-0. Dick Van Riper allowed the Bruins only one hit, while the Big Green collected one run in the seventh inning and another in the ninth on two hits and two Bruin errors. Van Riper was in trouble in the eighth inning when Brown loaded the bases, but timely fielding and superb pitching halted the rally without any runs scoring.

The Dartmouth lineup now seems fairly well set, although Coach Lupien is prepared to make changes whenever they become necessary. The infield is made up chiefly of returning lettermen led by Captain Larry Blades at second base. Ralph Manuel was brought in from the outfield to play first base, while John Otis returns at third base. Sophomore Dave Richards has stepped in at shortstop to play brilliantly and hit at a .368 clip on the road.

In the outfield, veteran John Chapman retains his leftfield post; sophomore Dave Marshall, last year's freshman captain, seems to have pinned down the rightfield berth; while letterman Don Klages and sophomore Dave Dickson are still battling for the centerfield berth. Rod Anderson, Jerry Thompson and Fred Hilderbrandt, when he is not handling the catching chores, are three good outfield reserves.

Behind the plate, Coach Lupien has been alternating sophomore Wayne Skeen and Hilderbrandt, with Skeen holding the edge at the moment.

Dartmouth's pitching staff looks strong this year, although there are only two southpaws - sophomores Art Quirk and Jerry Rood. The leading hurler is Dick Van Riper who had an earned run average of only 1.69 last spring in league play. Basketball captain Ron Judson and sophomore Dave Gavitt are both outstanding performers, while sophomores Don Shagrin and Stan Drazen add further strength to the mound staff.

Last year's Dartmouth team won only six of 21 games, finishing eighth in the Eastern Collegiate Baseball League. It won't be hard to top this record, but the Big Green is shooting for the league title and may well have the ability, urge and power to make it.

Tony Lupien, in his first season as varsity baseball coach, and Captain Larry Blades '55 of Chicago, who plays at second base.