Spring Sports
Late in March most of the varsity spring teams moved south during vacation to get in practice sessions and some pre-season contests. At this writing it is difficult to accurately appraise these squads, but generally the spring prospects for most teams are good.
Coach Tony Lupien is optimistic about the varsity baseball nine and hopes to better last year's 13-4 record (second place in the Eastern Intercollegiate Baseball League). The graduation of Captain John Otis and Ralph Manual may cut down on hitting power, but the team should be faster afield and the pitching staff appears to have more depth. Returning veterans who should be standouts this year include southpaw hurler Art Quirk, voted the most valuable player in the league last year, all-league shortstop Chuck Kaufman and Captain Dave Marshall, whom Lupien has shifted from outfield to first base. Second sacker Dave Richards, another .goo hitter, and catcher Woody Woodworth are two other veterans. Walt Sosnowski and Rog Hanlon are experienced outfielders, with Andy Mehalick returning to the infield along with pitchers Ed Toothaker, Skip Johnson, Stan Drazen, Wayne Skeen and Dave Gavitt. Up from a good freshman team are Don O'Neill, a promising right-handed hurler, John King and Bob Jennings, both outfielders, infielders Dick Marrone and Roger MacArt, catcher Hank Gerfen, and first baseman Jerry Foote.
On the tennis courts, Coach Red Hoehn expects to have another fine team with mostly lettermen back on the squad. Captain Dick Hoehn, third-ranked in New England singles play, leads the team with sophomore Ron Picket cur- rently ranked second and veterans Jack McDonough and Bill McClung pressing hard for top rankings. Jack Herrick is a doubtful starter but may play later in the season, along with Nick Fenney, who missed the southern trip. O. P. Jones, Phil Langley, Al Stark and Larry Holden, all experienced players, are other squad members.
Coach Tom Dent has had his varsity lacrosse team practicing on a snow-covered field at Wigwam Circle (wearing flight boots!) since mid-February and reports that he is well pleased with the way the squad is taking shape. The main problem is to restore an attack line which has been largely wrecked by graduation. The Big Green defense, however, is intact from last year with Randy Malin at goal and Captain Bill "Moose" Morton, Harry Shaw and John Harriot at defense. Dick Chase, Mickey Preston, Win Robinson and Jack Hodgson are the top midfield candidates at this time, with assistance here and in the attack line needed from a large crop of sophomores and some varsity reserves.
After a very successful Christmas trip to England, the high-flying Dartmouth rugby squad moves to the West Coast during spring vacation to meet U.C.L.A., the University Club, San Diego State, and Pomona and to get in some practice contests. The Big Green ruggers expect some tough games on this trip but are in top shape for these and later games on their regular spring schedule.
A late winter has again hampered the Dartmouth Rowing Club, but by early March the crews had moved out of the gym and onto a barge below the Connecticut River Dam. Both heavyweight coach Pete Gardner and lightweight coach Hart Perry '54 are optimistic this spring. Captain Scott Palmer leads a heavyweight crew made up largely of lettermen from last year's team which placed seventh at the I.R.A., and the lightweight crew boasts nine veterans.
Elsewhere on these pages Coach Ellie Noyes reports briefly on Dartmouth's spring track squad and veteran golf coach Tommy Keane tells about his problems on the links.
To sum up quickly, the spring outlook in general for the Green teams is good. Baseball, tennis, rugby, lacrosse and crew all seem strong, with the Indian baseball team having a good chance to take league honors. Golf and track may have disappointing seasons. More complete reports on all spring teams and details on all freshman teams will appear in the next issue.
