SPRING SPORTS
Even as this is written, Dartmouth's spring teams are ready to open their 1964 season. Within a few days four contingents - baseball, lacrosse, tennis and golf - will be heading south for annual vacation trips and games with a number of Southern colleges. The baseball team looms as a strong contender to repeat as Eastern League Championships, a title they shared last year.
On the mound the Indians have right- handers Scott Creelman and Ted Friel, a pair of standouts from last year, and lefties Bob MacArthur, Bill Dubocq, and Bill Caterino, all seniors, together with several other hurlers who could help in the stretch drive.
Behind the plate it will again be big Dick Horton, a solid .300 hitter with a good throwing arm. He will be backed up by (Tim Taylor, who will also alternate at first with junior Chip Hayes.
Dartmouth has solid experience out around the keystone sack. Mike Bloom at short stop and Henry Ota at second, a pair of seniors, have worked together for two years and should give the Green a good double play combination. Rounding out the infield will be sophomore Bill Bower at third base.
Three-year veteran Steve Dichter anchors the outfield in center while senior Ken Lapine is in right and sophomore Barry Machado will probably get the nod in left.
The lacrosse team is still very much a question mark at this point with good depth at midfield but a lot of holes to fill on defense and attack. All-American Bill King, of course, is gone from the first midfield unit, but this leadership role should be ably filled by Mike Herriott, the league's leading scorer in 1962 and runnerup in 1963. Also back from last year's squad are Paul O'Connell, Jim Cooper, and Jim Pfau. From last year's freshman team comes a contingent of sophomores led by Bruce McKissock.
The entire starting attack unit was graduated last June. The leading candidates this year are Lee Mercer, Murph Cohen, and Robin Bennett. At defense, Bill Krueger is the only returning veteran, with Tom Clarke, Chuck Vernon, Al Anderson, and John Case all competing for starting assignments. In the goal there is no question but that it will be Wah- Wah Walsh, the Indian starter last year who had an outstanding spring.
The Dartmouth crew is off to a fast start this year thanks to having an eightoar shell in Spaulding Pool. Now the rowers are ready for some real practice in open water. The heavyweight crew will spend two weeks of spring vacation at Kent School in Connecticut, and the lightweights will be at M.I.T.
This year's crew should be in top condition by the time the first race arrives late in April. Since January 6 the oarsmen have been working out with body strengthening equipment as well as rowing in a regular shell, something they have never been able to do until the ice went out on the Connecticut River.
Coach Pete Gardner is quick to point out, however, that this is an Olympic year and most of the other college crews are also off to a faster start in their conditioning. The Olympic games next fall in Japan will be a definite factor on crew this spring. Not only will most crews be in better condition, but the majority of the races will be on the shorter 2,000- meter Olympic course. These first two factors will mean that many crews will be using a higher beat and more sprinting.
The heavyweights will have two veterans back from last spring, plus Bob Brayton to full form, and a good group of sophomores who have moved up from last year's freshman boat. The '66s placed fourth in the Eastern sprints last spring, the best showing ever by a Dartmouth freshman crew.
By next month, the picture should be clear, and the top eight men should be known. As for the season, it could be a good one for Dartmouth rowing.
Coach Pete Gardner instructs from on high at crew practice in Spaulding Pool.
