In Training

FRED KELLEY'S Dartmouth baseball teams, if nothing else, should be physically fit. "I think I do have ideas that I will push more than a normal coach would," says the Big Green's head trainer, who stepped in as the College's 14th head baseball coach this spring. "Baseball players on a whole do not do enough physical preparation to play. There'll be more pre-game warmups and stretching and flexibility exercises."

Kelley is no stranger on Red Rolfe Field. Since coming to Dartmouth in 1967, he has coached the freshman and junior varsity teams, compiling a 92-54 record. He succeeds Tony Lupien, the former major league player and professional baseball manager, who coached Dartmouth to 313 victories, 301 defeats, and two ties during 21 seasons. "I gained a lot of knowledge from Tony and I will try to incorporate those ideas that reflect good baseball sense," notes Kelley.

The Dartmouth baseball team is coming off a losing season. Last year the Big Green won only 11 out of 36 games, and Dave DeMarco, who gained all-Ivy recognition as both a pitcher and infielder, has graduated. Kelley took two freshman pitchers with him on the southern trip to beef up his mound corps and hopes for steady play from the middle of the infield. He should get that from shortstop Gary Masse '79 and second baseman Mike Durham '79. Masse is the first junior to captain the baseball team in modern times.

The new coach is a native of Gloversville, New York, and was undefeated as a right-handed pitcher for Springfield College. He was 4-0 as a freshman and 16-0 during three varsity seasons before graduating in 1961. Kelley dismisses the unblemished mark, however. "It certainly wasn't all no-hitters. And not pitching duels, either. The fortunate thing was that when I was on the mound the guys got me the runs. I was a right-handed 'junk ball' pitcher. Strictly junk. I played for Camp Lejeune when I was in the Marines and the Yankees were interested in my pitching, but they finally told me 'We like your curve ball and your control, but we can teach the curve ball and control — we can't teach speed.' " His conclusion: "I was not a professional-type pitcher."

During the fall, Kelley, who has five full-time trainer assistants, devotes the early part of the day to fall baseball and all the time after 3:00 p.m. to football. "The day is divided and so are my thoughts, but I feel the fall baseball program is important." Things were a bit different at VMI during the spring since that school had a full spring program for its football team. Dartmouth is limited to one day of spring football practice by the Ivy League. At VMI, Kelley frequently had to shuttle between baseball and football practice as his talents were needed.

Senior Bill Daniell performed for Dartmouth's good but unheralded gymnastics team.