2007 Season Outlook

After starting the 2006 season a bit under the radar for the first time in a l long stretch, a push for a spot in the Ivy League Championship Series one year ago with a predominately young team has put Dartmouth back as one of the top teams in the league this season. Searching for their fourth Division title in eight years, the Big Green come into the 2007 season with an overall record of 148-128 and 84-56 among the Ivies over the past seven years.
    Looking to build on last year's 13-7 mark in the league, head coach Bob Whalen returns 15 letter winners. With junior co-captains Stephen Perry and Russell Young anchoring the pitching staff and 2nd Team All-Ivy outfielder Damon Wright in the mix offensively, the 2007 season looks to be as bright as ever in Hanover.     As was the case the previous season, a pair of seniors are being counted upon to provide a strong influence on a team that has 19 of its 30 players entering their sophomore of freshman seasons. A mainstay in the lineup since the beginning of his freshman year, Andrew Nacario had his best offensive season wearing the Green a year ago, as the junior hit .282. On the mound, Jeff Wilkerson made a splash in the conference rotation as a sophomore when he posted a 3.62 ERA, second best on the team. He followed that up with a strong third season, as he earned three wins and a pair of saves, including a shutout of rival Harvard on the final weekend of the season.

Pitchers

   The age-old axiom that baseball always starts on the mound is never truer than in Hanover. A year after posting the second best ERA in the conference, the Big Green return three fourths of the rotation. One of the more celebrated pitchers in the program's history, Stephen Perry was an All-American as a freshman on his way to gaining Ivy League Rookie of the Year honors. Perry also led the team in wins during his sophomore season and was expected to do the same in 2006. But after being sidelined due to injury, the New Hampshire native has some catching up to do.
   Jeff Wilkerson has big victories over Yale and Harvard and was an Honorable Mention All-Ivy selection last season. Making his home on the mound is Russell Young, who earned the Most Improved Player award last season after pitching 49 innings and sporting a 3.44 ERA. Rounding out the returning rotation is Chase Carpenter, who arguably has the best control on the team. Carpenter tied for most starts on the team last year with eight and has looked very capable of reclaiming that spot this season.
   While some nagging injuries may have hampered some early development, Andrew Mallory did tally 25 innings as a freshman, including a three-inning appearance in which he recorded his first collegiate save against Siena.
   Coming out of the bullpen, Kyle Zeis was an invaluable piece to last year's success, as the junior managed four saves, the most since John Miller had six in 2000.
   After a standout senior season in high school in which he played shortstop and pitched, freshman Miller Aldrich has displayed an above average fastball and breaking ball while playing Fall baseball with the Big Green, and could be a dark horse for a spot in the Conference rotation.
Right-hander Ben Murray has a loose arm and a great feel for his off speed pitches, while pair of left-handers from the Lone Star State, Zach Cheaney and Robert Young has been tough on hitters early through Fall Ball.

Catchers

   Just as important to the pitching staff, the backstops for the upcoming season return with significant experience under their belts. Stuck in a platoon for the majority of the season, sophomore Jack Monahan eventually removed the tag and guided a staff that had the second lowest ERA in the Conference through the final weeks of the season. After hitting .254 last seasons, Monahan has returned this fall with added strength after a productive summer season. Fellow classmate Kyle Evans appeared in 22 games in his freshman season and will join Monahan to handle a vast majority of the catching choirs for the upcoming year.

Infield

Familiar faces on the infield return to Red Rolfe Field in 2007, as Whalen brings back a pair of starters on the right side of the diamond along with two, more than capable, upperclassmen on the left side. Carry one of the more potent bats in the lineup, second year starter Michael Pagliarulo appeared in 32 games last season, second most among first year players. The right handed hitting Pagliarulo clubbed his fist collegiate home run against UC-Santa Barbara and made remarkable strides at first base after coming to campus primarily as a catcher.
   Without a true leadoff hitter, Whalen turned to second baseman Johnathan Santopadre and allowed a newcomer to sit atop the batting order for the majority of the season. Santopadre, a converted shortstop, was second on the team a year ago in runs (34) and walks (18) while his eight doubles were third most.
    At shortstop, the junior duo of Erik Bell and Jason McManis continue to battle for playing time while the one open spot on the infield appears to be at third base, where the team must replace Tommy Myette. The early favorites for the vacant hot corner are holdover Ray Allen and newcomer James Wren. After starting out slowly, Allen was on of the Big Green's most dangerous hitters late last year, as he hit .355 in the team's final 12 contests. A first team All-District third baseman, Wren helped his Granbury High School team to a sterling 20-10 mark with 11 extra base hits and 30 RBI's.
    Depth on the infield will be provided by newcomers Justin Cooperman, Brian Dunne and Ezra Josephson.

Outfield

   After beginning his career as a reserve player, junior Damon Wright has positioned himself as one of the more athletic players not only in Hanover, but in the League as well. Wright is coming off a solid season as the rightfielder, hitting .377 with nine extra base hits and a team leading 34 RBI's to go along with five stolen bases. After learning a new position his first two year (having come as a catcher), Wright, a 2nd Team All-Ivy Leaguer is being asked to anchor the outfield this year in center.
   Nacario will also play a giant role in the success, both offensively and defensively, of the club. Massachusetts native Jason Blydell will be a valuable left handed batter for the Big Green this season, after taking off his football cleats.
   A highly decorated player while at The Overlake School, Brett Gardner brings gaudy stats to the team.   Gardner hopes to find similar success in the Northeast after setting career records in high school for batting average (.560), hits (103), RBI's (69) doubles (31) and home runs (11). Similarly, fellow freshman Nick Santomauro was courted by a vast majority of the Ivy League, and for good reason. The left handed hitting Santomauro clubbed nine homers, drove in 77 runs and sported a .379 batting average in high school. Thomas D'Antonio is expected to spell Wright some relief in centerfield if need be, while Zach O'Donnell could see time in both the infield and outfield this season.

Schedules