Lions Look for Confidence in Ivy League Play

After its doubleheader on Wednesday against Hofstra (7-11), the Columbia baseball team will be done with its non-conference schedule. While the Lions certainly didn't plan on entering Ivy League play with a 4-9-1 record, they have reason to be optimistic about the upcoming Ivy League season.

As with most Ivy teams, the nonconference competition that Columbia has faced is stronger than what they can expect in the conference season. During their nonconference schedule, Columbia played a four-game series against St. Mary's California (16-8-1) and a three-game series against The Citadel (14-5). The trip ended for the Lions with a sweep by a talented Western Carolina team (13-7). Like most of the teams the Lions have played this season, the Catamounts were a talented squad with a winning record. But so far this season, Columbia is 3-1 against teams with losing records. It seems so far that the Lions are winning the games that they should win.

In addition, all of Columbia's games this season have been played on the road, and the team hasn't had the comfort of home-field advantage yet. The same was true last year, as the Light Blue played its first 16 games on the road, beginning the Ivy season with a 2-14 mark. At home, however, the Lions were a respectable 7-7. Perhaps playing in a home environment will, like last season, help ease the Lions' woes.

Moreover, unlike last season's spring break trip, the Lions have been able to stay close against their competition. Columbia has kept pace with its opponents in all but a few of its contests, with the average margin of defeat in its first 14 games at only four runs.

Columbia has the talent that is needed to turn its season around. The team is batting a solid .308 in the early going, with an on-base percentage of .386. Senior outfielder and co-captain Andrew Ward is batting .417 with a .633 slugging percentage, 2 HR and 20 RBIs through 14 games while Ron Williams, Mike Roberts, and Henry Perkins have also been playing well offensively for the Lions. The Light Blue has also been getting good bench production and pinch-hitting from catcher Thomas Stevens, who is batting .571 with 11 stolen bases, as well as production out of rookies Jason Banos and Dean Forthun. If the pitching staff can step up its level of play and lower its staff ERA of 7.29, then Columbia has a real chance to succeed in Ivy League play.

It would be best to enter Ivy League play with confidence instead of doubt and uncertainty. Columbia winning this week against Hofstra and a successful weekend against Penn would be a great way to gain momentum and set a winning foundation for the rest of the season.