Brown (2018 Record: 11-26, 6-15)
Brown has not had a winning conference record since 2009, but they hope to end that streak this season.
Returning Players
Outfielder Garett Delano is back after leading the team with a .266 average last year with 6 home runs. Another outfielder, Joe Lomuscio, is back after hitting .264 a year ago. Infielder Rich Ciufo is back after hitting .241 a year ago with a couple of home runs. Mark Sluys hit .272 in just 92 at-bats last year. Catcher Parke Phillips hit .329 in 2018 in just 79 at-bats and should give the lineup a boost this season.
Collin Garner should be back in the starting rotation after posting a 3.94 ERA in 2018 over 59.1 innings pitched with 30 strikeouts. Will Tomlinson posted a 2.91 ERA in 2018 over 43.1 innings pitched with 29 strikeouts.
Newcomers
Joshua Wilder is a two-way player who could see some time on both sides as a freshman. Ryan Kuntz is a right-handed pitcher who could see some big innings. Zach Fogell will have a chance to add some depth to the pitching staff as a lefty.
Outlook for 2019
“Our team needs to capitalize more on offensive opportunities and hold more on the defensive side of the ball. Seventeen of our losses last season came by three or fewer runs (nine 1-run games), and the difference ultimately rests in our ability to cash in when runners are on base more than we allow our opponents to do so. A confident sense of urgency when those situations arise should drastically influence the outcome this season.” – Head Coach Grant Achilles
Columbia (2018 Record: 20-30, 13-8)
Columbia was just 3-15 to start the season with a difficult schedule. But it paid off as they were ready for Ivy League play finishing second in the conference and then won the Championship.
Returning Players
Liam McGill is back to lead the offense after hitting .320 a year ago with 37 runs scored, 14 doubles, 6 home runs, and 31 RBI. Outfielder Ben Porter should be back atop the lineup after hitting .346 in just 28 games last season. First baseman Chandler Bengtson hit 10 home runs last season with 31 RBI. Joel Engel should be back at shortstop after hitting .306 in 2018 with 29 runs scored and 29 RBI.
Ben Wereski will need to step up in the weekend rotation with the departure of Harrisen Egly. Wereski had a 6.49 ERA last season in 61 innings with 52 strikeouts. Jordan Chriss made 10 starts last year with a 6.45 ERA in 53 innings pitched with 37 strikeouts. Lucas Hall is back for his senior season after leading the team with a 1.59 ERA a season ago in 22.2 innings with 32 strikeouts and 4 saves.
Outlook for 2019
With almost everyone coming back at the top of the lineup, Columbia will once again be a force in the Ivy League. They will need to replace their best starting pitcher from last year, but if the arms coming back take a step forward it could be another big year for Columbia.
Cornell (2018 Record: 14-22-1, 9-12)
Cornell finished sixth in the Ivy League last season with nine conference wins, and just 14 wins overall.
Returning Players
Third baseman Will Simoneit hit .308 last year with 2 home runs and 27 RBI. He’ll try to lead this offense in 2019.
Seth Urbon will need to step up in the weekend rotation with two key arms departed. Urbon had a 5.37 ERA in 2018 over 65.1 innings pitched with 39 strikeouts. Andrew Ellison was great out of the bullpen last year with a 2.03 ERA in 26.2 innings pitched with 26 strikeouts and 3 saves. Colby Wyatt was great out of the bullpen as well with a 3.65 ERA in 24.2 innings with 28 strikeouts and a pair of saves.
Outlook for 2019
They will have to replace almost everyone in the starting lineup, so the offense could be expected to take a step back. They will need some of their key bullpen arms from last year to possibly step into the weekend rotation.
Dartmouth (2018 Record: 17-22-1, 12-8-1)
Dartmouth finished fourth in the Ivy league last year and just missed out on a chance to play for the Ivy League Championship.
Returning Players
Outfielder Trevor Johnson was the team’s Rookie of the Year in 2017 as a freshman. He missed all but three games last season because of an injury but should be ready to go for 2019 and will have a major impact on the lineup. Shortstop Nate Ostmo hit .262 last year with 24 runs scored and 4 home runs. Coaches say he showed great bad speed and power during the fall.
Senior pitcher Cole O’Connor will lead the weekend rotation after posting a 4.50 ERA in 2018 over 70 innings pitched with 36 strikeouts. Austen Michel will be the team’s closer again after posting a 3.38 ERA last year in 45.1 innings with 35 strikeouts and 7 saves.
Newcomers
Freshman LHP Chase Jeter – superb control has him pegged for the weekend rotation as a rookie
Freshman OF Kade Kretzschmar – will get an opportunity to break into the starting lineup
Freshman IF/P Justin Murray – will push for playing time, just not sure where he will get it yet
- Notes provided by Dartmouth Athletics Department
Outlook for 2019
The coaching staff expects the team to be better defensively up the middle this season. They will need their young pitchers to step up into some big roles and perform well. The offense was solid in 2018 but should be even better this season.
Harvard (2018 Record: 22-20, 12-9)
It was a solid 2018 season for Harvard with some big wins, but they finished a win shy of competing in the Ivy League Championship series.
Returning Players
Infielder Hunter Bigge hit .273 last year with a .357 on-base percentage to go along with 29 runs scored, 4 home runs, and 22 RBI. He also performed well on the mound with a 3.03 in 29.2 innings pitched with 31 strikeouts and 3 saves. Outfielder Ben Skinner hit .325 a year ago with 32 runs scored and 17 stolen bases.
Newcomers
Harvard has eight incoming freshman who are all expected to come in and have an immediate impact on the team in 2019.
Outlook for 2019
The Crimson will have to fill a couple of big holes with Noah Zavolas and Simon Rosenblum-Larson both leaving to the MLB Draft.
Pennsylvania (2018 Record: 16-25-1, 9-11-1)
Penn took a step back in 2018 as they finished fifth in the conference with a losing a record of 9-11.
Returning Players
Eduardo Malinowski should be back to lead the lineup after hitting .347 last year with 2 home runs and 20 RBI. Outfielder Peter Matt hit .308 with a pair of long balls. Catcher Matt O’Neill is back as well after hitting 5 home runs last year. Third baseman Matt McGeagh hit .299 in 2018 with 7 home runs and 43 RBI. Sean Phelan is back at first base after hitting .293 a year ago with 5 home runs and 28 RBI.
Christian Scafidi should be back in the rotation after posting a 4.52 ERA in 61.2 innings pitched with 52 strikeouts.
Newcomers
Josh Hood has a chance to compete for playing time at shortstop, while Craig Larsen should see time on the infield as well. Tommy Courtney will get a look in the outfield.
Josh Sidney, Kevin Eaise, and Joe Miller all have a chance to earn some significant innings and add depth to the pitching staff.
Outlook for 2019
The coaching staff said they believe the pitching staff should improve this year, and the offense should be more consistent and well-rounded.
Princeton (2018 Record: 10-27, 7-14)
After winning three-of-four conference series to start the season, Princeton lost nine straight Ivy League games to end the season.
Returning Players
Outfielder Chris Davis should be back at the top of the lineup after hitting .248 in 2018 with 25 runs scored and 5 stolen bases. Third baseman Taylor Beckett hit .269 as a freshman last season and should play a key role in the offense.
Ryan Smith will try to lead the weekend rotation after posting a 6.00 ERA last season with 52 strikeouts in 48 innings pitched. Eli Kimbell was excellent out of the bullpen last year with a 2.43 ERA in 29.2 innings pitched with 38 strikeouts and 2 saves.
Newcomers
Nadir Lewis will compete for outfield time, as will Eric Marasheski in the infield after the departure of Asher Lee-Tyson (graduation).
Outlook for 2019
They will need to do a better job of limiting walks in 2019 after walking 5.42 per nine last season. Princeton will also need to improve their situational hitting after having a .217 average with runners in scoring position last year.
Yale (2018 Record: 22-21, 15-7)
Yale finished the regular season with the best record in the Ivy League, but they got swept by Columbia in the Ivy League Championship.
Returning Players
Shortstop Simon Whiteman steps up as the leader of the team in his senior season after hitting .298 last year with 31 runs scored and 31 RBI. Outfielder Teddy Hague hit .330 last season in just 91 at-bats as a freshman.
Scott Politz will lead the weekend rotation after posting a 3.07 ERA in 2018 over 88 innings with 64 strikeouts. Benny Wanger is a two-way player who hit 3 home runs last year and drove in 31, while posting a 0.90 ERA on the mound in 30 innings with 32 strikeouts and 6 saves.
Outlook for 2019
Yale led the Ivy League in fielding percentage last season at .985, and they hope to retain that level of defense in 2019. They went 7-14 in non-conference games last year but hope to do better this season with another challenging schedule.
2019 All-Ivy League Preseason Team
C: Matt O’Neill (Penn)
1B: Chandler Bengtson (Columbia)
2B: Eduardo Malinowski (Penn)
SS: Simon Whiteman (Yale)
3B: Matt McGeagh (Penn)
OF: Ben Porter (Columbia)
OF: Garett Delano (Brown)
OF: Ben Skinner (Harvard)
DH: Liam McGill (Columbia)
SP: Scott Politz (Yale)
SP: Will Tomlinson (Brown)
SP: Christian Scafidi (Penn)
SP: Cole O’Connor (Dartmouth)
SP: Collin Garner (Brown)
RP: Eli Kimbell (Princeton)
RP: Lucas Hall (Columbia)
RP: Benny Wanger (Yale)
Honorable Mention:
C – Parke Phillips (Brown)
1B – Sean Phelan (Penn)
SS – Joe Engel (Columbia)
3B – Hunter Bigge (Harvard)
3B – Will Simoneit (Cornell)
RP – Hunter Bigge (Harvard)
RP – Austen Michel (Dartmouth)
RP – Andrew Ellison (Cornell)
Predicted Order to Finish:
1. Columbia
2. Yale
3. Penn
4. Brown
5. Harvard
6. Dartmouth
7. Cornell
8. Princeton
