Despite ominous skies and the threat of rain, the First Annual Guilford College Intrasquad World Series is set to begin today at 3:05 EDT. Team Cardinal has tabbed first-round draft pick Chad Coward as its game-one starter. Coaches Jason Davis and Bryan Probst will play their trump card early in hopes of gaining the upper hand in the best of seven series. Coward comes off a spring season in which he was 7-6, but led the Quakers in ERA at 3.78 runs per game, and has, at times, been dominating this fall. Consistently clocked in the upper 80's, Coward was indignant at the previous notice, which stated his reliance on only three pitches. "Coach, I have four pitches," is how he phrased it, in a voice loud enough to imply an attempt at intimidation of Team Black.

Team Black counters with junior right-hander, Tim Lucason. Lucason was third on the team with 2 wins last spring, but improved steadily, and was an important part of the mound crew's effectiveness in the 1998 ODAC tournament. Unlike Coward, Lucason employs a myriad of off-speed pitches, including both a straight change and a "have mercy" curve ball. Most effective in big ball parks, due to his tendency to record fly-ball outs, Lucason will be benefited by the heavy air and use of wood bats in the series, but may be hampered by a less than speedy outfield.

Team Cardinal must get strong pitching from Coward - he wasn't drafted first to lose the opener. Cardinal must be patient against the assortment of slop offered up by Lucason.

Lucason must keep the fly balls within reach of his somewhat speed-challenged outfielders, and Team Black hitters must take advantage of every opportunity to score afforded them by Coward.

On the surface, Coward's presence might seem to make Team Cardinal a solid favorite, but field and weather conditions may be the great equalizer. Defense on the infield should be more difficult than defense in the outfield, so the team that can put the ball in play and on the ground should have a decided advantage - a difficult assignment against Lucason. Offensively, a wet track should negate Team Cardinal's speed on the bases. This has all the makings of a 1-0 extra innings affair.