Following an off day for a family brunch and a football game (Series Queen Peyton Baker's first), the Guilford Intrasquad World Series continues under sunny skies and seasonable temperatures on Sunday. The showers that caused a less than ideal playing surface on Friday are long gone, and a gorgeous autumn day awaits the Team Cardinal and Team Black components for today's game three.

Team Black will throw senior right-hander, and co-coach Jeff Joyce, in his long-awaited series debut. Joyce seemed to regain the consistency that made him one of Guilford's premier pitchers in each of first two years this fall, shutting out Greensboro College over five innings and earning a win in the Guilford/Greensboro fall tournament.

Joyce's mound adversary has yet to be named. Team Cardinal would like to bring game-one starter Chad Coward back on three days rest, but will make a game time decision in that regard. If Coward is unable to go, junior righty Chris (Snappy) Millsap is ready to deal his array of pitches to the, thus far silent bats of Team Black.

Expect both teams to force the issue a little more with baserunning, as neither has been able to mount a sustained attack with the bats. This may mean some lineup changes for both squads, looking for a bit more speed on the bases. Coward proved he could pitch on three days rest last spring, while Millsap has had plenty of rest. Joyce, the stoic, unflappable leader of Team Black can be very effective if consistently ahead of hitters.

-Team Cardinal must still force the action a little more, and not rely on Team Black's mistakes for their offense.

-Coward on three days or Millsap on 10 must still make quality pitches in the strike zone early in the count to be effective.

-Team Black has to eliminate the big mistake at the wrong time that plagued it in game two.

-The use of Andrew Duffy and Nate Gutridge may play an important role today; as neither will be available to start again until game six.

-Joyce is not a strikeout pitcher so defense on a fast infield will be important.

-Team Black must relocate its missing bat bag.

-Ultimately, this game will come down to which team is most ready to play, which pitchers have been doing their work between appearances, and who kept the Saturday night Homecoming celebrating to a minimum.

In what could be considered the first must game of the series, expect Team Cardinal to pitch Coward, and expect him to pitch well. If he can finish, Team Cardinal is a strong favorite. But can he? After throwing 87 pitches on Wednesday, it seems unlikely. Pete says, no shutout today, but Coward hangs around long enough to give Team Cardinal its first lead in the series.