Sports

Brian Rowe | Calls the Shots

Asking others whom they consider to be the best pitcher in the National League is like asking them their favorite fruit: It changes every few minutes, you can't really argue with them because they're all so good and as soon as they mention one you hadn't thought of, you find yourself nodding and convincing yourself that the newest name is the right answer. I like blueberries and Cole Hamels, you like strawberries and Chris Carpenter; potato−potahto. There are at least four or five good choices, some better in the first half (first bite of a good peach), some better towards the end (last bite of a good banana), and some good the whole season (Grapes. Are these ever out of season?).

Baseball | Jumbos dive headfirst into spring trip games

John Casey isn't sure how one of the baseball team's longest−standing traditions began; it's happened for so many years now that the origins are hazy for the coach, who is now beginning his 28th season with the Jumbos. The event occurs annually — that much is certain — just outside the Best Western Ocean Front in late March, beyond the grainy sand and razor−sharp shells of Virginia Beach and beneath the backdrop of the setting sun.

Baseball | Jumbos have rare opportunity to repeat as NESCAC champions

The baseball team won a program record 34 games last year, took home the NESCAC championship and needed just one more victory to clinch a trip to the Div. III College World Series. But, as any member of this year's squad will attest, a frustrating defeat in the New England Regional championship game left a sour taste in the Jumbos' mouths.

Sailing | With 2010 behind them, sailors aim to have similar success in the spring

Ranked as high as No. 9 in the country last fall, the sailing team is focused on one thing this spring: a return to Nationals, where early last summer the team finished in an impressive 10th place. And with two weekends of regattas under their belt and high expectations to fulfill, the No. 15 Jumbos are ready to kick it into high gear as the season heats up.

Softball | Jumbo changes: Team looks to fill Sullivan's place

With just four days remaining until the softball team opens its season in Clermont, Fla. against Plymouth State, the lineup is still not set in stone. The Jumbos continue to search for the right plug to fill the gaping hole left by the graduation of shortstop Casey Sullivan (LA '10) at the end of last season.

Men's Tennis | Jumbos look to regain top form this season

Last year, the men's tennis team endured a difficult finish, barely missing the NESCAC Championships when it finished in seventh place with a 7−8 record (3−5 NESCAC). This year, the Jumbos are determined to get over the hump and make it to the postseason with the help of some young talent and a spring break training trip.

Women's Tennis | Team to improve upon record; Browne to defend national title

The No. 10 Jumbos head into the spring season with 13 players on their roster, including five freshmen, the biggest team in recent years.

Softball | Jumbos head south to kick off 2011 season

After missing the NCAA Tournament last year, the softball team is eager to earn an invitation to the Big Dance this time around. The Jumbos hope to start strong when they travel down to Clermont, Fla. for the annual NTC Spring Games during spring break.

Alex Prewitt | Live from Mudville

The sports world is in turmoil; that much is certain. Cappie Pondexter is busy being an insensitive idiot on Twitter, the NFL is officially locked out and I'm now unable to embark on a light jog in the nude.

Ethan Sturm | Rules of the Game

Here at Rules of the Game, we aren't limited to simply analyzing rules. We can also create some of our own. So for the first time in Rules of the Game history, I am adding a rule to sports fandom:

Men's Track & Field | Connor Rose and Jeff Marvel finish 10th and 12th nationally

In their first appearance on the national stage, junior Connor Rose and sophomore Jeff Marvel both had their eyes set on All−American honors in the 800−meter run this weekend at the Div. III NCAA Track and Field Championships. But despite strong performances from both, the pair came up short.

Men's Lacrosse | As coach of foes, Crosby balances emotions, allegiance

When you spend the vast majority of your four years of college eating, sleeping, training, traveling, playing and winning NESCAC and national championships with a team, you tend to grow fond of it.

Women's Lacrosse | New season, new result

The women's lacrosse team on Saturday made it clear that it has turned the page on the 2010 season, defeating Amherst 14−13 at Gooding Field, where just 10 months earlier they lost in the NESCAC quarterfinals.

Women's Lacrosse | Breaking tradition, freshman Gabby Horner stars in debut

For any freshman, it's a difficult task to join a team with a lot of upperclassmen starters and immediately break into the lineup. With older, more experienced players ahead in the rotation, many freshmen end up waiting a season or two on the sideline until they have the skills and the awareness necessary to compete at the required level.

Men's Track and Field | Strategy will play key role at NCAAs

Sophomore Jeff Marvel and junior Connor Rose will compete today and tomorrow at the Div. III NCAA Championships hosted by Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, hoping to return to Tufts will their first All-American honors.

Women's Lacrosse | Tufts looks to avenge last year's NESCAC tourney defeat

Inside Cycling | Riders, governing organization in stalemate over radio ban

The use of technology in sports is nothing new, and neither is the controversy surrounding it. Instant replay in baseball, for instance, has been as hotly debated as anything else in sports of late. The inadequacy of referees in the 2010 FIFA World Cup sparked more than a few calls for the use of technological assistance, at least for goal-scoring decisions. In cycling, the great technology debate is about the use of race radios.

Inside the NBA | Sorting out the contenders and pretenders

With the NBA regular season winding down, it is time to check out the playoff races with long-overdue Power Rankings. Here, the Daily breaks down the contenders and pretenders of each conference, along with two sleeper teams that could make serious noise during the upcoming playoffs.

David McIntyre | The Beautiful Game

Unlike in the last few years, a legitimate title race has begun to shape up in the English Premier League, with Manchester United looking to hang onto the top spot and ride the challenges of Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea.

Inside the NHL | Once again, Bruins look strong for playoffs

There are 82 games in the NHL regular season, a grueling process filled with its own unique ups and downs. Injuries and illnesses, winning and losing streaks, long road trips — it is quite an accomplishment just to make it to the end of a season.