Princeton University

IVY LEAGUE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT TICKETS HERE

UPDATE – First Pitch Of Ivy Softball Tournament Is Now 10 AM Today

The low temperature in Princeton yesterday was 57, with a high of 74.

There was bright sunshine throughout the day with only a very slight wind and no humidity. In other words, or word, it was perfect.

TigerBlog’s question is this: Would he ever get tired of having the weather be this way every day? Wasn’t that the whole point of the 18th century novel “Candide?”

“Even in those cities which seem to enjoy the blessings of peace, and where the arts flourish, the inhabitants are devoured by envy, cares and anxieties, which are greater plagues than any experienced in a town when it is under siege.”                       

Oh well. All is for the best in this best of all possible worlds, right? 

Is that too deep for your Thursday? 

Hopefully the weather will cooperate for the next few days at least so that the Ivy League softball tournament can go off as planned. First pitch in the four-team, double-elimination event is today at 10 am between top-seeded Princeton and fourth-seeded Brown, followed by No. 2 Harvard and No. 3 Columbia. 

This will be the third Ivy League softball tournament, all of which have been hosted by Princeton. The venue will be different this time, though, as the brand-new and beautiful Cynthia Paul Field will be the tournament site. 

It couldn’t be at a more perfect spot. The Meadows Campus is a great setting, and the new softball facility will be glistening with its comfortable orange seats, perfect views and welcoming concourse. 

Of course, these teams would play in a dirt and grass sandlot somewhere if it offered the prize that this tournament does. For the winner, there will be a ticket to the NCAA tournament. 

If you recall, Princeton won this event last year and then made some noise in the NCAA regional, defeating Ole Miss and almost knocking off host Louisiana-Lafayette.

Princeton went 17-4 in the Ivy League to win the championship, something that won’t change in the tournament. Regardless of who wins, Princeton will be the official Ivy champion for 2025.

Princeton swept Harvard, took two of three from Brown (last week) and lost two of three to Columbia during the regular season. Brown is making its first appearance in the Ivy postseason, either the tournament or its league championship series that preceded it. 

As the tournament begins, Princeton brings with it some gaudy statistics. This is from TB’s colleague Andrew Borders, whose pre-tournament story can be read HERE:

In Ivy League games, Princeton had the best ERA in the league, at 2.13 and ahead of Harvard’s 2.92, Brown’s 2.97 and Columbia’s 3.94, with the top four teams in the league in that stat all having made the Ivy tournament. Princeton’s .325 BA is third in Ivy games, behind Harvard (.333) and Columbia (.328) with Brown fifth (.293). Princeton led the Ivy in fielding percentage in Ivy games, at .983 and ahead of Columbia’s second-best .980. Princeton also led the league in Ivy games in slugging percentage (.508), on-base percentage (.425), runs scored (133), RBI (130), walks (92), opponent batting average (.211), batters struck out (123), fewest hits allowed (111), fewest runs allowed (46), and fewest homers allowed (six). 

Princeton’s 245 runs scored this season are the most for the program since 1996, when Princeton scored 284 runs. The program record is 402, set in 1995. Princeton’s .313 BA would be the best season-ending batting average since 1996, when Princeton hit .316. The program record there is .341, set in 1995. Princeton’s 15 triples this season are the most since a program-record 27 in 1995. The team’s 41 homers this season are tied for the second-most in program history with Lisa Van Ackeren’s first team, which hit 41 in 2013. The only team that hit more was the 2008 team, which hit 55. The team’s 236 RBI this season are the third-most in program history, behind only the 1995 team’s 328 and the 1988 team’s 246. 

As TigerBlog said, first pitch is at noon today. There will be three games tomorrow.

Last pitch will hopefully be Saturday.