I lit? Northern Division baseball schedule is set to kick off this week with any one of four teams having a chance to na!> the championship. I oacli Don Kirsch’s Ducks have won the last two years in photo finishes with Oregon State, and the Wehfoots again are sentimental favorites around Eugene. < iregon has a veteran lineup that swept Far West honors la-4 season and played (somewhat ingloriously) in the na tional tourney at < huaha. ’I he loss of star hurler Norm I'orbc.s ha> cut deeply into pitching depth, hut Duck boosters have been heartened by recent fine showings by Terry Maddox, I’cte Williams, Hill Blodgett and some sophomore hurlcrs. Beavers Claim Experience Kalph C oleman's Heavers finisher) just one game behind ( iregon in 1954 and also have a veteran lineup returning. All American Jay Dean at first (.439 in '54). Chuck Fisk f.400) at second, transfer Jerry Bettendorf at third and Hob Boub (- -4 i at short round out a potent infield. In the outfield Coley can call on Phil Jantze, Jerry Exley, Jim Rugglcs, Jim Withrow and Johnny Frederick, all heavy stickers. Catcher is Jack Stephenson. The mound staff is composed of Lowell Pearce, A1 Giu dotti, Joe Eppcrly, Lynn Mohler, Dick Wilson, Syl Johnson, Frank Weist and Merlin DeHass. Norb Wellman, wheel horse of the staff in 1954. has graduated, but Oregon State has deep, if not first-class hurling. W ilh its terrific hitting. < tSC might be figured to cop the clump pionship. Vet the Heavers have been known to blow hot and cold (sometimes called chokiifg upT. The defense, ••specially in the infield, is cpiite porous, and the pitching staff ha> > et to really prove itself. Washington Boasts Pitchers Washington, which tied for second last year (Oregon 11-3. (>SC 10-6. Washington 10-6, W SC 7-6, Idaho 2-14), is a dis tinct threat. Coach Bill Marx’ Huskies have two top-flight pitchers in Hill Reams and soph Monte Geiger. They also have the number two hitter in the league in catcher Jack Ballard (.467). But Ballard has been edged out for the catching job by >oph Jack Brady, who was batting .455 at last notice. In the outfield Washington has Bill Eakin, Dave George, Don Hill, Rod Pressey and Lou Roselli. Marx is using a two-platoon outfield this year, with Geiger, Eakin, and George batting against southpaws, and Hill, Pressey and Roselli going against righthanders. Larry Watson plays first, Harvey Jarvis second, Jack Scott shortstop and Dave McClary third. The Huskies have a lot of .300 plus hitters but haven’t been too consistent so far this year. They were silenced by Seattle Wednesday, losing a twin bill by scores of 7-2 and 2-1. Washington will have good- defense, weak to fair hitting, and top flight pitching, with Geiger as the mainstay and a good bet for most of the league's pitching honors. They open the schedule this weekend against WSC. Bailey Back at Helm Washington State will again be noted chiefly for its colorful (a mild adjective) coach. Buck Bailey. Buck’s club won four straight titles from 1947 to 1950 hut has trailed since then. WSC has a young outfit, but if the juniors and sophs should come through, they could catch the other clubs. The top pitchers are Ron Webb, Wes Stock. Jerry Bartow, and Ron Aiken. Bill Rich catches, Karl McIntosh is at first. Gordy ilershey at second, Bill Mashburn at third and Ron b'oisy at short. Outfielders are Terry Sparks, Ron Overby and Jim Ford. Only McIntosh and Sparks are seniors. Idaho has never finished higher than third in 22 seasons, and partly because of that is not considered a contender. Yet the Vandals have shown fairly well in pre-season con tests. After losing three in a row, they turned around to win their next five. Flip Kleffner, third baseman, has been pound ing the ball all spring. So in case the rain should let up and some games manage to get played, we might pick a final finish like this : 1) Oregon, 2) W ashington, 3) Oregon State, 4) Washington State, and 5) Idaho, Oregon Netfers Host Willamette In Clash Today Thr