Historic rivalries are a major aspect of sports. In Major League Baseball, the Red Sox and Yankees battle it out every year. In college football, Ohio State vs. Michigan is one of the many important rivalry games, and in Division III baseball, the Little IIIs are one of the most heated rivalries. The men's baseball team plays its first Little III games of the year this weekend against NESCAC rival Wesleyan University. Last year the Cardinals clinched the Little III title with a win on the Jeffs' own Memorial Field, and this year the Jeffs look to return the favor. The Jeffs and Cardinals are currently on different trajectories. After starting the season slowly, the Jeffs have upped their record to 9-7 after a two-game sweep of Colby College last Saturday. Jeff Leduc '02 led the Jeffs to the win in the first game, pitching a complete game in the Jeffs' '3-2 win. In the second game, it was the Jeffs' offense that broke out as they outscored the White Mules 12-2 and pounded out 17 hits. Ryan Whitmarsh '01 continues to lead the Jeffs on offense, batting .439 with three home runs, 14 RBIs and 14 runs scored. The Cardinals are 13-7-1, but last weekend they fell behind in the race for the Little III title. Williams College took two out of three from Wesleyan, and the Cardinals will have to win the series against the Jeffs in order to have any chance of taking the coveted title. Leading the way for the Cardinals this spring are senior outfielder Winsor Schmidt and junior pitcher Will James. Schmidt has run up a .414 batting average in 20 games, while James has a record of 3-1 with a 2.20 ERA in nine appearances.