Army West Point Athletics
McCravey Tabbed Preseason Player of the Year
February 11, 2016 | Softball
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – With the season set to open on Friday, senior infielder Kasey McCravey has been tabbed as the Patriot League's Preseason Player of the Year, announced by the league on Thursday. McCravey was also named to the Preseason All-League team alongside sophomore utility player Emily Gray, while the team was chosen to place third this season.
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"There are a lot of great players in this league, the players now and the ones who have come through this league before," said head coach Michelle DePolo. "Kasey is unequivocally one of the top of all-time. My opinion is biased because I see her all the time, but that's also why it's valuable. You don't need to take my word for it, last year she ranked in the top three or five in every offensive category, and on the other side of the game was named the Defensive Player of the Year. What more could anyone ask for in a player?"
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McCravey, the 2015 Patriot League first team all-league selection and Defensive Player of the Year, closed out her junior season with a personal best .401 batting average. She had 69 hits with 42 runs batted in and 44 runs scored posting a .610 slugging percentage.
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The Scottsdale, Ariz., native stroked 12 doubles and eight home runs along with 28 stolen bases. The third baseman led the Black Knights offensively in 2015, posting a .401 batting average with 69 hits, including 12 doubles, eight home runs and two grand slams compiling 105 total bases for a .610 slugging percentage. McCravey ranked first in conference in hits, total bases and steals, second in slugging percentage and RBI, and was ranked 36th nationally in stolen bases and broke the school single-season record for total bases.
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McCravey enters her senior season ranked among Army's Top-10 in several categories. She is tied for first in home runs (20), second in RBI (122 – 15 shy of leader), third in batting average (.367), fourth in total bases (291), sixth in runs scored (111), seventh in hits (185) and walks (54 – 15 shy of the leader) and tied for that spot in doubles (34).
"Kasey plays and practices everyday with unprecedented passion," added DePolo. "Her instincts and decisions on the field are always correct, she is a true teammate to others, her attitude and demeanor is exemplary and she is a great leader by example. She truly deserves any honor bestowed on her, and it's nice to see people recognize the type of player she is."
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Gray, a native of Naples, Fla., played in 48 games with 41 starts to include 37 as the designated player. Batting mostly at the No. 5 spot in the lineup, Gray stroked a .277 average with 39 hits, fourth highest on the team, along with 20 runs batted in. She has seven multiple-hit games and pieced together a five-game hitting streak.
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Like McCravey, Gray's numbers against conference opponents is an impressive .358 batting average, third highest on the team with 19 hits and nine runs batted in (tied for second highest), along with a .434 slugging percentage. Gray drove in four runs going 4-for-5 and scored a run in 13-10 nightcap win over defending Patriot League champion Boston University.
After finishing fourth last season, the Patriot League coaches and sports information directors have chosen the Black Knights to place third in 2016. Army lost just three starters and returns all of its pitchers.
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"Seeing what others think at this stage is both humbling and motivating," said DePolo. "There are several great teams in our league and seven teams will only be playing 18 games apiece to determine who has the next opportunity to compete for a title. Those factors guarantee a tight finish every year, where results are often determined by tie breakers, or one game. We're determined to be the last team standing at the end."
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Lehigh tops the poll after winning its second straight conference title. The Mountain Hawks boast 72 points and 12 first-place votes, while Bucknell follows with 58 points and two first-place nods and Army ranks third with 45 points. Boston University (41), Colgate (39), Holy Cross (27) and Lafayette round-out the poll.
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The softball team's competitive schedule begins Feb. 12-14 when the team makes its 2016 debut at the Seahawk Softball Bash in Wilmington, N.C. The Cadets will face St. Francis and Eastern Kentucky for two games each, while competing against host UNC-Wilmington once in the three-day span.
For up-to-date information about Army softball, please follow @ArmyWP_Softball on Twitter.
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Preseason Player of the Year: Kasey McCravey, Army West Point
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Christine Campbell, Lehigh
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"There are a lot of great players in this league, the players now and the ones who have come through this league before," said head coach Michelle DePolo. "Kasey is unequivocally one of the top of all-time. My opinion is biased because I see her all the time, but that's also why it's valuable. You don't need to take my word for it, last year she ranked in the top three or five in every offensive category, and on the other side of the game was named the Defensive Player of the Year. What more could anyone ask for in a player?"
Â
McCravey, the 2015 Patriot League first team all-league selection and Defensive Player of the Year, closed out her junior season with a personal best .401 batting average. She had 69 hits with 42 runs batted in and 44 runs scored posting a .610 slugging percentage.
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The Scottsdale, Ariz., native stroked 12 doubles and eight home runs along with 28 stolen bases. The third baseman led the Black Knights offensively in 2015, posting a .401 batting average with 69 hits, including 12 doubles, eight home runs and two grand slams compiling 105 total bases for a .610 slugging percentage. McCravey ranked first in conference in hits, total bases and steals, second in slugging percentage and RBI, and was ranked 36th nationally in stolen bases and broke the school single-season record for total bases.
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McCravey enters her senior season ranked among Army's Top-10 in several categories. She is tied for first in home runs (20), second in RBI (122 – 15 shy of leader), third in batting average (.367), fourth in total bases (291), sixth in runs scored (111), seventh in hits (185) and walks (54 – 15 shy of the leader) and tied for that spot in doubles (34).
"Kasey plays and practices everyday with unprecedented passion," added DePolo. "Her instincts and decisions on the field are always correct, she is a true teammate to others, her attitude and demeanor is exemplary and she is a great leader by example. She truly deserves any honor bestowed on her, and it's nice to see people recognize the type of player she is."
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Gray, a native of Naples, Fla., played in 48 games with 41 starts to include 37 as the designated player. Batting mostly at the No. 5 spot in the lineup, Gray stroked a .277 average with 39 hits, fourth highest on the team, along with 20 runs batted in. She has seven multiple-hit games and pieced together a five-game hitting streak.
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Like McCravey, Gray's numbers against conference opponents is an impressive .358 batting average, third highest on the team with 19 hits and nine runs batted in (tied for second highest), along with a .434 slugging percentage. Gray drove in four runs going 4-for-5 and scored a run in 13-10 nightcap win over defending Patriot League champion Boston University.
After finishing fourth last season, the Patriot League coaches and sports information directors have chosen the Black Knights to place third in 2016. Army lost just three starters and returns all of its pitchers.
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"Seeing what others think at this stage is both humbling and motivating," said DePolo. "There are several great teams in our league and seven teams will only be playing 18 games apiece to determine who has the next opportunity to compete for a title. Those factors guarantee a tight finish every year, where results are often determined by tie breakers, or one game. We're determined to be the last team standing at the end."
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Lehigh tops the poll after winning its second straight conference title. The Mountain Hawks boast 72 points and 12 first-place votes, while Bucknell follows with 58 points and two first-place nods and Army ranks third with 45 points. Boston University (41), Colgate (39), Holy Cross (27) and Lafayette round-out the poll.
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The softball team's competitive schedule begins Feb. 12-14 when the team makes its 2016 debut at the Seahawk Softball Bash in Wilmington, N.C. The Cadets will face St. Francis and Eastern Kentucky for two games each, while competing against host UNC-Wilmington once in the three-day span.
For up-to-date information about Army softball, please follow @ArmyWP_Softball on Twitter.
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Preseason Player of the Year: Kasey McCravey, Army West Point
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Christine Campbell, Lehigh
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| Preseason All-League (12) | Preseason Poll (first-place votes) |
| Kasey McCravey, Army West Point | Lehigh (12), 72 points |
| Alexis Watanabe, Lehigh | Bucknell (2), 58 points |
| Mariel Schlaefer, Colgate | Army West Point, 45 points |
| Morgan Decker, Lehigh | Boston University, 41 points |
| Christine Campbell, Lehigh | Colgate, 39 points |
| Moriah Connolly, Boston U. | Holy Cross, 27 points |
| Emily Jarvis, Holy Cross | Lafayette, 12 points |
| Amanda Fazio, Bucknell | |
| Nicole Yozzo, Lehigh | |
| Brigit Ieuter, Colgate | |
| Taylor Moss, Holy Cross | |
| Emily Gray, Army West Point | |
| Jacee Almond, Bucknell | |
| Due to a tie in voting, the preseason team is made of 13 players |
Players Mentioned
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