Army West Point Athletics
Saturday, March 13 - The Sunny Skies Of Florida, Finally
March 13, 2010 | General
I'm currently on the baseball team's bus heading to Lakeland for Army's game against Long Island at Henley Field. It's really my first official day back with the baseball program since the regional showing in Austin last June. Due to other responsibilities within the department, I cannot spend much time with the team during the fall and early winter months, but I am usually able to rejoin the club for its spring trip to Florida, and today is my first day back. It's always fun to return to this group. It's a great bunch to be around and I am always impressed with the manner in which they represent West Point (but the same can be said for all of our athletic programs).
The widespread rain in Florida wreaked havoc with pro and college baseball schedules all over the state, forcing a host of cancellations yesterday. Army was not spared the maneuvering with the second game of today's scheduled split doubleheader falling victim to the weather. Because of the large number of rainouts and a small number of fields available for play today, the Black Knights were forced to cancel their late-afternoon game against Akron. But intent on not losing a game while in Florida, head coach Joe Sottolano scrambled on Friday evening and found a replacement. While he could have landed several less talented opponents for a game on Monday, Joe went after one of the biggest fish he could find, in fact he landed a Gator, over 30 of them, to be exact. Army will be taking on eighth-ranked Florida, Monday night at McKethan Field in Gainesville. Anyone who knows Joe's personality should not be surprised by his decision to test his team in the most challenging manner possible.
It should be a great environment in which his team to play. The last time Army visited Gainesville, the Black Knights defeated Florida 9-5 in March 2004. With 23rd-ranked Ohio State lurking on the schedule to end the week and defending Ohio Valley Conference regular-season champion on tap Tuesday, Army's Florida schedule appears as difficult as usual.
It may be spring break around West Point, but there remains plenty of things for Army fans to chew on this weekend. In addition to the baseball team's full schedule in Florida, the hockey team looks to stave off elimination from the Atlantic Hockey Association playoffs this evening against Air Force in Colorado Springs (after Air Force's 3-0 win last night), the lacrosse squad also battles Air Force this afternoon in the teams' first ever matchup at the Air Force Academy, the rifle team continues action at the NCAA tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, following its sixth-place finish in smallbore yesterday and the softball team will begin its Florida schedule on Monday.
Well, the bus is closing hard on Lakeland and I need to get this blog posted quickly to strengthen my case before the Judge. I'll plead for leniency and hope for the best.
Until next time, be well and GO ARMY!!!
