Army West Point Athletics
Army Hosts Bucknell In Semifinal Series
May 14, 2010 | Baseball
THE STORYLINE: For the sixth time in seven years, and 10th time in history, Army will participate in the Patriot League Tournament. The top-seeded Black Knights captured their sixth regular season Patriot League championship (and fifth in seven years) by authoring a 16-4 conference mark and will host at least a portion of the Patriot League Tournament for the sixth time. Seeded second after garnering a share of the conference's regular-season title last spring, Army captured its fifth Patriot League championship by defeating Holy Cross and Lafayette in a pair of Patriot League Tournament best-of-three series played at Doubleday Field. The Black Knights also claimed the Patriot League's regular season championship and No. 1 tourney seed in both 2004 and 2005, and served as conference tourney host in 1997. Under a revamped Patriot League Tournament format introduced in 2008, two best-of-three semifinal series will be held this weekend at the sites of the top two seeds. The winners of the semifinal series will advance to next weekend's Patriot League Championship Series at the home of the highest remaining seed. After falling to Holy Cross 19-1 in its 2010 Patriot League debut, Army reeled off 16 wins in its final 19 conference tilts to earn its latest regular-season championship. Plagued by injuries throughout the season, the Black Knights enter this weekend's Patriot League Tournament Semifinal Series against Bucknell having won 21 of their last 28 games (and 13 of 17) overall. Army will face a talented Bison team that features Patriot League Player of the Year Andrew Brouse. Like Army, the Bison placed four players on the Patriot League's first team all-star unit with 1B Doug Shribman, 2B Ben Yoder and C B.J. LaRosa joining Brouse on the list. Three of those four players are seniors. Army, meanwhile, boasts the Patriot League's Pitcher of the Year in Matt Fouch, as well as first team All-Patriot League honorees SS Clint Moore, OF Ben Koenigsfeld and RP Kevin McKague. The teams closed out their respective Patriot League slates with a four-game series at West Point two weeks ago with Army winning three of those games. Fouch dropped a 1-0 verdict to Bucknell SP Dylan Seeley for the Black Knights' lone series loss.
NEW FORMAT: The Patriot League adopted a new format for its postseason baseball tournament in 2008 after utilizing a three-team tourney format the previous 12 years. In the previous format, the second- and third-place teams squared off in an Elimination Game for the right to face the regular-season champion in the best-of-three Patriot League Championship Series. Under the revamped guidelines, the Patriot League Tournament takes place over two weekends and consists of two best-of-three, semifinal series. The winners of the semifinal series advance to meet in the best-of-three Patriot League Championship Series at the home of the highest remaining seed. Army captured four Patriot League Tournament titles utilizing the previous format, which greatly benefitted the conference's regular-season champion. The Black Knights entered the Patriot League Tournament as regular-season champions on three of those occasions (1997, 2004, 2005). Army captured the 2000 tourney title as the conference's No. 3 seed. As the top seeds in 2008, the Black Knights were eliminated in the semifinals by Bucknell, dropping a riveting 1-0 verdict in the third and deciding contest. The second-seeded Black Knights claimed their fifth Patriot League crown last spring, winning the title on their home field after top-seeded Bucknell was upset by fourth-seeded Lafayette in the semifinals. Army defeated Holy Cross two games to one in the semifinal round, then swept past Lafayette in the Patriot League Championship Series.
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS:
Saturday's probable starting pitchers are below:
Game 1
Army -- LHP Matt Fouch (6-2, 2.66 ERA)
Bucknell -- RHP Trey Frahler (4-5, 6.75 ERA)
Game 2
Army -- RHP Ben Koenigsfeld (3-2, 4.81 ERA)
Bucknell -- RHP Dylan Seeley (5-3, 3.47 ERA)
DEJA VU?: Army entered the Patriot League Tournament as regular-season champion five times previously (1997, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009) and captured the tourney title on four of those occasions. The Black Knights, who have earned five Patriot League tourney titles overall, defeated Bucknell for the title in 1997 (at West Point), Navy in 2000 (in Annapolis), Lafayette in 2004 (at West Point), Lehigh in 2005 (at West Point) and Lafayette in 2009 (at West Point). While Army swept Navy (2000), Lafayette (2004, 2009) and Lehigh (2005) in two games to claim conference tourney titles, the Army-Bucknell matchup in 1997 ranks as one of the most memorable Patriot League Championship Series in conference history. The Black Knights prevailed two games to one in a three-game series at Doubleday Field that produced a combined total of 62 runs and 70 base hits over the course of 27 innings.
THE SERIES: Army holds a 55-37 advantage in its all-time series versus Bucknell. The pairing stands as one of the Black Knights' longest-running series, dating back to 1910. Since joining the Patriot League in 1993, the Black Knights enjoy a 43-33 series advantage against the Bison. The teams have split eight previous Patriot League Tournament engagements. Army and Bucknell have squared off once previously in the Patriot League Championship Series, with Army defeating Bucknell two games to one for the title in 1997. The Bison eliminated the Black Knights in a Patriot League Tournament Semifinal Series in 2008, winning two games to one at Doubleday Field in the first year of the Patriot League's revamped tournament format.
THIS YEAR'S MEETINGS: May 1-2, 2010, at West Point, N.Y. -- Army defeated Bucknell three times in the teams' four game regular season Patriot League series. For recaps and box scores of those games please see the season review section of these notes.
RUNS AT A PREMIUM: When Army squared off against Bucknell two weeks ago at Doubleday Field, offense was tough to come by for both teams. A steady breeze blowing in from right field throughout the weekend and solid pitching by both teams led to four crisply played contests. Army swept the first two games on Saturday, winning by the scores of 4-0 and 5-3. Matt Fouch and Dylan Seeley hooked up in a pitcher's duel in game three with Bucknell prevailing 1-0. The difference in that game was a solo home run by Doug Shribman in the fourth inning. Army rebounded for a 3-2 victory in the series finale. For the weekend, Army mustered 12 runs, while Bucknell pushed across only six.
PL TOURNEY HISTORY: Army has appeared in the Patriot League Tournament nine times previously, drawing postseason berths in 1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Five of those showings took place at West Point's Doubleday Field, three at Max Bishop Stadium in Annapolis, Md., and one at Class of 1978 Stadium in Easton, Pa. The Black Knights captured Patriot League Tournament titles in 1997, 2000, 2004, 2005 and 2009. Army hosted the Patriot League Tournament in 1997 and defeated Bucknell in a three-game championship series en route to its first Patriot crown. Army claimed its second Patriot League Tournament championship in 2000, winning the title as the league's No. 3 seed in Annapolis. The Black Knights garnered their third and fourth Patriot titles in 2004 and 2005, sweeping Lafayette and Lehigh, respectively, in both championship series held at Doubleday Field. Army claimed its most recent Patriot League crown last spring, defeating Holy Cross (2-1) in a best-of-three Patriot League Tournament Semifinal Series before sweeping two games from Lafayette in the Patriot League Championship Series. All five of those contests were played at Doubleday Field. The Black Knights stand 15-9 all-time in Patriot League Tournament play and 11-4 in Patriot League Tournament games played at West Point's Doubleday Field.
ARMY-BUCKNELL POSTSEASON HISTORY: Army and Bucknell have squared off in the Patriot League Tournament on four previous occasions. The No. 1 seeded Black Knights defeated the No. 2-seeded Bison 2-1 in the 1997 Patriot League Championship Series en route to their first conference title. The teams met again the following year in the Patriot League Tournament Elimination Game in Annapolis. No. 2 seed Bucknell handed No. 3 seed Army a 9-1 setback in that contest, ending the Black Knights' hopes for a championship repeat. Third-seeded Army returned the favor against second-seeded Bucknell in the 2000 Patriot League Tournament Elimination Game in Annapolis, ending the Bison's season in upset fashion. The teams' most recent Patriot League Tournament pairing dates back to 2008 when the Bison advanced to the Patriot League Championship Series by slipping past Army two games to one in a PLT Semifinal Series matchup at Doubleday Field. Bucknell prevailed 1-0 in a tightly played third-and-deciding game that year. Overall, Army is 4-4 versus Bucknell in Patriot tourney play.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: In 12 years that the Patriot League utilized its previous tournament format, the No. 1 seed and home team captured the league title on nine occasions. No. 2 seeds Navy and Bucknell garnered league titles in 1999 and 2001, respectively, while Army fought its way to a road championship in 2000 as the No. 3 seed. It marked the only time in league history that a No. 3 seed stormed to a Patriot League championship under that format. Ironically, all three instances where a home team did not prevail in the league tourney under the old format took place in successive years (1999 through 2001). Using a new playoff format in 2008, fourth-seeded Bucknell defeated second-seeded Navy in the Patriot League Championship Series held in Annapolis, Md. Army captured the Patriot League championship last spring as the No. 2 seed, winning four games on its home field. The Patriot League has utilized three different postseason formats in its history.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Army has excelled during postseason play in games played at West Point's Doubleday Field. The Black Knights have won 11 of 15 Patriot League Tournament showings that have taken place on their home field. Prior to 2008, Army's only postseason loss at Doubleday Field in Patriot League Tournament play dated back to 1997 when Bucknell slipped past the Black Knights 6-5 in Game Two of the Patriot League Championship Series.
ALL-LEAGUE HONORS: The Army baseball team continued a pattern of strong representation on the All-Patriot League squad earlier this week when it was announced that four Black Knights were named to the conference's first team all-star unit. Senior SP pitcher Matt Fouch, junior RP Kevin McKague, junior SS Clint Moore and junior OF Ben Koenigsfeld were all named to the All-Patriot League First Team, a group that was instrumental in Army claiming its fifth regular season conference crown in seven years. Please see the release at end of these notes for more details.
MAJOR AWARDS: Army players received a pair of accolades this week as the conference announced its four major individual awards. Black Knights walked off with two of those four honors. While Matt Fouch was named Patriot League Pitcher of the Year, Ben Koenigsfeld, who sports a 3.55 cumulative grade-point average majoring in American Law and Legal Systems, was named Patriot League Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. It marks the second straight year and third time in four years that an Army player has garnered Patriot League Pitcher of the Year honors (Koenigsfeld was recognized last year and Nick Hill in 2007). It also marked a league-leading eighth time an Army player has copped the league's pitcher of the year laurels. Koenigsfeld's citing marks the second year in a row (Tyler Anderegg was named last year) and sixth time overall that an Army player has been named Patriot League Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Please see releases for both award winners at the end of these notes.
ON THE HILL: For the seventh consecutive year, at least one Army starting pitcher (Matt Fouch) was named to the Patriot League's first team all-star unit, continuing a pattern of mound dominance for the Black Knights. Army starting hurlers have claimed nine first-team spots during that stretch. Black Knight starters have garnered four second team all-league citings during that same period, pushing the total number of all-league honors accrued by Army starting pitchers over the last seven years to 13. Black Knight relievers have added six all-league citations in that span, including one first-team honor each of the past two years. Army closer Kevin McKague earned first team All-Patriot League laurels this season.
WE ARE THE CHAMPS!: Army garnered its fifth regular season Patriot League championship in seven years earlier this month. After falling to Holy Cross 19-1 in its 2010 Patriot League debut, Army reeled off 16 wins in its final 19 conference tilts to earn its latest regular-season championship. Plagued by injuries throughout the season, the Black Knights enter this weekend's Patriot League Tournament Semifinal Series against Bucknell having won 21 of their last 28 games (and 13 of 17) overall.
PLAYOFF PICTURE: Army will serve as the No. 1 seed in the Patriot League Tournament, hosting this weekend's semifinal series and the Patriot League Championship Series should the Black Knights advance past Bucknell. In gaining its sixth Patriot League Tournament berth in seven years, Army earned its 10th conference tourney bid overall. Under the Patriot League's revamped postseason tournament format (introduced in 2008), Army will face fourth-seeded Bucknell in one of two Patriot League Tournament best-of-three semifinal series at Doubleday Field this weekend. The winner of that matchup will advance to the Patriot League Championship Series the following weekend against either No. 2 seed Lehigh or No. 3 seed Holy Cross at the home of the highest remaining seed. Lehigh and Holy Cross will square off in the Patriot League Tournament's other best-of-three semifinal series in Bethlehem, Pa., this weekend. The winner of the best-of-three Patriot League Championship Series will capture the conference's automatic berth in the NCAA Regionals. The Black Knights earned the right to host a Patriot League Tournament Semifinal Series (and the Patriot League Championship Series, if still alive) by virtue of capturing their fifth regular season Patriot League title in seven years.
SCOUTING ARMY: The Black Knights carry a 27-15 overall record into the Patriot League Tournament Semifinal Series. Army has won 13 of its last 17 games and 21 of 28 overall, clinching its third consecutive regular season Patriot League championship. The Black Knights, who are the defending Patriot League champions, have captured at least a share of the conference's regular-season crown in five of the past seven years. While Army returns six everyday positional starters and 10 of its top 11 pitchers from last year's record-setting club, the Black Knights have been beset by injuries since the opening day of the season. They were still able to push their overall record 10 games above .500 for the first time this season with a twinbill sweep of the Lafayette in late April. The Black Knights boast a .299 team batting average and team earned run average of 4.00. But the story has centered around the Black Knights' ability to survive an uncommon rash of injuries with Army unable to field its projected starting lineup since its season-opening defeat of Dayton. Starting 3B Steve May suffered a shoulder injury during the third inning of Army's season opener, igniting a sequence that saw Army lose the services of positional starters May (10), Kevin McKague (2), Shaun Wixted (19), Joey Henshaw (12) and Ben Koenigsfeld (5) for extended periods this season. Those players alone have combined to miss 48 game starts this spring due to injury. Additionally, pitchers Kyle Brueggemann, Manny Fernandez, Ben Koenigsfeld, Kirk Porter, McKague and Henshaw have all missed mound time due to various ailments. The Black Knights have been without their projected weekend pitching rotation since the first Patriot League weekend of the season. In fact, Koenigsfeld, last season's Patriot League Pitcher of the Year, and Porter missed three weekend starts apiece, leaving Army without one-half of its projected conference rotation much of the season. May, a seldom-used reserve during his first two seasons at West Point, tops the team with a .364 batting average. Clint Moore, who struggled at the plate during much of the season, still tops the team in runs scored (31), while standing second in home runs (6) and runs batted in (31). Zach Price, the catalyst atop Army's batting order out of the leadoff spot, is also enjoying a resurgence following an extremely slow start to his sophomore campaign. Price has raised his seasonal batting average 72 points in the last 20 games. He is batting .346 with 12 runs scored and 12 RBI during that stretch. Not surprisingly, Army is 15-5 in those games. Through it all, the Black Knights' pitchers have excelled, topping the Patriot League with a 4.00 earned run average to rank 22nd nationally. Weekend starters Matt Fouch (6-2), Steve Cummings (5-1) and Logan Lee (4-1) have combined to post a 15-4 mark. Lee and Cummings have been solid all season, while Fouch was a unanimous choice for Patriot League Pitcher of the Year honors by the conference's head coaches.
SINKING THE MIDS: Army continued its recent domination of arch-rival Navy in April, winning three of four games versus the Midshipmen in Annapolis, Md., to claim its seventh straight outright series "star." The Black Knights have captured 24 of the last 29 contests against the Midshipmen over the past seven years (and 23 of 27). Army swept four games from Navy in 2008, took three of four regular-season meetings with the Mids in 2007, then dismissed Navy from the Patriot League Tournament with a 5-3 victory in the PLT Elimination Game. Navy's last series win dates back to 2003, when the Mids nabbed three of four verdicts from the Black Knights. Since that time, Army registered its first four-game sweep of Navy in 2005, its first four-game sweep in Annapolis (2008), and captured three of four regular season series pairings in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010. The Black Knights ended the Mids' season in the Patriot League tourney in 2007.
SOTTOLANO VERSUS NAVY: Army head coach Joe Sottolano has experienced a great deal of success coaching against West Point's chief rival. Since grabbing the reins as Army's head coach in 2000, Sottolano sports a 30-15 coaching mark (.667) versus Navy. Army has captured 24 of the last 29 matchups against the Mids, winning seven straight series "stars" outright. Navy last won a series opposite Army in 2003. The Black Knights have dropped just two season series to Navy during Sottolano's 11 years at the Black Knight helm. Army is 7-2-2 in season series against their arch rivals during Sottolano's tenure, capturing "stars" outright in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. The Black Knights earned series splits against Navy in both 2000 and 2001.
AMONG THE BEST: The Army-Navy rivalry is widely viewed as one of the most storied matchups in all of sports. Baseball America recently weighed in with its sentiments, listing Army-Navy as the No. 1 rivalry in the North Region.
BEST EVER: While Army fell three wins shy of the single season school record last season, the 2009 Black Knights can stake a valid claim as the most successful team in school history. By virtue of posting wins over second-seeded Texas State and No. 3 seed Boston College, Army reached the Austin Regional Final, marking a first in school history. The Black Knights finished 36-21 overall last season and established or tied 67 school and Patriot League records. Army returns six everyday positional starters and 10 of its top 11 pitchers from that squad this season.
TEXAS TWO-STEP: For the first time in school history, Army posted two victories during NCAA Regional play last spring. Seeded fourth at the Austin Regional, Army suffered a hard-fought 3-1 loss to No. 1 national seed Texas in an opening-round matchup before stunning both second-seeded Texas State and third-seeded Boston College en route to a rematch with Texas in the Austin Regional Final. The Black Knights carried a 10-6 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning of that contest and found themselves three outs away from a second "championship" clash with the Longhorns that would have sent the winner to Super Regionals. But a weary Army pitching staff tired late and Texas prevailed 14-10, ending the Black Knights' Cinderella run.
ALL-REGIONAL: For the first time in their four NCAA Tournament appearances, the Black Knights saw more than one of their squad members selected to the all-regional team last spring. In fact, three members of the Black Knights were named to the All-Austin Regional squad: SS Clint Moore, DH Joey Henshaw and CF Andy Ernesto.
RECORD-SETTERS: Army established or tied 67 individual and team, school and conference records en route to a third Patriot League championship in six years last spring.
TEAM OF THE DECADE: With 36 victories last season, the Black Knights continued in the midst of their most successful streak in school history. Army has reached at least 25 wins each of the past seven years, the first time the Black Knights have accomplished that feat in school history. In fact, Army has reached the 30-victory plateau four times in the last seven years and has qualified for the Patriot League Tournament six times during that span. The Black Knights have won three conference championships and garnered at least a share of five regular season conference crowns in the last seven years. Army has also reached the Patriot League Championship Series four times in the last six years and captured five Patriot League crowns overall. With that success in mind, Army can clearly lay claim to the title of the Patriot League's "Team of the Decade."
CONSISTENCY IS KEY: Prior to 2004, Army had not registered more than 26 wins in any season. With a combined record of 76-29 (.724) in 2004 and 2005, the Black Knights completed the most successful back-to-back campaigns in school history. After posting a school- and Patriot League-record 37 victories in 2004 (37-15), Army surpassed the total with 39 wins the following year (39-14). The Black Knights also registered the first NCAA Tournament win in school history, defeating South Alabama 8-5 in the 2005 Tallahassee Regional. The Black Knights finished 30-20-1 in 2006, 25-23-1 in 2007 and 25-25 in 2008. After finishing 36-21 last spring, Army has reached the 30-win mark four times in the last six years and stands three wins shy of hitting the figure again this season. The Black Knights have registered at least 20 wins nine times in 11 years under the direction of head coach Joe Sottolano and 30 wins on four occasions. Army has also posted at least 25 wins in seven consecutive seasons.
RARIFIED AIR: With 36 victories last spring, Army notched the third highest single-season win total in school history. The Black Knights closed the year three wins shy of the school record established in 2005. Army had also set a school standard with 37 victories the previous year.
FIELD GENERAL: Army head coach Joe Sottolano is in his 11th season guiding the Black Knights' baseball program. Sottolano was named Army's interim head coach in March 2000, then had the interim label removed after leading the Black Knights to the Patriot League championship and accompanying NCAA berth that season. He had served as an assistant to Dan Roberts at Army for eight years prior to garnering the top job. Named Patriot League Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2005 after directing the Black Knights to consecutive league titles, Sottolano has already become Army's career leader in coaching victories, accomplishing that feat earlier this year with a doubleheader sweep of Holy Cross. He sports a career record of 298-220-5, for a sparkling winning percentage of .575. Sottolano has presided over a stretch of unprecedented success at the Academy the past few years, leading the Black Knights to at least 25 wins each of the past seven seasons. Army is 219-133-2 (.621) in that time.
NEARING 300: Army Army head coach Joe Sottolano accomplished a significant personal milestone when he registered the 250th coaching victory of his career last season. The 11th-year field boss notched his 250th career win against arch-rival Navy on April 12, 2009, in the back end of a doubleheader sweep of the Mids. Army accomplished the feat in style, posting a 6-0 shutout and securing the team's sixth consecutive "star" outright against Navy. Ironically, Sottolano registered his 200th career victory against Navy as well, garnering that win almost two years to the day (April 21, 2007), in the third game of the teams' four-game series. Sottolano became Army's all-time winningest baseball coach during a 6-0 shutout of Holy Cross on April 4, 2010, surpassing former mentor Dan Roberts atop the list. Sottolano entered the season needing 11 wins to reach the milestone. He now stands just two victories shy of recording his 300th career coaching win at West Point.
BIG HONOR: Army baseball coach Joe Sottolano added to his long list of honors last summer when he was named the ABCA/Diamond Sports Company NCAA Division I Regional Coach of the Year. Sottolano led the Black Knights to their most successful season in history, guiding Army to the finals of the Austin Regional. It marked the first time the Black Knights had reached a regional final.
MOUND DOMINANCE: Standout pitching has been a driving force in the Black Knights' recent record-setting string of success. Army has ranked among national leaders in earned run average in five of the past seven years. The Black Knights ranked seventh nationally (3.28) in ERA in 2006, improving from the No. 8 spot (3.08) it held in the national rankings the previous year. Army also ranked 12th nationally (3.44) in ERA in 2004 and finished 27th in the category in 2007 (3.77). Army was the only Division I team to list in the top 12 nationally in ERA each year from 2004 through 2006 and one of two clubs to stand in the top eight nationally during the 2005 and 2006 campaigns. Additionally, Army was one of just seven Division I squads to rank among the top 27 teams nationally in earned run average every season from 2004 through 2007. The Black Knights topped the Patriot League in ERA again last season and ranked 73rd nationally (5.04). Since 2004, the Black Knights' pitching staff has combined to fire 37 shutouts, including three this year. Army carries a 4.00 team earned run average into this weekend's Patriot League Tournament. The Black Knights currently lead the Patriot League and rank 22nd nationally in the category.
LUCKY SEVEN: The Black Knights earned a conference-record seven First Team All-Patriot League picks last spring. Additionally, sophomore Ben Koenigsfeld became the first player in Patriot League history to collect first team all-conference honors at two different positions in the same season, copping first-team certificates as an outfielder and a starting pitcher. Joining Koenigsfeld on the All-Patriot League First Team were senior RP Tyler Anderegg, sophomore 1B Kevin McKague, freshman 2B Zach Price, sophomore SS Clint Moore and sophomore DH Joey Henshaw. Senior OF Kyle Fleming garnered a second-team citation, rating as the Black Knights' only representative on the All-Patriot League Second Team. It marked the first All-Patriot League recognition for four of Army's seven all-stars. The Black Knights placed four individuals on the All-Patriot League First Team this season and claimed two of the conference's four major awards.
ALL-AMERICAS ALL THE TIME: With four Army players garnering All-America laurels last spring, 11 different Black Knights have piled up 27 All-America citations the past six years. The list includes those selected to preseason, postseason, freshman and academic All-America squads. While Joey Henshaw and Clint Moore were selected to the American Baseball Coaches Association NCAA Division I All-America Team last spring, Tyler Anderegg was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Team and Zach Price was chosen to the Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-America Team. Army players have gained at least one All-America honor during each of the last six years.
STEPPING UP: After spending the majority of his first two years at West Point as a seldom-used reserve, OF Shaun Wixted has made a major impact for the Black Knights so far this season. Wixted, who went hitless in five plate appearances a year ago, currently shares the team lead with a .364 batting average. The native of Matthews, N.C., has hit safely in 18 of the 23 games in which he has drawn a plate appearance and registered nine multi-hit affairs. This from a player that entered his junior campaign with a total of just six career base hits. Wixted has posted a .506 slugging percentage to date and a .414 on-base mark. Wixted returned to Army's lineup in late April after missing 19 starts due to a shoulder injury.
MASH UNIT: Army has been beset by injuries this spring with no fewer than five everyday starters missing significant playing time due to various physical ailments. In fact, head coach Joe Sottolano has been unable to field his projected starting lineup since his team's season-opening defeat of Dayton. The injury bug bit the Black Knights early this year as starting 3B Steve May suffered a shoulder injury sliding into second base during the third inning of the season opener versus Dayton. May missed 10 starts before returning to Army's lineup in mid-March. By the time May returned, the Black Knights had lost Kevin McKague, then Shaun Wixted and Joey Henshaw to various ailments. Wixted missed 19 starts before returning to the lineup late in the season, while Henshaw missed 12 games due to a pair of ailments. May (10), McKague (2), Wixted (19), Henshaw (12) and Ben Koenigsfeld (5) have combined to miss 48 game starts this season due to injury. Additionally, pitchers Kyle Brueggemann, Manny Fernandez, Kirk Porter, McKague, Koenigsfeld and Henshaw have all missed mound time due to injuries. Army has been without half of its weekend pitching rotation for the majority of the season.
SULLIVAN FINALIST: Back in April, Army's junior SS Clint Moore was named one of six finalists for the AAU Sullivan Award, which honors the nation's outstanding amateur athlete. Presented annually since 1930, the Sullivan Award is also based on leadership, character, sportsmanship and the ideals of amateurism. The only college baseball player to be nominated for the award, Moore was joined on the list of finalists by Angela Bizzari, a cross country star at the University of Illinois, Zak Boggs, a standout soccer player from the University of South Florida, Olympic luge athlete Erin Hamlin of Remsen, N.Y., volleyball star Megan Hodge of three-time reigning national champion Penn State University and Amy Palmiero-Winters, a record-setting paralympic ultra-marathon specialist from Hicksville, N.Y. Known as the "Oscar" of sports awards, and older than The Heisman Trophy, the AAU Sullivan Award honors the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. Former Army football greats Felix "Doc" Blanchard and Young Arnold Tucker garnered the award in consecutive years, claiming the honor in 1945 and 1946, respectively. They rank as the only two West Pointers to capture the honor. The Sullivan Award Reception and Presentation took place April 14 at The New York Athletic Club in New York City with the award going to Palmiero-Winters.
WALLACE WATCH LIST PART II: A year after being named one of 15 semifinalists for the Brooks Wallace Award, presented to the nation's top shortstop by the College Baseball Foundation, Clint Moore has once again been placed on the Watch List for this year's Brooks Wallace Award. The Wallace Award, sponsored by Mizuno, will be presented on July 2, in Lubbock, Texas, as part of the College Baseball Awards Show.
BIG MAC: Junior Kevin McKague has proven to be a jack of all trades for the Black Knights this season. A first team All-Patriot League selection at first base last season, McKague shifted over to third base at times early this season to help fill a void created by an injury to starting 3B Steve May. McKague also rates as the Patriot League's premier closer out of Army's bullpen. He is currently batting .309 with eight doubles, seven home runs, 30 runs scored and 33 runs batted in and leads the Patriot League with a school- and conference-record 12 saves.
CLOSING TIME: One season after registering seven saves, Kevin McKague has been automatic out of the Black Knights' bullpen this spring. The hard-throwing right-hander is perfect in save opportunities this season, posting a 1.42 earned run average. McKague, who ranks fourth nationally with 12 saves, has struck out 25 and walked six in 19.0 innings of work. He already owns the Army and Patriot League single season saves records. With 20 career saves, he stands seven saves shy of the Black Knights' career mark of 27 established by Milan Dinga from 2004 through 2007. That figure also stands as the Patriot League's career standard. McKague earned first team All-Patriot League honors as a relief pitcher earlier this week and is among those listed on the watch list the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, presented annually to the nation's top reliever.
SAVING HIS BEST FOR LAST: Senior left-hander Steve Cummings has made the most of his final season in the Black, Gold and Gray. Cummings, who broke into Army's weekend rotation earlier this spring, has posted a 5-1 record and 4.22 earned run average this season. The rangy southpaw was even better in Patriot League action, registering a 3-0 record and 4.20 ERA in five conference starts. Cummings struck out 25 without walking a batter in league action before issuing two walks in his final start against Bucknell. He has fanned 43 and walked eight overall. Cummings entered his senior campaign with a 3-1 career record and had not started a single Patriot League contest.
STEPPING UP: Steve Cummings is not the only Army pitcher to raise his game to another level this season. Pressed into the weekend rotation due to a myriad of injuries to Army pitchers. Logan Lee developed into a dependable starter for head coach Joe Sottolano. The sophomore southpaw stands 4-1 with a 3.56 earned run average overall. Lee fashioned a perfect 4-0 record in four Patriot League starts, authoring a 3.25 ERA in those outings. Lee allowed just 27 hits in 27.2 innings of conference work.
PRICE IS RIGHT: One season after a stunning debut in which he earned Patriot League Rookie of the Year and Freshman All-
America honors, Zach Price appeared to fall victim to the "sophomore jinx" earlier this spring. Price, who batted .355 with a whopping 59 runs scored as Army's leadoff batter last season, struggled at the plate at the outset of this year. In fact, Price saw his batting average sink below .200 in early April and was hitting just .198 entering Army's series against Navy. But Price has rebounded nicely since that time, batting .346 with 12 runs scored and 12 runs batted in in his last 20 games. He has also posted a .407 on-base percentage in that time. Not surprisingly, Army has won 15 of those 20 contests. Price has raised his seasonal batting average 72 percentage points in the last 20 games and carries a .270 overall batting average into this weekend's action. He posted a .356 batting average with 14 runs scored and 13 RBI in 20 Patriot League contests. He was also successful on 7 of 9 stolen base tries in conference games. Price authored a career-long 17-game hitting streak late in the season.
CLUTCHING UP: David Darnell has blossomed into one Army's most clutch performers in his first season as a starter. Darnell, who earned the Black Knights' starting job in center field during preseason, is batting .277 overall with four doubles, one triple, two home runs, 23 runs scored and 16 RBI. Batting out of the ninth spot in Army's batting order, Darnell was one of the Black Knights' most productive offensive performers in Patriot League action. The speedy junior batted .333 with 13 runs scored and 10 RBI in 20 league starts. Darnell hit a sizzling .533 with runners in scoring position during Patriot League tilts.
PLEASANT SURPRISE: Not to be outdone, Steve May has responded very nicely to his first season as Army's starting third baseman. May, who entered the year with just 20 career at-bats to his credit (and only three last year), is hitting .364 with four doubles, one home run, 21 runs scored and 14 runs batted in. He posted a .355 batting average in 20 Patriot League starts. He has registered a .456 on-base percentage in 32 games overall and is 6-for-8 in stolen base attempts.
TURN OUT THE LIGHTS: Teams wishing to make late-inning comebacks against Army this year have been woefully unsuccessful. Thanks in large part to the presence of dominating closer Kevin McKague, Army is 18-0 when leading after eight innings this season and 22-1 when holding an advantage after six frames.
DUAL THREAT: In addition to ranking as one of the Patriot League's top starting pitchers, last season's Patriot League Pitcher of the Year Ben Koenigsfeld serves as a formidable offensive performer as well. The first player in Patriot League history to earn first team all-conference honors at two different positions in the same season, Koenigsfeld currently ranks among Army leaders in batting average (.341), doubles (7), home runs (4), runs scored (21), runs batted in (28), slugging percentage (.504) and on-base percentage (.403). Koenigsfeld saw his personal nine-game Patriot League winning streak snapped on the mound with a loss to Holy Cross in the conference opener. Koenigsfeld ranks as the first player in West Point history to begin his career with nine straight league victories on the pitcher's mound. He doubles as Army's starting left fielder. Koenigsfeld missed three Patriot League pitching starts due to forearm stiffness and continues to be hobbled by a leg injury. He batted a team-leading .362 with nine runs scored and 15 runs batted in during 17 Patriot League outings. Koenigsfeld was named a first team All-Patriot League outfielder earlier this week and was selected as one of 25 candidates for the inuaugural Olerud Award (presented to the nation's top dual-position player).
FOUR AND COUNTING: Junior Ben Koenigsfeld added to his growing number of All-Patriot League certificates this week, collecting his fourth all-conference nod in three years. Voted Patriot League Pitcher of the Year last spring, Koenigsfeld became the first player to earn first team All-Patriot League laurels at two different positions in the same season when he claimed a first-team citing in the outfield as well. Koenigsfeld repated his first-team status in the outfield this spring running his career number of All-Patriot League citations to four. Koenigsfeld was named to the second team All-Patriot League squad as a starting pitcher during his freshman campaign.
GUNNING THEM DOWN: Sophomore C J.T. Watkins put forth a very impressive freshman showing, serving as Army's starting backstop throughout the season. Watkins, who did not begin catching until the summer before he entered West Point, quickly developed into one of the Black Knights' most respected leaders on and off the field. The son of a professinal baseball scout, Watkins has elevated his play both offensively and defensively this spring. The native of Tuscaloosa, Ala., has been steady at the plate all season, posting a .333 batting average with five doubles, 29 runs scored and 18 RBI. But it is Watkins' ability to shut down the opponent's running game that has caught the most attention this spring. Watkins has thrown out 15 of 29 potential base-stealers this season, translating into a remarkable 51.7 percent success rate. The Army single season record for highest percentage of base runners thrown out attempting to steal by a catcher is 43.6 percent (17 of 39), set by Schuyler Williamson in 2004.
THROWING BLANKS: Matt Fouch has authored an outstanding senior showing as Army's No. 1 weekend starter. Fouch fashioned a 17-inning scoreless streak earlier this season after firing consecutive complete-game shutouts against Cornell and Holy Cross. Seven days after tossing a three-hitter against Cornell, Fouch shut out the Patriot League's top offensive club in Holy Cross, limiting the Crusaders to six singles. The native of Stafford, Va., sports a 6-2 overall record and ranks second in the Patriot League with a 2.66 earned run average in 10 appearances overall. Fouch was nothing short of dominant against Patriot League opposition, posting a 4-1 record and league-best 1.59 ERA in five conference tilts. He suffered a 1-0 complete-game loss to Bucknell for his only conference setback of the season. Fouch allowed just 26 hits in 34 innings of Patriot work, fanning 18 and walking only seven. He limited conference foes to a lowly .210 batting average. Fouch has garnered three Patriot League Pitcher of the Week citations during the course of his West Point career and was a unanimous choice for Patriot League Pitcher of the Year honors this season. He has allowed just 51 hits across 61 innings overall, fanning 42 and walking 19.
ON TOP: In addition to garnering six regular season Patriot League titles and five Patriot League tournament crowns, Army boasts the highest victory total (226) and the highest winning percentage (.626, 226-135) in conference play among league members, despite joining the circuit two years after the Patriot League adopted baseball as a league sport in 1991. Army is the only school to feature a winning percentage higher than .600 in Patriot play. The Black Knights also sport the lowest total of losses (135). Bucknell stands second in victories with 210, 16 behind Army's pace-setting total of 226. Navy ranks second in winning percentage at .569.
ALL-TIME PATRIOT LEAGUE RECORDS:
NEW FORMAT: The Patriot League adopted a new format for its postseason baseball tournament in 2008 after utilizing a three-team tourney format the previous 12 years. In the previous format, the second- and third-place teams squared off in an Elimination Game for the right to face the regular-season champion in the best-of-three Patriot League Championship Series. Under the revamped guidelines, the Patriot League Tournament takes place over two weekends and consists of two best-of-three, semifinal series. The winners of the semifinal series advance to meet in the best-of-three Patriot League Championship Series at the home of the highest remaining seed. Army captured four Patriot League Tournament titles utilizing the previous format, which greatly benefitted the conference's regular-season champion. The Black Knights entered the Patriot League Tournament as regular-season champions on three of those occasions (1997, 2004, 2005). Army captured the 2000 tourney title as the conference's No. 3 seed. As the top seeds in 2008, the Black Knights were eliminated in the semifinals by Bucknell, dropping a riveting 1-0 verdict in the third and deciding contest. The second-seeded Black Knights claimed their fifth Patriot League crown last spring, winning the title on their home field after top-seeded Bucknell was upset by fourth-seeded Lafayette in the semifinals. Army defeated Holy Cross two games to one in the semifinal round, then swept past Lafayette in the Patriot League Championship Series.
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS:
Saturday's probable starting pitchers are below:
Game 1
Army -- LHP Matt Fouch (6-2, 2.66 ERA)
Bucknell -- RHP Trey Frahler (4-5, 6.75 ERA)
Game 2
Army -- RHP Ben Koenigsfeld (3-2, 4.81 ERA)
Bucknell -- RHP Dylan Seeley (5-3, 3.47 ERA)
DEJA VU?: Army entered the Patriot League Tournament as regular-season champion five times previously (1997, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009) and captured the tourney title on four of those occasions. The Black Knights, who have earned five Patriot League tourney titles overall, defeated Bucknell for the title in 1997 (at West Point), Navy in 2000 (in Annapolis), Lafayette in 2004 (at West Point), Lehigh in 2005 (at West Point) and Lafayette in 2009 (at West Point). While Army swept Navy (2000), Lafayette (2004, 2009) and Lehigh (2005) in two games to claim conference tourney titles, the Army-Bucknell matchup in 1997 ranks as one of the most memorable Patriot League Championship Series in conference history. The Black Knights prevailed two games to one in a three-game series at Doubleday Field that produced a combined total of 62 runs and 70 base hits over the course of 27 innings.
THE SERIES: Army holds a 55-37 advantage in its all-time series versus Bucknell. The pairing stands as one of the Black Knights' longest-running series, dating back to 1910. Since joining the Patriot League in 1993, the Black Knights enjoy a 43-33 series advantage against the Bison. The teams have split eight previous Patriot League Tournament engagements. Army and Bucknell have squared off once previously in the Patriot League Championship Series, with Army defeating Bucknell two games to one for the title in 1997. The Bison eliminated the Black Knights in a Patriot League Tournament Semifinal Series in 2008, winning two games to one at Doubleday Field in the first year of the Patriot League's revamped tournament format.
THIS YEAR'S MEETINGS: May 1-2, 2010, at West Point, N.Y. -- Army defeated Bucknell three times in the teams' four game regular season Patriot League series. For recaps and box scores of those games please see the season review section of these notes.
RUNS AT A PREMIUM: When Army squared off against Bucknell two weeks ago at Doubleday Field, offense was tough to come by for both teams. A steady breeze blowing in from right field throughout the weekend and solid pitching by both teams led to four crisply played contests. Army swept the first two games on Saturday, winning by the scores of 4-0 and 5-3. Matt Fouch and Dylan Seeley hooked up in a pitcher's duel in game three with Bucknell prevailing 1-0. The difference in that game was a solo home run by Doug Shribman in the fourth inning. Army rebounded for a 3-2 victory in the series finale. For the weekend, Army mustered 12 runs, while Bucknell pushed across only six.
PL TOURNEY HISTORY: Army has appeared in the Patriot League Tournament nine times previously, drawing postseason berths in 1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Five of those showings took place at West Point's Doubleday Field, three at Max Bishop Stadium in Annapolis, Md., and one at Class of 1978 Stadium in Easton, Pa. The Black Knights captured Patriot League Tournament titles in 1997, 2000, 2004, 2005 and 2009. Army hosted the Patriot League Tournament in 1997 and defeated Bucknell in a three-game championship series en route to its first Patriot crown. Army claimed its second Patriot League Tournament championship in 2000, winning the title as the league's No. 3 seed in Annapolis. The Black Knights garnered their third and fourth Patriot titles in 2004 and 2005, sweeping Lafayette and Lehigh, respectively, in both championship series held at Doubleday Field. Army claimed its most recent Patriot League crown last spring, defeating Holy Cross (2-1) in a best-of-three Patriot League Tournament Semifinal Series before sweeping two games from Lafayette in the Patriot League Championship Series. All five of those contests were played at Doubleday Field. The Black Knights stand 15-9 all-time in Patriot League Tournament play and 11-4 in Patriot League Tournament games played at West Point's Doubleday Field.
ARMY-BUCKNELL POSTSEASON HISTORY: Army and Bucknell have squared off in the Patriot League Tournament on four previous occasions. The No. 1 seeded Black Knights defeated the No. 2-seeded Bison 2-1 in the 1997 Patriot League Championship Series en route to their first conference title. The teams met again the following year in the Patriot League Tournament Elimination Game in Annapolis. No. 2 seed Bucknell handed No. 3 seed Army a 9-1 setback in that contest, ending the Black Knights' hopes for a championship repeat. Third-seeded Army returned the favor against second-seeded Bucknell in the 2000 Patriot League Tournament Elimination Game in Annapolis, ending the Bison's season in upset fashion. The teams' most recent Patriot League Tournament pairing dates back to 2008 when the Bison advanced to the Patriot League Championship Series by slipping past Army two games to one in a PLT Semifinal Series matchup at Doubleday Field. Bucknell prevailed 1-0 in a tightly played third-and-deciding game that year. Overall, Army is 4-4 versus Bucknell in Patriot tourney play.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: In 12 years that the Patriot League utilized its previous tournament format, the No. 1 seed and home team captured the league title on nine occasions. No. 2 seeds Navy and Bucknell garnered league titles in 1999 and 2001, respectively, while Army fought its way to a road championship in 2000 as the No. 3 seed. It marked the only time in league history that a No. 3 seed stormed to a Patriot League championship under that format. Ironically, all three instances where a home team did not prevail in the league tourney under the old format took place in successive years (1999 through 2001). Using a new playoff format in 2008, fourth-seeded Bucknell defeated second-seeded Navy in the Patriot League Championship Series held in Annapolis, Md. Army captured the Patriot League championship last spring as the No. 2 seed, winning four games on its home field. The Patriot League has utilized three different postseason formats in its history.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Army has excelled during postseason play in games played at West Point's Doubleday Field. The Black Knights have won 11 of 15 Patriot League Tournament showings that have taken place on their home field. Prior to 2008, Army's only postseason loss at Doubleday Field in Patriot League Tournament play dated back to 1997 when Bucknell slipped past the Black Knights 6-5 in Game Two of the Patriot League Championship Series.
ALL-LEAGUE HONORS: The Army baseball team continued a pattern of strong representation on the All-Patriot League squad earlier this week when it was announced that four Black Knights were named to the conference's first team all-star unit. Senior SP pitcher Matt Fouch, junior RP Kevin McKague, junior SS Clint Moore and junior OF Ben Koenigsfeld were all named to the All-Patriot League First Team, a group that was instrumental in Army claiming its fifth regular season conference crown in seven years. Please see the release at end of these notes for more details.
MAJOR AWARDS: Army players received a pair of accolades this week as the conference announced its four major individual awards. Black Knights walked off with two of those four honors. While Matt Fouch was named Patriot League Pitcher of the Year, Ben Koenigsfeld, who sports a 3.55 cumulative grade-point average majoring in American Law and Legal Systems, was named Patriot League Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. It marks the second straight year and third time in four years that an Army player has garnered Patriot League Pitcher of the Year honors (Koenigsfeld was recognized last year and Nick Hill in 2007). It also marked a league-leading eighth time an Army player has copped the league's pitcher of the year laurels. Koenigsfeld's citing marks the second year in a row (Tyler Anderegg was named last year) and sixth time overall that an Army player has been named Patriot League Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Please see releases for both award winners at the end of these notes.
ON THE HILL: For the seventh consecutive year, at least one Army starting pitcher (Matt Fouch) was named to the Patriot League's first team all-star unit, continuing a pattern of mound dominance for the Black Knights. Army starting hurlers have claimed nine first-team spots during that stretch. Black Knight starters have garnered four second team all-league citings during that same period, pushing the total number of all-league honors accrued by Army starting pitchers over the last seven years to 13. Black Knight relievers have added six all-league citations in that span, including one first-team honor each of the past two years. Army closer Kevin McKague earned first team All-Patriot League laurels this season.
WE ARE THE CHAMPS!: Army garnered its fifth regular season Patriot League championship in seven years earlier this month. After falling to Holy Cross 19-1 in its 2010 Patriot League debut, Army reeled off 16 wins in its final 19 conference tilts to earn its latest regular-season championship. Plagued by injuries throughout the season, the Black Knights enter this weekend's Patriot League Tournament Semifinal Series against Bucknell having won 21 of their last 28 games (and 13 of 17) overall.
PLAYOFF PICTURE: Army will serve as the No. 1 seed in the Patriot League Tournament, hosting this weekend's semifinal series and the Patriot League Championship Series should the Black Knights advance past Bucknell. In gaining its sixth Patriot League Tournament berth in seven years, Army earned its 10th conference tourney bid overall. Under the Patriot League's revamped postseason tournament format (introduced in 2008), Army will face fourth-seeded Bucknell in one of two Patriot League Tournament best-of-three semifinal series at Doubleday Field this weekend. The winner of that matchup will advance to the Patriot League Championship Series the following weekend against either No. 2 seed Lehigh or No. 3 seed Holy Cross at the home of the highest remaining seed. Lehigh and Holy Cross will square off in the Patriot League Tournament's other best-of-three semifinal series in Bethlehem, Pa., this weekend. The winner of the best-of-three Patriot League Championship Series will capture the conference's automatic berth in the NCAA Regionals. The Black Knights earned the right to host a Patriot League Tournament Semifinal Series (and the Patriot League Championship Series, if still alive) by virtue of capturing their fifth regular season Patriot League title in seven years.
SCOUTING ARMY: The Black Knights carry a 27-15 overall record into the Patriot League Tournament Semifinal Series. Army has won 13 of its last 17 games and 21 of 28 overall, clinching its third consecutive regular season Patriot League championship. The Black Knights, who are the defending Patriot League champions, have captured at least a share of the conference's regular-season crown in five of the past seven years. While Army returns six everyday positional starters and 10 of its top 11 pitchers from last year's record-setting club, the Black Knights have been beset by injuries since the opening day of the season. They were still able to push their overall record 10 games above .500 for the first time this season with a twinbill sweep of the Lafayette in late April. The Black Knights boast a .299 team batting average and team earned run average of 4.00. But the story has centered around the Black Knights' ability to survive an uncommon rash of injuries with Army unable to field its projected starting lineup since its season-opening defeat of Dayton. Starting 3B Steve May suffered a shoulder injury during the third inning of Army's season opener, igniting a sequence that saw Army lose the services of positional starters May (10), Kevin McKague (2), Shaun Wixted (19), Joey Henshaw (12) and Ben Koenigsfeld (5) for extended periods this season. Those players alone have combined to miss 48 game starts this spring due to injury. Additionally, pitchers Kyle Brueggemann, Manny Fernandez, Ben Koenigsfeld, Kirk Porter, McKague and Henshaw have all missed mound time due to various ailments. The Black Knights have been without their projected weekend pitching rotation since the first Patriot League weekend of the season. In fact, Koenigsfeld, last season's Patriot League Pitcher of the Year, and Porter missed three weekend starts apiece, leaving Army without one-half of its projected conference rotation much of the season. May, a seldom-used reserve during his first two seasons at West Point, tops the team with a .364 batting average. Clint Moore, who struggled at the plate during much of the season, still tops the team in runs scored (31), while standing second in home runs (6) and runs batted in (31). Zach Price, the catalyst atop Army's batting order out of the leadoff spot, is also enjoying a resurgence following an extremely slow start to his sophomore campaign. Price has raised his seasonal batting average 72 points in the last 20 games. He is batting .346 with 12 runs scored and 12 RBI during that stretch. Not surprisingly, Army is 15-5 in those games. Through it all, the Black Knights' pitchers have excelled, topping the Patriot League with a 4.00 earned run average to rank 22nd nationally. Weekend starters Matt Fouch (6-2), Steve Cummings (5-1) and Logan Lee (4-1) have combined to post a 15-4 mark. Lee and Cummings have been solid all season, while Fouch was a unanimous choice for Patriot League Pitcher of the Year honors by the conference's head coaches.
SINKING THE MIDS: Army continued its recent domination of arch-rival Navy in April, winning three of four games versus the Midshipmen in Annapolis, Md., to claim its seventh straight outright series "star." The Black Knights have captured 24 of the last 29 contests against the Midshipmen over the past seven years (and 23 of 27). Army swept four games from Navy in 2008, took three of four regular-season meetings with the Mids in 2007, then dismissed Navy from the Patriot League Tournament with a 5-3 victory in the PLT Elimination Game. Navy's last series win dates back to 2003, when the Mids nabbed three of four verdicts from the Black Knights. Since that time, Army registered its first four-game sweep of Navy in 2005, its first four-game sweep in Annapolis (2008), and captured three of four regular season series pairings in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010. The Black Knights ended the Mids' season in the Patriot League tourney in 2007.
SOTTOLANO VERSUS NAVY: Army head coach Joe Sottolano has experienced a great deal of success coaching against West Point's chief rival. Since grabbing the reins as Army's head coach in 2000, Sottolano sports a 30-15 coaching mark (.667) versus Navy. Army has captured 24 of the last 29 matchups against the Mids, winning seven straight series "stars" outright. Navy last won a series opposite Army in 2003. The Black Knights have dropped just two season series to Navy during Sottolano's 11 years at the Black Knight helm. Army is 7-2-2 in season series against their arch rivals during Sottolano's tenure, capturing "stars" outright in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. The Black Knights earned series splits against Navy in both 2000 and 2001.
AMONG THE BEST: The Army-Navy rivalry is widely viewed as one of the most storied matchups in all of sports. Baseball America recently weighed in with its sentiments, listing Army-Navy as the No. 1 rivalry in the North Region.
BEST EVER: While Army fell three wins shy of the single season school record last season, the 2009 Black Knights can stake a valid claim as the most successful team in school history. By virtue of posting wins over second-seeded Texas State and No. 3 seed Boston College, Army reached the Austin Regional Final, marking a first in school history. The Black Knights finished 36-21 overall last season and established or tied 67 school and Patriot League records. Army returns six everyday positional starters and 10 of its top 11 pitchers from that squad this season.
TEXAS TWO-STEP: For the first time in school history, Army posted two victories during NCAA Regional play last spring. Seeded fourth at the Austin Regional, Army suffered a hard-fought 3-1 loss to No. 1 national seed Texas in an opening-round matchup before stunning both second-seeded Texas State and third-seeded Boston College en route to a rematch with Texas in the Austin Regional Final. The Black Knights carried a 10-6 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning of that contest and found themselves three outs away from a second "championship" clash with the Longhorns that would have sent the winner to Super Regionals. But a weary Army pitching staff tired late and Texas prevailed 14-10, ending the Black Knights' Cinderella run.
ALL-REGIONAL: For the first time in their four NCAA Tournament appearances, the Black Knights saw more than one of their squad members selected to the all-regional team last spring. In fact, three members of the Black Knights were named to the All-Austin Regional squad: SS Clint Moore, DH Joey Henshaw and CF Andy Ernesto.
RECORD-SETTERS: Army established or tied 67 individual and team, school and conference records en route to a third Patriot League championship in six years last spring.
TEAM OF THE DECADE: With 36 victories last season, the Black Knights continued in the midst of their most successful streak in school history. Army has reached at least 25 wins each of the past seven years, the first time the Black Knights have accomplished that feat in school history. In fact, Army has reached the 30-victory plateau four times in the last seven years and has qualified for the Patriot League Tournament six times during that span. The Black Knights have won three conference championships and garnered at least a share of five regular season conference crowns in the last seven years. Army has also reached the Patriot League Championship Series four times in the last six years and captured five Patriot League crowns overall. With that success in mind, Army can clearly lay claim to the title of the Patriot League's "Team of the Decade."
CONSISTENCY IS KEY: Prior to 2004, Army had not registered more than 26 wins in any season. With a combined record of 76-29 (.724) in 2004 and 2005, the Black Knights completed the most successful back-to-back campaigns in school history. After posting a school- and Patriot League-record 37 victories in 2004 (37-15), Army surpassed the total with 39 wins the following year (39-14). The Black Knights also registered the first NCAA Tournament win in school history, defeating South Alabama 8-5 in the 2005 Tallahassee Regional. The Black Knights finished 30-20-1 in 2006, 25-23-1 in 2007 and 25-25 in 2008. After finishing 36-21 last spring, Army has reached the 30-win mark four times in the last six years and stands three wins shy of hitting the figure again this season. The Black Knights have registered at least 20 wins nine times in 11 years under the direction of head coach Joe Sottolano and 30 wins on four occasions. Army has also posted at least 25 wins in seven consecutive seasons.
RARIFIED AIR: With 36 victories last spring, Army notched the third highest single-season win total in school history. The Black Knights closed the year three wins shy of the school record established in 2005. Army had also set a school standard with 37 victories the previous year.
FIELD GENERAL: Army head coach Joe Sottolano is in his 11th season guiding the Black Knights' baseball program. Sottolano was named Army's interim head coach in March 2000, then had the interim label removed after leading the Black Knights to the Patriot League championship and accompanying NCAA berth that season. He had served as an assistant to Dan Roberts at Army for eight years prior to garnering the top job. Named Patriot League Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2005 after directing the Black Knights to consecutive league titles, Sottolano has already become Army's career leader in coaching victories, accomplishing that feat earlier this year with a doubleheader sweep of Holy Cross. He sports a career record of 298-220-5, for a sparkling winning percentage of .575. Sottolano has presided over a stretch of unprecedented success at the Academy the past few years, leading the Black Knights to at least 25 wins each of the past seven seasons. Army is 219-133-2 (.621) in that time.
NEARING 300: Army Army head coach Joe Sottolano accomplished a significant personal milestone when he registered the 250th coaching victory of his career last season. The 11th-year field boss notched his 250th career win against arch-rival Navy on April 12, 2009, in the back end of a doubleheader sweep of the Mids. Army accomplished the feat in style, posting a 6-0 shutout and securing the team's sixth consecutive "star" outright against Navy. Ironically, Sottolano registered his 200th career victory against Navy as well, garnering that win almost two years to the day (April 21, 2007), in the third game of the teams' four-game series. Sottolano became Army's all-time winningest baseball coach during a 6-0 shutout of Holy Cross on April 4, 2010, surpassing former mentor Dan Roberts atop the list. Sottolano entered the season needing 11 wins to reach the milestone. He now stands just two victories shy of recording his 300th career coaching win at West Point.
BIG HONOR: Army baseball coach Joe Sottolano added to his long list of honors last summer when he was named the ABCA/Diamond Sports Company NCAA Division I Regional Coach of the Year. Sottolano led the Black Knights to their most successful season in history, guiding Army to the finals of the Austin Regional. It marked the first time the Black Knights had reached a regional final.
MOUND DOMINANCE: Standout pitching has been a driving force in the Black Knights' recent record-setting string of success. Army has ranked among national leaders in earned run average in five of the past seven years. The Black Knights ranked seventh nationally (3.28) in ERA in 2006, improving from the No. 8 spot (3.08) it held in the national rankings the previous year. Army also ranked 12th nationally (3.44) in ERA in 2004 and finished 27th in the category in 2007 (3.77). Army was the only Division I team to list in the top 12 nationally in ERA each year from 2004 through 2006 and one of two clubs to stand in the top eight nationally during the 2005 and 2006 campaigns. Additionally, Army was one of just seven Division I squads to rank among the top 27 teams nationally in earned run average every season from 2004 through 2007. The Black Knights topped the Patriot League in ERA again last season and ranked 73rd nationally (5.04). Since 2004, the Black Knights' pitching staff has combined to fire 37 shutouts, including three this year. Army carries a 4.00 team earned run average into this weekend's Patriot League Tournament. The Black Knights currently lead the Patriot League and rank 22nd nationally in the category.
LUCKY SEVEN: The Black Knights earned a conference-record seven First Team All-Patriot League picks last spring. Additionally, sophomore Ben Koenigsfeld became the first player in Patriot League history to collect first team all-conference honors at two different positions in the same season, copping first-team certificates as an outfielder and a starting pitcher. Joining Koenigsfeld on the All-Patriot League First Team were senior RP Tyler Anderegg, sophomore 1B Kevin McKague, freshman 2B Zach Price, sophomore SS Clint Moore and sophomore DH Joey Henshaw. Senior OF Kyle Fleming garnered a second-team citation, rating as the Black Knights' only representative on the All-Patriot League Second Team. It marked the first All-Patriot League recognition for four of Army's seven all-stars. The Black Knights placed four individuals on the All-Patriot League First Team this season and claimed two of the conference's four major awards.
ALL-AMERICAS ALL THE TIME: With four Army players garnering All-America laurels last spring, 11 different Black Knights have piled up 27 All-America citations the past six years. The list includes those selected to preseason, postseason, freshman and academic All-America squads. While Joey Henshaw and Clint Moore were selected to the American Baseball Coaches Association NCAA Division I All-America Team last spring, Tyler Anderegg was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Team and Zach Price was chosen to the Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-America Team. Army players have gained at least one All-America honor during each of the last six years.
STEPPING UP: After spending the majority of his first two years at West Point as a seldom-used reserve, OF Shaun Wixted has made a major impact for the Black Knights so far this season. Wixted, who went hitless in five plate appearances a year ago, currently shares the team lead with a .364 batting average. The native of Matthews, N.C., has hit safely in 18 of the 23 games in which he has drawn a plate appearance and registered nine multi-hit affairs. This from a player that entered his junior campaign with a total of just six career base hits. Wixted has posted a .506 slugging percentage to date and a .414 on-base mark. Wixted returned to Army's lineup in late April after missing 19 starts due to a shoulder injury.
MASH UNIT: Army has been beset by injuries this spring with no fewer than five everyday starters missing significant playing time due to various physical ailments. In fact, head coach Joe Sottolano has been unable to field his projected starting lineup since his team's season-opening defeat of Dayton. The injury bug bit the Black Knights early this year as starting 3B Steve May suffered a shoulder injury sliding into second base during the third inning of the season opener versus Dayton. May missed 10 starts before returning to Army's lineup in mid-March. By the time May returned, the Black Knights had lost Kevin McKague, then Shaun Wixted and Joey Henshaw to various ailments. Wixted missed 19 starts before returning to the lineup late in the season, while Henshaw missed 12 games due to a pair of ailments. May (10), McKague (2), Wixted (19), Henshaw (12) and Ben Koenigsfeld (5) have combined to miss 48 game starts this season due to injury. Additionally, pitchers Kyle Brueggemann, Manny Fernandez, Kirk Porter, McKague, Koenigsfeld and Henshaw have all missed mound time due to injuries. Army has been without half of its weekend pitching rotation for the majority of the season.
SULLIVAN FINALIST: Back in April, Army's junior SS Clint Moore was named one of six finalists for the AAU Sullivan Award, which honors the nation's outstanding amateur athlete. Presented annually since 1930, the Sullivan Award is also based on leadership, character, sportsmanship and the ideals of amateurism. The only college baseball player to be nominated for the award, Moore was joined on the list of finalists by Angela Bizzari, a cross country star at the University of Illinois, Zak Boggs, a standout soccer player from the University of South Florida, Olympic luge athlete Erin Hamlin of Remsen, N.Y., volleyball star Megan Hodge of three-time reigning national champion Penn State University and Amy Palmiero-Winters, a record-setting paralympic ultra-marathon specialist from Hicksville, N.Y. Known as the "Oscar" of sports awards, and older than The Heisman Trophy, the AAU Sullivan Award honors the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. Former Army football greats Felix "Doc" Blanchard and Young Arnold Tucker garnered the award in consecutive years, claiming the honor in 1945 and 1946, respectively. They rank as the only two West Pointers to capture the honor. The Sullivan Award Reception and Presentation took place April 14 at The New York Athletic Club in New York City with the award going to Palmiero-Winters.
WALLACE WATCH LIST PART II: A year after being named one of 15 semifinalists for the Brooks Wallace Award, presented to the nation's top shortstop by the College Baseball Foundation, Clint Moore has once again been placed on the Watch List for this year's Brooks Wallace Award. The Wallace Award, sponsored by Mizuno, will be presented on July 2, in Lubbock, Texas, as part of the College Baseball Awards Show.
BIG MAC: Junior Kevin McKague has proven to be a jack of all trades for the Black Knights this season. A first team All-Patriot League selection at first base last season, McKague shifted over to third base at times early this season to help fill a void created by an injury to starting 3B Steve May. McKague also rates as the Patriot League's premier closer out of Army's bullpen. He is currently batting .309 with eight doubles, seven home runs, 30 runs scored and 33 runs batted in and leads the Patriot League with a school- and conference-record 12 saves.
CLOSING TIME: One season after registering seven saves, Kevin McKague has been automatic out of the Black Knights' bullpen this spring. The hard-throwing right-hander is perfect in save opportunities this season, posting a 1.42 earned run average. McKague, who ranks fourth nationally with 12 saves, has struck out 25 and walked six in 19.0 innings of work. He already owns the Army and Patriot League single season saves records. With 20 career saves, he stands seven saves shy of the Black Knights' career mark of 27 established by Milan Dinga from 2004 through 2007. That figure also stands as the Patriot League's career standard. McKague earned first team All-Patriot League honors as a relief pitcher earlier this week and is among those listed on the watch list the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, presented annually to the nation's top reliever.
SAVING HIS BEST FOR LAST: Senior left-hander Steve Cummings has made the most of his final season in the Black, Gold and Gray. Cummings, who broke into Army's weekend rotation earlier this spring, has posted a 5-1 record and 4.22 earned run average this season. The rangy southpaw was even better in Patriot League action, registering a 3-0 record and 4.20 ERA in five conference starts. Cummings struck out 25 without walking a batter in league action before issuing two walks in his final start against Bucknell. He has fanned 43 and walked eight overall. Cummings entered his senior campaign with a 3-1 career record and had not started a single Patriot League contest.
STEPPING UP: Steve Cummings is not the only Army pitcher to raise his game to another level this season. Pressed into the weekend rotation due to a myriad of injuries to Army pitchers. Logan Lee developed into a dependable starter for head coach Joe Sottolano. The sophomore southpaw stands 4-1 with a 3.56 earned run average overall. Lee fashioned a perfect 4-0 record in four Patriot League starts, authoring a 3.25 ERA in those outings. Lee allowed just 27 hits in 27.2 innings of conference work.
PRICE IS RIGHT: One season after a stunning debut in which he earned Patriot League Rookie of the Year and Freshman All-
America honors, Zach Price appeared to fall victim to the "sophomore jinx" earlier this spring. Price, who batted .355 with a whopping 59 runs scored as Army's leadoff batter last season, struggled at the plate at the outset of this year. In fact, Price saw his batting average sink below .200 in early April and was hitting just .198 entering Army's series against Navy. But Price has rebounded nicely since that time, batting .346 with 12 runs scored and 12 runs batted in in his last 20 games. He has also posted a .407 on-base percentage in that time. Not surprisingly, Army has won 15 of those 20 contests. Price has raised his seasonal batting average 72 percentage points in the last 20 games and carries a .270 overall batting average into this weekend's action. He posted a .356 batting average with 14 runs scored and 13 RBI in 20 Patriot League contests. He was also successful on 7 of 9 stolen base tries in conference games. Price authored a career-long 17-game hitting streak late in the season.
CLUTCHING UP: David Darnell has blossomed into one Army's most clutch performers in his first season as a starter. Darnell, who earned the Black Knights' starting job in center field during preseason, is batting .277 overall with four doubles, one triple, two home runs, 23 runs scored and 16 RBI. Batting out of the ninth spot in Army's batting order, Darnell was one of the Black Knights' most productive offensive performers in Patriot League action. The speedy junior batted .333 with 13 runs scored and 10 RBI in 20 league starts. Darnell hit a sizzling .533 with runners in scoring position during Patriot League tilts.
PLEASANT SURPRISE: Not to be outdone, Steve May has responded very nicely to his first season as Army's starting third baseman. May, who entered the year with just 20 career at-bats to his credit (and only three last year), is hitting .364 with four doubles, one home run, 21 runs scored and 14 runs batted in. He posted a .355 batting average in 20 Patriot League starts. He has registered a .456 on-base percentage in 32 games overall and is 6-for-8 in stolen base attempts.
TURN OUT THE LIGHTS: Teams wishing to make late-inning comebacks against Army this year have been woefully unsuccessful. Thanks in large part to the presence of dominating closer Kevin McKague, Army is 18-0 when leading after eight innings this season and 22-1 when holding an advantage after six frames.
DUAL THREAT: In addition to ranking as one of the Patriot League's top starting pitchers, last season's Patriot League Pitcher of the Year Ben Koenigsfeld serves as a formidable offensive performer as well. The first player in Patriot League history to earn first team all-conference honors at two different positions in the same season, Koenigsfeld currently ranks among Army leaders in batting average (.341), doubles (7), home runs (4), runs scored (21), runs batted in (28), slugging percentage (.504) and on-base percentage (.403). Koenigsfeld saw his personal nine-game Patriot League winning streak snapped on the mound with a loss to Holy Cross in the conference opener. Koenigsfeld ranks as the first player in West Point history to begin his career with nine straight league victories on the pitcher's mound. He doubles as Army's starting left fielder. Koenigsfeld missed three Patriot League pitching starts due to forearm stiffness and continues to be hobbled by a leg injury. He batted a team-leading .362 with nine runs scored and 15 runs batted in during 17 Patriot League outings. Koenigsfeld was named a first team All-Patriot League outfielder earlier this week and was selected as one of 25 candidates for the inuaugural Olerud Award (presented to the nation's top dual-position player).
FOUR AND COUNTING: Junior Ben Koenigsfeld added to his growing number of All-Patriot League certificates this week, collecting his fourth all-conference nod in three years. Voted Patriot League Pitcher of the Year last spring, Koenigsfeld became the first player to earn first team All-Patriot League laurels at two different positions in the same season when he claimed a first-team citing in the outfield as well. Koenigsfeld repated his first-team status in the outfield this spring running his career number of All-Patriot League citations to four. Koenigsfeld was named to the second team All-Patriot League squad as a starting pitcher during his freshman campaign.
GUNNING THEM DOWN: Sophomore C J.T. Watkins put forth a very impressive freshman showing, serving as Army's starting backstop throughout the season. Watkins, who did not begin catching until the summer before he entered West Point, quickly developed into one of the Black Knights' most respected leaders on and off the field. The son of a professinal baseball scout, Watkins has elevated his play both offensively and defensively this spring. The native of Tuscaloosa, Ala., has been steady at the plate all season, posting a .333 batting average with five doubles, 29 runs scored and 18 RBI. But it is Watkins' ability to shut down the opponent's running game that has caught the most attention this spring. Watkins has thrown out 15 of 29 potential base-stealers this season, translating into a remarkable 51.7 percent success rate. The Army single season record for highest percentage of base runners thrown out attempting to steal by a catcher is 43.6 percent (17 of 39), set by Schuyler Williamson in 2004.
THROWING BLANKS: Matt Fouch has authored an outstanding senior showing as Army's No. 1 weekend starter. Fouch fashioned a 17-inning scoreless streak earlier this season after firing consecutive complete-game shutouts against Cornell and Holy Cross. Seven days after tossing a three-hitter against Cornell, Fouch shut out the Patriot League's top offensive club in Holy Cross, limiting the Crusaders to six singles. The native of Stafford, Va., sports a 6-2 overall record and ranks second in the Patriot League with a 2.66 earned run average in 10 appearances overall. Fouch was nothing short of dominant against Patriot League opposition, posting a 4-1 record and league-best 1.59 ERA in five conference tilts. He suffered a 1-0 complete-game loss to Bucknell for his only conference setback of the season. Fouch allowed just 26 hits in 34 innings of Patriot work, fanning 18 and walking only seven. He limited conference foes to a lowly .210 batting average. Fouch has garnered three Patriot League Pitcher of the Week citations during the course of his West Point career and was a unanimous choice for Patriot League Pitcher of the Year honors this season. He has allowed just 51 hits across 61 innings overall, fanning 42 and walking 19.
ON TOP: In addition to garnering six regular season Patriot League titles and five Patriot League tournament crowns, Army boasts the highest victory total (226) and the highest winning percentage (.626, 226-135) in conference play among league members, despite joining the circuit two years after the Patriot League adopted baseball as a league sport in 1991. Army is the only school to feature a winning percentage higher than .600 in Patriot play. The Black Knights also sport the lowest total of losses (135). Bucknell stands second in victories with 210, 16 behind Army's pace-setting total of 226. Navy ranks second in winning percentage at .569.
ALL-TIME PATRIOT LEAGUE RECORDS:
| Team | Wins | Losses | Pct. | Titles |
| ARMY | 226 | 135 | .626 | 5 |
| Navy | 206 | 156 | .569 | 5 |
| Bucknell | 210 | 180 | .538 | 4 |
| Lafayette | 170 | 215 | .442 | 1 |
| Lehigh | 170 | 222 | .434 | 1 |
| Holy Cross | 155 | 230 | .403 | 0 |
PATRIOT LEAGUE PROMINENCE: With a conference-best five Patriot League championships to its credit, Army has also dominated the circuit's weekly awards since joining the conference in 1993. The Black Knights have piled up 115 weekly awards in that time -- more than any other Patriot League team. Army has garnered 37 conference player of the week honors (first among Patriot schools), 47 pitcher of the week citations (first among Patriot members) and 31 rookie of the week honorees (first among conference schools). The Black Knights sport similar dominance in the All-Patriot League team voting categories over the years. Despite joining the Patriot League two years after its inception in 1993, Army still leads all conference members in first- and second-team all-league selections with 106. Black Knight players have amassed 56 first-team citings (second only to Bucknell's 59) and 50 second-team certificates (first by a wide margin). Additionally, Army tops the conference in player (4), pitcher (8) and rookie (4) of the year citations. Black Knight players have captured five of the last seven Patriot League pitcher of the year awards and four of the last seven rookie of the year citings.
TOURNEY TOUGH: In addition to garnering six regular season Patriot League titles and five Patriot League tournament crowns, Army boasts the highest winning percentage of any conference school in Patriot League Tournament play. The Black Knights have prevailed in 15 of their 24 conference tournament tilts for a .625 winning percentage. Army is the only school to feature a winning percentage higher than .531 in Patriot tourney play. The Black Knights also sport the lowest total of losses (9) of any league team with at least 15 conference tourney appearances. Bucknell ranks second in winning percentage at .531. The Black Knights have won five conference crowns during their seven trips to the Patriot League Championship Series and are tied with Navy for most Patriot League championships earned. Army boasts a Patriot-best 71.4 percent success rate (5-for-7) when reaching the PLCS.
ALL-TIME PL TOURNEY RECORDS:
| Team | Wins | Losses | Pct. | Titles |
| ARMY | 15 | 9 | .625 | 5 |
| Bucknell | 17 | 15 | .531 | 4 |
| Navy | 16 | 16 | .500 | 5 |
| Lehigh | 4 | 5 | .444 | 1 |
| Lafayette | 5 | 7 | .417 | 1 |
| Holy Cross | 2 | 6 | .250 | 0 |
ACROSS THE LAND: Army sports a true national flavor, with 15 different states represented on the Black Knights' roster this spring. Florida and Texas lead the way with five native sons holding down places on Army's roster. The states of North Carolina (4), Georgia (3), Arizona (2), California (2), Illinois (2) and Louisiana (2) follow closely behind.
CAROLINA ON THEIR MIND: The state of North Carolina has been particularly friendly to the Black Knights' baseball program of late, both in terms of quantity and quality of players yielded. Among the North Carolina natives holding spots on Army's roster are standouts Clint Moore, Kevin McKague and Shaun Wixted. Additionally, sophomore OF Cody Murtle hails from the "Old North State."
NOTABLE ALUMS: From Robert E. Lee (USMA 1829) to H. Norman Schwarzkopf (USMA 1956), West Point's long list of distinguished graduates reads like a "Who's Who" in American history. Two former members of Army's baseball program have worked their way on to the "notables" list in recent years. Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno (USMA1975), a former Black Knight pitcher, served as commander of the infantry division that was responsible for capturing Saddam Hussein in Iraq in December of 2003. A three-time letterwinner during his days in the Black, Gold and Gray, Lt. Gen. Odierno has addressed the Army team in the past and attended a doubleheader against Bucknell two years ago. He is currently serving as Commanding General of the Multi-National Force in Iraq.
HOME SWEET HOME: Army has enjoyed a great deal of success on its home field in recent years and is 14-3 at Doubleday Field this spring. The Black Knights have won 11 of the 15 Patriot League Tournament games they have played at home for a winning percentage of .733.
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