Army West Point Athletics
Baseball Tabbed to Win Patriot League, Sweep Major Awards, and Have Five Named to All-League Team
January 31, 2024 | Baseball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Army West Point baseball team was picked to win the Patriot League for the sixth straight year, swept preseason major awards, and had five named to the preseason all-league team the league announced Wednesday.
The Black Knights received 50 points and 10 first place votes to top the poll. Bucknell was picked to finish second, receiving two first place votes.
Sam Ruta took home Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year. In his career the senior is hitting .320 with 134 RBI and an on base percentage of .419. Last season he was second in the Patriot League in triples (5) and runs scored (53). He also belted 13 homers which was good for third in the league. A big game performer, he drove in seven RBI against Bucknell in the two game sweep of Bucknell in the Patriot League Championship.
Mike Ruggieri was named Patriot League Preseason Pitcher of the Year after a dominant season last year. In Patriot League play he went 6-0 to the tune of a 2.55 ERA. He was named to the All-Patriot League First Team and ABCA/Rawlings Northeast All-Region First Team in 2023.
Derek Berg won Patriot League Preseason Defender of the Year. The catcher threw out .432 percent of base runners attempting to steal and boasted a .991 fielding percentage. He guided the Black Knights pitching staff to a league-best ERA of 4.41 and 451 strikeouts which also was tops in the league.
Matthew Ronnebaum and Braden Golinski were named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team. Ronnebaum threw 81.1 innings last season, striking out 82 for a 7-4 record. Golinski had the best batting average on the team amongst the returners last season at .323. His OPS of .993 is also the best amongst returners.
Patriot League baseball head coaches and sports information directors voted on the preseason poll, All-League team and major awards. Neither group was permitted to vote for their team or student-athletes.
2024 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Poll
1. Army West Point (10 first-place votes), 50
2. Bucknell (2), 38
3. Navy, 32
4. Lehigh, 27
5. Lafayette, 23
6. Holy Cross, 10
2024 Patriot League Baseball Major Award Winners
Preseason Player of the Year – Sam Ruta, Army West Point, Sr. 3B
Preseason Pitcher of the Year – Mike Ruggieri, Army West Point, Sr., RHP
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Derek Berg, Army West Point, Sr., C
2024 Preseason All-Patriot League Baseball Team*
SP: Mike Ruggieri, Army West Point, Sr.
SP: Matthew Ronnebaum, Army West Point, Sr.
SP: Matthew Shirah, Navy, Sr.
RP: Landon Kruer, Navy, Sr.
C: Derek Berg, Army West Point, Sr.
1B: Michael Zarrillo, Lafayette, Jr.
2B: Billy Kender, Bucknell, Jr.
SS: Tyler Young, Lehigh, Sr.
SS: Eduardo Diaz, Navy, Sr.
3B: Sean Keys, Bucknell, Jr.
3B: Sam Ruta, Army West Point, Sr.
OF: Braden Golinski, Army West Point, Sr.
OF: Jacob Corson, Bucknell, Sr.
OF: Grant Voytovich, Bucknell, Sr.
OF: Jack Toomey, Holy Cross, So.
At-Large: Sean Scanlon, Holy Cross, Jr.
*Additional players selected to the preseason team due to ties in voting
The Black Knights received 50 points and 10 first place votes to top the poll. Bucknell was picked to finish second, receiving two first place votes.
Sam Ruta took home Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year. In his career the senior is hitting .320 with 134 RBI and an on base percentage of .419. Last season he was second in the Patriot League in triples (5) and runs scored (53). He also belted 13 homers which was good for third in the league. A big game performer, he drove in seven RBI against Bucknell in the two game sweep of Bucknell in the Patriot League Championship.
Mike Ruggieri was named Patriot League Preseason Pitcher of the Year after a dominant season last year. In Patriot League play he went 6-0 to the tune of a 2.55 ERA. He was named to the All-Patriot League First Team and ABCA/Rawlings Northeast All-Region First Team in 2023.
Derek Berg won Patriot League Preseason Defender of the Year. The catcher threw out .432 percent of base runners attempting to steal and boasted a .991 fielding percentage. He guided the Black Knights pitching staff to a league-best ERA of 4.41 and 451 strikeouts which also was tops in the league.
Matthew Ronnebaum and Braden Golinski were named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team. Ronnebaum threw 81.1 innings last season, striking out 82 for a 7-4 record. Golinski had the best batting average on the team amongst the returners last season at .323. His OPS of .993 is also the best amongst returners.
Patriot League baseball head coaches and sports information directors voted on the preseason poll, All-League team and major awards. Neither group was permitted to vote for their team or student-athletes.
2024 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Poll
1. Army West Point (10 first-place votes), 50
2. Bucknell (2), 38
3. Navy, 32
4. Lehigh, 27
5. Lafayette, 23
6. Holy Cross, 10
2024 Patriot League Baseball Major Award Winners
Preseason Player of the Year – Sam Ruta, Army West Point, Sr. 3B
Preseason Pitcher of the Year – Mike Ruggieri, Army West Point, Sr., RHP
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Derek Berg, Army West Point, Sr., C
2024 Preseason All-Patriot League Baseball Team*
SP: Mike Ruggieri, Army West Point, Sr.
SP: Matthew Ronnebaum, Army West Point, Sr.
SP: Matthew Shirah, Navy, Sr.
RP: Landon Kruer, Navy, Sr.
C: Derek Berg, Army West Point, Sr.
1B: Michael Zarrillo, Lafayette, Jr.
2B: Billy Kender, Bucknell, Jr.
SS: Tyler Young, Lehigh, Sr.
SS: Eduardo Diaz, Navy, Sr.
3B: Sean Keys, Bucknell, Jr.
3B: Sam Ruta, Army West Point, Sr.
OF: Braden Golinski, Army West Point, Sr.
OF: Jacob Corson, Bucknell, Sr.
OF: Grant Voytovich, Bucknell, Sr.
OF: Jack Toomey, Holy Cross, So.
At-Large: Sean Scanlon, Holy Cross, Jr.
*Additional players selected to the preseason team due to ties in voting
Players Mentioned
C/UTL
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
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