Army West Point Athletics
Lehman Wins Patriot League Pitcher of the Year, Seven Black Knights Named to All-League Teams
May 08, 2024 | Baseball
Five Players Named to First Team
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Army West Point Baseball's Justin Lehman was named 2024 Patriot League Pitcher of the Year on Wednesday, as seven Black Knights made the All-League First or Second Teams, released by the league office.
Lehman finished the regular season with a league-leading 1.44 earned run average, slotting him second in the nation among qualifying pitchers.
Seven of Lehman's nine starts this season lasted five innings or longer, with five starts of at least six frames. The junior from Fort Mill, S.C. has two complete games, including a nine-inning, 129-pitch complete-game shutout against Navy April 26.
Twice, the righty has won Patriot League Pitcher of the Week honors, both times after earning wins over Navy. Lehman—a two-way player—has 21 starts at first base, and five in the designated hitter spot. Three times, Lehman has batted for himself in the lineup as a P/DH.
Lehman was also one of five Black Knights to make the First Team All-Patriot League.
Army claimed two of the three spots in the first team earmarked for starting pitchers, with RHP Matthew Ronnebaum joining rotationmate Lehman. Ronnebaum tossed a pair of seven-inning complete games, shutting out Lehigh May 4 to secure the team's regular season title, as well as on March 2 in a run-rule romp over service academy rival Air Force in Sugar Land, Texas.
Andrew Berg—Army's leader in saves—was also named to the first team as a relief pitcher. Andrew Berg pitched to his older brother, Derek, behind the plate 11 times across the regular season. Derek Berg meanwhile also earned an All-Conference First Team nod at catcher, with a .305 AVG and a team-high 14 home runs.
Rounding out the first team among Black Knights was outfielder William Parker, who leads the squad with 58 RBIs this year. Against Bucknell in Game 2 of a doubleheader March 25, Parker hit a grand slam en route to eight RBIs, tying a program single-game record.
Two Black Knights made the All-Conference Second Team. Third baseman Sam Ruta is second on the club with 13 home runs and finished the regular season with a team-high 1.098 OPS. Ruta joined Parker in the single-game RBI record book, with eight RBIs April 7 against Holy Cross.
Braden Golinski—with eight home runs and a .281 regular season AVG—made the second team as an outfielder.
Army won the Patriot League Regular Season title for the third straight season. The Black Knights are seeking a sixth consecutive conference tournament championship this month, as well as an automatic berth to the NCAA Regionals.
The team opens postseason play 1:05 p.m. Saturday against Bucknell, with the best-of-three series continuing Monday. Each of Army's conference tournament games will be played at Doubleday Field.
2024 Patriot League Baseball Major Awards
Player of the Year – Sean Keys, Bucknell, Jr., 3B
Pitcher of the Year – Justin Lehman, Army West Point, Jr., RHP
Rookie of the Year – Chris Morabito, Bucknell, Fr., OF
Defensive Player of the Year – Eduardo Diaz, Navy, Sr., SS
Gene Depew Coach of the Year – Ed Kahovec, Holy Cross
2024 First Team All-Patriot League
SP: Justin Lehman, Army West Point, Jr.
SP: Matthew Ronnebaum, Army West Point, Sr.
SP: Tyler Grenn, Navy, So.
RP: Andrew Berg, Army West Point, So.
C: Derek Berg, Army West Point, Sr.
1B: Ethan Swidler, Lafayette, So.
2B: Billy Kender, Bucknell, Jr.
SS: Tyler Young, Lehigh, Sr.
3B: Sean Keys, Bucknell, Jr.
OF: William Parker, Army West Point, So.
OF: Jacob Corson, Bucknell, Sr.
OF: Jake Whitlinger, Lehigh, Jr.
At-Large – Michael Trommer, Bucknell, So.
2024 Second Team All-Patriot League*
SP: Tyler O'Neill, Bucknell, Jr.
SP: Alex Bryant, Holy Cross, Sr.
SP: Danny Macchiarola, Holy Cross, So.
SP: Cole Leaman, Lehigh, So.
RP: Nolan Jorgenson, Navy, Sr.
C: Colin Brown, Holy Cross, Fr.
1B: Chris Baillargeon, Holy Cross, Jr.
2B: Brock Murtha, Navy, So.
SS: Jimmy King, Holy Cross, Jr.
3B: Sam Ruta, Army West Point, Sr.
OF: Braden Golinski, Army West Point, Sr.
OF: Chris Morabito, Bucknell, Fr.
OF: Jack Toomey, Holy Cross, So.
OF: Blaze Fadio, Lafayette, Sr.
At-Large: Rafe Perich, Lehigh, Jr.
*Additional players on the second-team due to ties in the voting
Follow the Black Knights
Follow Army Baseball on X @ArmyWP_Baseball and on Instagram @armywp_baseball. Fans can also like Army West Point Athletics on Facebook and learn more about baseball and other programs at goarmywestpoint.com.
Lehman finished the regular season with a league-leading 1.44 earned run average, slotting him second in the nation among qualifying pitchers.
Seven of Lehman's nine starts this season lasted five innings or longer, with five starts of at least six frames. The junior from Fort Mill, S.C. has two complete games, including a nine-inning, 129-pitch complete-game shutout against Navy April 26.
Twice, the righty has won Patriot League Pitcher of the Week honors, both times after earning wins over Navy. Lehman—a two-way player—has 21 starts at first base, and five in the designated hitter spot. Three times, Lehman has batted for himself in the lineup as a P/DH.
Lehman was also one of five Black Knights to make the First Team All-Patriot League.
Army claimed two of the three spots in the first team earmarked for starting pitchers, with RHP Matthew Ronnebaum joining rotationmate Lehman. Ronnebaum tossed a pair of seven-inning complete games, shutting out Lehigh May 4 to secure the team's regular season title, as well as on March 2 in a run-rule romp over service academy rival Air Force in Sugar Land, Texas.
Andrew Berg—Army's leader in saves—was also named to the first team as a relief pitcher. Andrew Berg pitched to his older brother, Derek, behind the plate 11 times across the regular season. Derek Berg meanwhile also earned an All-Conference First Team nod at catcher, with a .305 AVG and a team-high 14 home runs.
Rounding out the first team among Black Knights was outfielder William Parker, who leads the squad with 58 RBIs this year. Against Bucknell in Game 2 of a doubleheader March 25, Parker hit a grand slam en route to eight RBIs, tying a program single-game record.
Two Black Knights made the All-Conference Second Team. Third baseman Sam Ruta is second on the club with 13 home runs and finished the regular season with a team-high 1.098 OPS. Ruta joined Parker in the single-game RBI record book, with eight RBIs April 7 against Holy Cross.
Braden Golinski—with eight home runs and a .281 regular season AVG—made the second team as an outfielder.
Army won the Patriot League Regular Season title for the third straight season. The Black Knights are seeking a sixth consecutive conference tournament championship this month, as well as an automatic berth to the NCAA Regionals.
The team opens postseason play 1:05 p.m. Saturday against Bucknell, with the best-of-three series continuing Monday. Each of Army's conference tournament games will be played at Doubleday Field.
2024 Patriot League Baseball Major Awards
Player of the Year – Sean Keys, Bucknell, Jr., 3B
Pitcher of the Year – Justin Lehman, Army West Point, Jr., RHP
Rookie of the Year – Chris Morabito, Bucknell, Fr., OF
Defensive Player of the Year – Eduardo Diaz, Navy, Sr., SS
Gene Depew Coach of the Year – Ed Kahovec, Holy Cross
2024 First Team All-Patriot League
SP: Justin Lehman, Army West Point, Jr.
SP: Matthew Ronnebaum, Army West Point, Sr.
SP: Tyler Grenn, Navy, So.
RP: Andrew Berg, Army West Point, So.
C: Derek Berg, Army West Point, Sr.
1B: Ethan Swidler, Lafayette, So.
2B: Billy Kender, Bucknell, Jr.
SS: Tyler Young, Lehigh, Sr.
3B: Sean Keys, Bucknell, Jr.
OF: William Parker, Army West Point, So.
OF: Jacob Corson, Bucknell, Sr.
OF: Jake Whitlinger, Lehigh, Jr.
At-Large – Michael Trommer, Bucknell, So.
2024 Second Team All-Patriot League*
SP: Tyler O'Neill, Bucknell, Jr.
SP: Alex Bryant, Holy Cross, Sr.
SP: Danny Macchiarola, Holy Cross, So.
SP: Cole Leaman, Lehigh, So.
RP: Nolan Jorgenson, Navy, Sr.
C: Colin Brown, Holy Cross, Fr.
1B: Chris Baillargeon, Holy Cross, Jr.
2B: Brock Murtha, Navy, So.
SS: Jimmy King, Holy Cross, Jr.
3B: Sam Ruta, Army West Point, Sr.
OF: Braden Golinski, Army West Point, Sr.
OF: Chris Morabito, Bucknell, Fr.
OF: Jack Toomey, Holy Cross, So.
OF: Blaze Fadio, Lafayette, Sr.
At-Large: Rafe Perich, Lehigh, Jr.
*Additional players on the second-team due to ties in the voting
Follow the Black Knights
Follow Army Baseball on X @ArmyWP_Baseball and on Instagram @armywp_baseball. Fans can also like Army West Point Athletics on Facebook and learn more about baseball and other programs at goarmywestpoint.com.
Players Mentioned
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