11/28/2001 - Baseball
ACC and Big Ten Opponents Highlight 2002 Navy Baseball Schedule
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ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Head coach Steve Whitmyer announced Wednesday the 2002 Navy baseball schedule, which is highlighted by non-conference games against Duke and Maryland from the Atlantic Coast Conference and Penn State from the Big Ten. Navy, the defending Patriot League Regular Season Co-Champions, also will play host to three league series at Max Bishop Stadium, including Army (March 30-31).
"I am really excited about the schedule this year because it will be very competitive and will be a challenge for our guys each week," Whitmyer said. "I like the fact we are playing teams representing many of the top baseball conferences in the country. The Service Academy Tournament in Millington (Tenn.), combined with our spring break trip to Florida, should provide great competition and help prepare us for conference play."
Navy, which returns eight starting position players and three of its top-starting pitchers, opens the season Feb. 9 with a doubleheader against Duke in Durham N.C. The following weekend, the Mids will travel to Norfolk, Va., to take on Old Dominion.
The Mids return to the Service Academy Spring Classic in Millington (Feb. 22-24), where Navy rounds out a competitive four-team field featuring Air Force, Memphis and Villanova.
Navy will then travel to Florida during Navy's spring break period and will play at least five games in DeLand and Jacksonville. National-power Stetson, Rhode Island and NCAA Division II semifinalist North Florida highlight Navy's trip to the Sunshine State.
Penn State comes to Annapolis March 23-24 for a pair of games. The Nittany Lions posted a 29-29 record last season, including a 15-11 mark in the Big Ten, but have lost five starting position players.
Navy and Maryland will square off for the first time since 1998 when the Mids travel to College Park, Md., April 10. A week later, the Terrapins enter Max Bishop Stadium for a 3 p.m. tilt. Navy is seeking its first victory over Maryland since 1995 when the Mids defeated the Terrapins in College Park, 14-6.
Navy opens the Patriot League season March 30-31 with two doubleheaders against Army before travelling to Lewisburg, Pa., to face league co-champs and Patriot League Tournament Champion Bucknell in a pair of doubleheaders (April 6-7). The Mids also will play host to Holy Cross (April 13-14) and Lehigh (April 27-28) in Annapolis.
