April 9, 2010

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy baseball team (20-10, 2-2 PL) will continue its annual rivalry against service academy and Patriot League foe Army (12-10, 3-1 PL) with a home four-game series this weekend at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium in Annapolis. First pitch for both Saturday and Sunday's doubleheaders is slated for 12 noon.

The first game of Sunday's doubleheader will be televised live on CBS College Sports, with Dave Ryan and Kevin Stocker calling the action. Live video will be available for all four games this weekend through Navy All-Access on www.NavySports.com(.) Fans will also be able to follow all four contests with live stats via GameTracker on www.NavySports.com(.)

Admission for all Navy baseball home games is free of charge. On Saturday, the first-200 fans in attendance will receive a free Navy frisbee and kids will be able to run the bases between games. In addition, Saturday is Scout Day, Anne Arundel County Public Schools Day and Camper Reunion Day.

Due to expected large crowds for this weekend, fans are encouraged to use the free shuttle service from Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (enter Gate 5 off of Taylor Ave.) to Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium. The shuttle will begin service at 11 a.m. and conclude at the end of the second game each day. Fans are reminded that there is a $5 fee to park at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Scouting Army
• Army makes the trip down to Annapolis with a 12-10 record on the year, including a 3-1 mark in Patriot League play - which is tops in the league. The Black Knights rallied from a 19-1 loss to open the league slate at Holy Cross to take the final-three games of the series from the Crusaders.
• The Black Knights were picked to win the Patriot League title for a second-straight year in the league's preseason poll. Last spring, Army went 36-21 and 13-7 in league play en route to advancing to the NCAA regional final against host Texas.
• As a team, Army is batting .296 with an average of 5.86 runs per game. Kevin McKague (.360 AVG, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 1 SB), Ben Koenigsfeld (.333, 3, 16, 3) and Clint Moore (.324, 3, 20, 1) have been the key healthy power threats this spring. Shaun Wixted (.422, 1, 10, 4) has been out since March 20 with a shoulder injury, while Joey Henshaw (.412, 3, 19, 1) has missed action since March 27 with a hip injury. Both Wixted and Henshaw have been listed as day-to-day and could re-enter the fold this weekend.
• The Black Knights own a 4.98 team ERA and have allowed the opponents to post a .304 batting average. LHP Matt Fouch (3-1, 3.18 ERA, 34.0 IP, 14 BB, 29 SO) was named the Patriot League Pitcher of the Week for his complete game shutout of Holy Cross and LHP Steve Cummings (3-1, 3.81, 26.0, 6, 25) fired seven strong innings last Sunday. RHP Ben Koenigsfeld (2-2, 6.20, 24.2, 7, 29) and RHP Kirk Porter (1-3, 4.55, 31.2, 12, 33) both started for Army last Saturday and could start this weekend. RHP Kevin McKague (0-0, 1.17, 7.2, 4, 4) has already posted five saves for the Black Knights in 2010.

All-Time Against Army
• Navy owns a 101-91 (.526) advantage in the all-time series against Army.
• The Midshipmen are 50-38 (.568) all-time against the Black Knights at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium.

Determining the "Star" Winner
• The winner of the four-game Army-Navy series will claim the coveted "Star". If the series ends in a tie at two games apiece, the winner of the first game of the series will be awarded the Star.

The Army-Navy Series
• This weekend marks a busy Army-Navy weekend, as not only will the Mids be taking on the Black Knights, they'll also be squaring off in women's outdoor track & field (Saturday, 1:30 p.m., in West Point), men's outdoor track & field (Saturday, 3 p.m., in West Point) and men's tennis (Sunday, 1 p.m., in Annapolis).
• In all sports this year, Navy is 13-6 (.684) against Army. The Midshipmen are 10-6 (.625) in Star competitions this year and can clinch the overall Star series victory for the 14th-straight year with a Star victory in any of the four sports this weekend.
• During this 14-year run, the Midshipmen are 269-149-6 (.642) against the Black Knights, including a 203-93-6 (.682) mark in Star games.
• In the overall all-time series, Navy owns a 914-689-39 (.569) advantage against Army.

All-Time Against the Patriot League
• Navy is 329-226-3 (.592) all-time against teams currently affiliated with the Patriot League, including a solid 201-145 (.581) all-time in Patriot League action. The Midshipmen boast a winning all-time record against each of the other-five schools in the league: Army (101-91), Bucknell (59-48-1), Holy Cross (53-23), Lafayette (58-31-2) and Lehigh (58-33).

Navy Preseason Patriot League Rankings
• Navy was picked to finish fourth in the official Patriot League Preseason Poll, Baseball America preview and Rivals.com preview.
• In the official Patriot League Preseason Poll, Navy claimed 27 points to rank ahead of fifth-place Lafayette (21 points) and sixth-place Lehigh (12 points). Defending league-champion Army (46 points, eight first-place votes) was tabbed as the preseason favorite, followed by Bucknell (39 points, four first-place votes) and Holy Cross (35 points).
• In the Baseball America and Rivals.com previews, Navy was picked fourth, ahead of fifth-place Lafayette and sixth-place Lehigh. Army was picked to win the league, followed by Holy Cross and Bucknell.
• As a note, the top-four teams advance to the Patriot League Tournament, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Patriot League Standings
1. Army: 3-1 (12-10 overall)
2. Navy: 2-2 (20-10 overall)
2. Bucknell: 2-2 (12-19 overall)
2. Lehigh: 2-2 (10-16 overall)
2. Lafayette: 2-2 (6-17 overall)
6. Holy Cross: 1-3 (11-12 overall)
- THIS WEEKEND -
Army at Navy
Holy Cross at Bucknell
Lafayette at Lehigh

Following Navy Baseball Action Live and On-Demand
• Fifteen of Navy's home games this year will be video streamed live on Navy All-Access. In addition, every Navy baseball game this season will have live stats available through GameTracker on www.NavySports.com(.)
• Navy's twinbill opener against rival Army on Sunday, April 11, will be broadcast nationally on CBS College Sports. Commentators Dave Ryan and Kevin Stocker will provide the call from Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium in Annapolis.
• Below is a list of all the Navy home games that will be shown on Navy All-Access:
March 27 - UMBC (DH) - W, 1-0 | L, 2-1
March 28 - UMBC - W, 4-3
April 3 - Lehigh (DH) - L, 4-2 | W, 9-7
April 4 - Lehigh (DH) - L, 5-2 | W, 7-0
April 10 - Army (DH) - 12 p.m.
April 11 - Army (DH) - 12 p.m.
April 24 - Holy Cross (DH) - 12 p.m.
April 25 - Holy Cross (DH) - 12 p.m.

Five-Straight 20-Win Seasons
• Navy recorded its fifth-consecutive 20-win season with its 9-6 victory at home over George Washington on April 6. The five-straight 20-win seasons is tied for the second-longest streak in school history, just shy of the program-record six-consecutive 20-win seasons between 1998-03.
• Navy has recorded 28 20-win seasons in the program's 115-year history.

Home Sweet Home
• The Midshipmen are 15-7 on their home field, Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium, this season.
• This weekend's action marks the 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th of 32 Navy games that will be played at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium in Annapolis.
• Since the installation of FieldTurf prior to the start of the 2006 season, the Midshipmen have played more than 25 home games in each of the past-four years.
• The Midshipmen played 11 home games before any other team in the Patriot League opened play on its home field this spring.
• Navy's 13-game homestand between March 4-21 ranked as the longest stretch of home games for the Mids since they played 15-consecutive games in Annapolis between March 16, 1996 and April 3, 1996.

Seniors Aim for All-Time Class Wins Record
• Navy's senior class enters this weekend with 107 wins under their belts, which ranks as the second-highest total among any class in program history. This collection of 10 seniors looks to break the school record of 111 wins during the Class of 2008's four-year tenure.
• The Midshipmen won 119 games between 2006-09, but there were no seniors on Navy's roster from a season ago.
• Below are the winningest classes in Navy's 115-year program history:
1.) 111 wins - Class of 2008
2.) 107 wins - Class of 2010
3.) 106 wins - Class of 1983
4.) 103 wins - Class of 1998
4.) 103 wins - Class of 1996
6.) 101 wins - Class of 1997
6.) 101 wins - Class of 1986
8.) 100 wins - Class of 1985

Navy in the National Rankings
• Below are the statistical categories where Navy was ranked among the top 100 nationally heading into this week's action:
- TEAM -
11. Double Plays (31)
24. Sacrifice Flies (17)
28. Earned Run Average (3.92)
33. Triples (11)
33. Double Plays Per Game (1.07)
35. Walks Allowed Per Nine Innings (3.06)
46. Hits Allowed Per Nine Innings (9.22)
48. Winning Percentage (.655)
55. Hit by Pitch (38)
57. Triples Per Game (0.38)
60. Stolen Bases (45)
71. Hits (302)
81. Stolen Bases Per Game (1.55)
91. Batting Average (.314)
- INDIVIDUAL -
6. Alex Azor - Toughest to Strike Out (33.0)
47. Alex Azor - Triples (3)
58. Ben Nelson - Earned Run Average (2.35)
69. Zach Sipe - Wins (4)
72. Sam Long - Strikeouts (44)
80. Alex Azor - Triples Per Game (0.12)
83. Sam Long - Strikeouts Per Nine Innings (9.73)
85. Drew Carlson - Saves (3)
91. Sam Long - Walks Allowed Per Nine Innings (1.77)
92. Zach Sipe - Hits Allowed Per Nine Innings (7.48)

It Ain't Over `Til It's Over
• The Midshipmen have recorded 11 come-from-behind victories this season. Last year, Navy rallied from behind to win 12 of its 20 games.
• Two of this year's comeback victories came with the Mids trailing in the ninth inning or later - vs. Air Force (trailed 8-7 in the ninth, won 10-9 in 11 innings) and vs. Central Connecticut State (trailed 4-2 in the 10th, won 5-4 in 11 innings).
• The Midshipmen have won two games in walk-off fashion this spring. Jonathan Wright delivered a walk-off single in the 11th inning to defeat Central Connecticut State, 5-4, on March 7. Against UMBC on March 28, pinch-hitter Jonathan Berkowitz singled home the winning run in the ninth for a 4-3 victory.
• Navy's 12-10 victory over Maryland Eastern Shore on Feb. 24 after trailing by seven runs represented the third-largest deficit ever overcome in a win.
• Below is a list of the largest deficits erased in a Navy victory in the program's 115-year history:
t-1.) 8 runs - vs. George Washington, 3/16/1994 (trailed 9-1 in the fifth and won, 10-9)
t-1.) 8 runs - vs. Spring Hill College, 4/18/1928 (trailed 9-1 in the fourth and won, 11-9)
t-3.) 7 runs - vs. Maryland Eastern Shore, 2/24/2010 (trailed 8-1 in the fourth and won, 12-10)
t-3.) 7 runs - at Lafayette, 4/10/2004 (trailed 8-1 in the third and won, 10-9)

Coming Through in a Pinch • Navy's pinch-hitters have combined to hit .460 (23-for-50) with two doubles, a home run, eight walks and 18 RBIs this spring.
• Jonathan Wright has been the brightest performer in the pinch-hitting role this spring, as he's 8-for-11 with two walks, a double and five RBIs.
• Craig Veech's pinch-home run at Georgetown on March 24 was Navy's first since Jeff Bland came off the bench and went deep at Mount St. Mary's on March 19, 2009.

It All Starts with Starting Pitching
• Navy's starting pitchers have tallied 15 quality starts (6.0+ IP, 3- ER) in its 30 games this spring. Zach Sipe leads the team with five quality starts, while Sam Long has tallied four and Wes Olson has three to his credit. Rookie Ben Nelson has a pair of quality starts, while classmate Johnny Schoberl has recorded one.
• Over the last-18 games, Navy has accumulated 10 quality starts.
• Among Navy's seven pitchers that have started a game this spring, five of them are sporting an ERA under 4.00.

Blanking the Competition
• The Midshipmen pitched staff posted two shutouts within a span of eight games between March 27 and April 4. It's the quickest span between two shutouts pitched since Navy posted back-to-back shutouts against Maryland Eastern Shore on May 5, 2007.
• Navy's 7-0 shutout against Lehigh on April 4 was its first league shutout since a 4-0 victory at Bucknell on April 19, 2008. It was also Navy's first shutout in a nine-inning league game since it blanked Army, 2-0, on April 23, 2006, in Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Many Relievers Chipping in with Saves
• Five Navy relievers - Drew Carlson (3), Tyler Mapes (3), Chris Murray (1), Ben Nelson (1) and Joel Rinehart (1) have earned a save this spring.
• Navy's nine saves this year ranks as the fourth-highest total in program history.
• Over the last-five seasons, all of which were under Paul Kostacopoulos and pitching coach Scott Friedholm, Navy has totaled 55 saves. Prior to their arrival, the Midshipmen had never accumulated more than eight saves, a feat that they have achieved four times.

Hurts So Good
• As a team, Navy has been hit by a pitch 41 times this season, which ranks as the ninth-highest total in program history.
• Alex Azor has been plunked seven times in 2010, which ranks as the 12th-highest mark in school history.
• Three Midshipmen have tied the school record with two hit by pitches in the same game - Alex Azor (twice), Steven Soares and Dylan Wheeler.

Productive Outs
• Navy has lifted 17 sacrifice flies this season, which is tied for ninth most in program history. Last season in 47 games, the Midshipmen had 10 sacrifice flies.
• Kendall Bolt has driven in 12 runs with a sacrifice fly during his career, which ranks as the highest total in program history.

Mids Racking Up Weekly Awards
• Already this season, six Navy baseball players have been recognized with a weekly honor from the Patriot League or the ECAC.
• Below is a list of the players and the recognition they received this season:
Matthew Curley - Patriot League Player of the Week (March 2)
Sam Long - Patriot League Pitcher of the Week (March 2, March 29), ECAC Pitcher of the Week (March 30)
Tyler Mapes - Patriot League Rookie of the Week (March 22)
Ben Nelson - Patriot League Rookie of the Week (Feb. 23, April 5)
Wes Olson - Patriot League Pitcher of the Week (Feb. 23)
Johnny Schoberl - Patriot League Rookie of the Week (March 8)

Speciale Climbing the Career Records Charts
• Navy senior Michael Speciale is moving up several of the career records charts, many of which he's eyeing the program record.
• Below are a list of the categories in which he ranks among the top-10 all-time career performers at Navy:
Most total bases: 2nd (322)
Most at bats: 3rd (667)
Most runs scored: 3rd (135)
Most home runs: 3rd (18)
Most runs batted in: t-3rd (122)
Most hits: 4th (210)
Most games played: 5th (175)
Most games started: 5th (173)
Most doubles: 5th (40)
Most times hit by pitch: t-7th (17)
Most stolen bases: 10th (36)

Guadagnini Tied School-Record Hitting Streak
• Mike Guadagnini had a 22-game hitting streak that spanned back to the end of last season, which tied for the longest in program history. Todd Benke completed his collegiate career with a 22-game streak in 1998.
• Guadagnini's streak was only six games shy of tying the Patriot League record of 28 games by Eric Hoffman between the 2001-02 seasons.
• However, Guadagnini bounced back with a six-RBI performance against Central Connecticut State, which is tied for the fifth most in program history.
• Below is a list of the longest hitting streaks in Navy's 115-year program history:
t-1.) 22 games - Mike Guadagnini (4/13/2009-2/28/2010)
t-1.) 22 games - Todd Benke (4/6/1998-5/15/1998)
t-3.) 21 games - Craig Candeto (4/13/2003-2/7/2004)
t-3.) 21 games - Andy Loferski (4/17/1982-3/7/1983)

Hoosier Goes Deep Twice in the Same Game
• Mike Hoosier belted a pair of long home runs in Navy's 17-5 victory over Air Force on Feb. 26 in Savannah, Ga. He became the 36th player in program history to go deep multiple times in the same game. Prior to that game, he had two career home runs.
• His performance marked the first time since April 7, 2008, that a Navy player recorded a multi-home run game, as Mike Guadagnini homered in back-to-back at bats at UMBC.

Berkowitz: One Swing, Four RBIs
• Jonathan Berkowitz belted his first-career grand slam to straightaway center in the third inning of Navy's win over Coppin State on March 4.
• It was the first grand slam by a Navy player in Annapolis since Matt Foster against Lehigh on May 12, 2002 - a span of 184 home games.

Getting Started on the Right Foot
• Navy's 17 wins before the start of Patriot League play ranked as the third-highest total in program history. The Midshipmen won 19 games before league play in 2006 and 18 pre-league games in 2007.
• The Midshipmen reached 10 wins by the end of the first weekend in March for the third time in head coach Paul Kostacopoulos's career at Navy, which began in 2006. Prior to Kostacopoulos, Navy had never reached the 10-win mark by the close of the first weekend in March.

Successful February Baseball
• Navy's .857 winning percentage, courtesy of a 6-1 record, in the month of February ranks as the best in program history. The mark surpassed the .818 winning percentage put forth by the 2007 Mids in February, as that team went on to win a school-record 35 games.
• Navy's four-best winning percentages in the month of February have come since head coach Paul Kostacopoulos took over the reigns five years ago.
• Kostacopoulos has led Navy to an impressive 26-9-2 (.730) record in February contests since taking over the reigns in 2006.
• Prior to Kostacopoulos's arrival, the Midshipmen were 29-63-1 (.317) all-time in games played during the month of February.

Looking Ahead
• Navy will head on the road for the first time in the month of April, as it travels to Hawks Stadium in Princess Anne, Md., to take on Maryland Eastern Shore (2-25) on Wednesday at 3 p.m. Live stats will be available via GameTracker on www.NavySports.com(.)