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Patriot League Baseball 2010 Preseason Poll

Sean Stires — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:21:00 +0000

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Army Picked to Repeat in Patriot League Baseball

Center Valley, Pa. - Defending Patriot League Baseball champion Army has been selected by coaches and sports information directors to claim the crown again in 2010, as the Black Knights were picked first in the League’s preseason poll announced on Wednesday.

Army garnered 46 points and eight first-place votes to take the spot in the poll. The Black Knights were followed by Bucknell, which had 39 points and the remaining four first-place votes. Holy Cross was picked third with 35 points, and followed in order by Navy (27), Lafayette (21) and Lehigh (12). Patriot League Baseball head coaches and sports information directors voted in the poll, and were not eligible to vote for their own teams.

The Black Knights had one of the best seasons in Patriot League history in 2009, sharing the Patriot League regular-season title with Bucknell before winning the League Tournament and advancing to the finals of the NCAA Regionals against Texas. Army became the first Patriot League team to win two games in the regionals before falling to the No. 1 overall seed Longhorns in a competitive final contest.

Army returns most of its core from last year’s championship team, including five of six players that earned First-Team All-League honors. Junior Ben Koenigsfeld was the Patriot League Pitcher of the Year as well as the Tournament Most Valuable Player, and earned First-Team recognition as a starting pitcher and outfielder. Koenigsfeld batted .342 with seven home runs and 38 RBIs last year, and went 8-4 with a 4.89 earned run average. Three First-Team All-League performers return on the infield, including junior Clint Moore (.395, 11 HR, 65 RBI) at shortstop and classmate Kevin McKague (.389, 6 HR, 44 RBI) at first base. Sophomore Zach Price (.355, 59 runs) was the Patriot League Rookie of the Year at second base. Joey Henshaw (.383, 13 HR, 75 RBI) completes the returning First-Team All-League picks after setting the Patriot League record for single-season RBI last year. Senior Matt Fouch (7-5, 4.70 ERA) also returns on the mound to form a 1-2 punch with Koenigsfeld.

The Black Knights went 36-21 overall last year and 13-7 in the Patriot League before defeating Holy Cross and Lafayette in the League Tournament. Army set League single-season records for runs, home runs and batting average, and returns 72 percent of its run production and pitchers who claimed 28 of the 36 victories.

Bucknell was every bit Army’s equal during the Patriot League season, finishing tied with the Black Knights at 13-7 in League action to help veteran manager Gene Depew earn the Patriot League Coach of the Year. The Bison notched eight All-League selections a year ago, and five of those players return to the fold in 2010. Senior outfielder Andrew Brouse (.330, 10 HR, 57 RBI) and catcher B.J. LaRosa (.320) were First-Team choices, while junior first baseman Doug Shribman (.360, 6 HR, 42 RBI), senior second baseman Ben Yoder (.323, 7 HR, 35 RBI) and junior starting pitcher Trey Frahler (6-4, 4.34 ERA) made the second team. The Bison have 26 letterwinners returning, including six starters in the field and 12 pitchers. Bucknell fell to Lafayette in last year’s Patriot League Tournament Semifinals.

Holy Cross finished in a tie with Bucknell and Army in the loss column in League play with an 11-7 mark before falling to the Black Knights in a three-game semifinal series. The Crusaders return the 2009 Patriot League Player of the Year at third base, as senior Matt Perry had one of the top batting averages in League annals at .423 and also hit seven home runs with 37 RBIs. He has returning company on the infield with first baseman Eric Oxford (.280, 10 HR, 45 RBI) and second baseman John Sills (.283, 6 HR, 31 RBI). Brendan McCrea (.304, 22 RBI) is back in the outfield and three pitchers with starting experience return to the rotation, including 2008 Patriot League Pitcher of the Year senior Matt Shapiro. The Crusaders lost only five letterwinners overall, and have seven positional starters and eight pitchers returning.

Navy missed out on the Patriot League Tournament last season, but has nearly its entire team back to make a run in 2010. The Mids return all eight positional starters and eight pitchers, including three starters, among 21 letterwinners after missing the Tournament by one game with an 8-12 League mark a year ago. Among that group are key players from the 2008 squad that made a run to the League title series. Seniors Michael Speciale (.350, 10 HR, 47 RBI) and Kendall Bolt (.328, 48 RBI) return along with junior Mike Guadagnini (.374, 42 runs), and will be joined by Second-Team All-League catcher Steven Soares (.309, 7 HR, 23 RBIs) in the batting order. Luke Roberts (2-0) earned First-Team All-League honors out of the bullpen last year, and Zach Sipe, Sam Long and Wes Olson are all back in the rotation.

After finishing fourth in the regular season, Lafayette made it to the Patriot League Championship series last year before bowing out to Army. The Leopards bring back 23 letterwinners in 2010, with seven positional starters and three starting pitchers among nine returnees on the mound. Outfielder Rob Froio led the team with a .367 batting average, while Matt Hall also returns in the outfield after posting a .307 batting average with a team-high 8 HR and 38 RBIs last year. Junior Corey Shea (4-3, 4.81 ERA) was a Second-Team All-League choice last year, while classmate Zach Fritz and senior Jeremy Atkins also return to the rotation.

Lehigh will try to get back on track with six starters returning in the field and all four in the rotation. Junior outfielder Andy Russell (.348, 7 HR, 38 RBIs) was a First-Team All-League selection after leading the team in all three triple-crown categories, while classmates Billy Goldman (.333) and Kevin Mihalick (.313) also batted over .300. Corey Kent went 4-2 with a 3.76 ERA on the mound.

The first Patriot League teams hit the field this weekend, with Army, Navy and Bucknell all heading south to open their seasons. The remaining three squads have their opening contests next weekend. The Patriot League season begins on the weekend of April 3-4, with the League Tournament semifinals set for May 15-16 and the Championship series on May 22-23. The Patriot League Tournament will once again include four teams and feature a best-of-three series at home sites for the semifinals and Championship.

2010 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Poll

1. Army – 46 points (8 first-place votes)
2. Bucknell – 39 points (4 first-place votes)
3. Holy Cross – 35 points
4. Navy – 27 points
5. Lafayette – 21 points
6. Lehigh – 12 points

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Patriot League 2010 Baseball Preview

Sean Stires — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:01:03 +0000

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Army Looks For Repeat After Record Setting 2009

2009 Regular Season Champion: Bucknell and Army tied with 13-7 records. The Bison took 3 of 4 from the Black Knights in the regular season to earn the postseason #1 seed.

2009 Tournament Champion: Army beat Lafayette 2-0 in the best-of-three championship.*

*The Patriot League has probably the most unique postseason tournament format in college baseball (it’s also probably the most fair). The Patriot League Baseball Championship is conducted as a field-of-four tournament over two weekends. The two higher seeds host first round best-of-three series pitting the No. 4 seed at the No. 1 seed and the No. 3 seed at the No. 2 seed. The championship best-of-three series will be played at the site of the highest seed remaining. The Patriot League champion earns the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Patriot League 2010 Preview

Army

2009 Record: (36-21, 13-7)

Mascot: Black Knights

Head Coach: Joe Sottolano

Location: West Point, NY

Vitals: .329 BA, 57 HR, .417 OBP, .970 OBP…5.04 ERA, 7 CG, 9 SV, 336 K, 212

Clint Moore

BB, .281 opp. BA

Young Knights Shine Bright: Current juniors Joey Henshaw (.383, 13 HR, 75 RBIs) and SS Clint Moore (.395, 11 HR, 63 RBIs) were two of Army’s top players in 2009. They both received ABCA All-American recognition. The 6’7 Henshaw is the tallest player in the Patriot League. Moore led the Patriot League in doubles (18) , triples (5) , slg% (.724) and OBP (.494). He was also a Brooks Wallace Award finalist. Zach Price (.355, 25 RBIs, 59 R, 14 SB) was also named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American.

Two-Way McKague: Another current junior was big both on the mound and at the plate as a sophomore Kevin McKague (.389, 6 HR, 44 RBIs) also served as Army’s closer and earned 7 of the team’s 9 saves.

Armed And Ready: The pitching staff returns three other top arms from last year with Kirk Porter (6-3, 4.18 ERA), Matt Fouch (7-5, 4.70 ERA) and Ben Koenigsfeld (8-4, 4.89 ERA, 4 CG).

Dugout Distinction: After guiding Army to a 36-21 record and an NCAA Regional appearance head coach Joe Sottolano was named an ABCA Regional Coach of the Year. He has led the Black Knights to NCAA berths in four of his ten seasons.

Bucknell

2009 Record: (21-23, 13-7)

Mascot: Bison

Head Coach: Gene Depew

Location: Lewisburg, PA

Vitals: .306 BA, 34 HR, .386 OBP, .959 Fld%…6.66 ERA, 7 CG, 5 SV, 213 K, 191 BB, .337 opp. BA

Big 10 Challenge: Bucknell plays Illinois, Ohio State and Northwestern March 18-20 in Winter Haven, FL.

New Footing: The Bison will play home games this spring on a newly installed FieldTurf surface at Depew Field.

Depew Distinction: Bison head coach Gene Depew was named Patriot League Coach of the Year in 2009. He picked-up his 500th career win during the season. Entering his 29th season at the helm, he is the longest tentured coach in Bucknell history.

Bison Back: Andy Brouse was among the Patriot League leaders in home runs (10), triples (5), runs batted in (56), total bases (109) and slugging percentage (.665). Catcher B.J. LaRosa hit .316 with 22 RBIs while throwing out 19 of 34 baserunners.

Ace Lost: Bucknell must First Team Patriot League pitcher Chris Yamagouchi (7-2, 4.45 ERA)

Holy Cross

Matt Perry

2009 Record: (22-27, 11-7)

Mascot: Crusaders

Head Coach: Greg DiCenzo

Location: Worcester, MA

Vitals: .291 BA, 45 HR, .370 OBP, .958 Fld%…7.07 ERA, 5 CG, 5 SV, 279 K, 214 BB, .306 opp. BA

Leader Of The Pat: Reigning Patriot League Player of the Year Matt Perry (.423, 7 HR, 37 RBIs) is among four returning line-up regulars who started at least 46 of the Crusaders’ 49 games last year. Perry, John Sills (.283, 6 HR, 31 RBIs), Eric Oxford (.280, 10 HR, 45 RBIs), and Brendan McCrea (.304, 2 HR, 22 RBIs) combined to hit 25 of the team’s 45 home runs last year.

Looking For Some ‘Ws’: Senior Tommy Arrigg (2-0, 6.82 ERA) worked exclusively out of the bullpen in 2009. He was one of two HC pitchers to have a winning record. Closer Ryan George (2-3, 8.55 ERA), who had all five of his team’s saves last year, returns as well.

Lafayette

2009 Record: (24-29, 9-11)

Mascot: Leopards

Head Coach: Joe Kinney

Location: Easton, PA

Vitals: .302 BA, 30 HR, .389 OBP, .966 Fld%…6.21 ERA, 5 CG, 5 SV, 277 K, 151 BB, .314 opp. BA

Lafayette Legend: Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Madden is a Lafayette alum who was recently inducted into the school’s Maroon Club Hall of Fame. The 2008 A.L. Manager of the Year played baseball for three seasons at Lafayette and also played quarterback for one year with the football team.

Overachievers: Lafayette was the #4 seed in the Patriot League Championships last year, but they beat #1 Bucknell in the first round best two-of-three series to advance to the Patriot finals.

Leopards Lost: Team MVP Daniel Bierce (.360, 5 HR, 45 RBIs, 21 SB) has graduated. His 194 games played are the most in Lafayette history. Lafayette also loses Jeff Butler (.308, 6 HR, 35 RBIs, 14 SB)

Solid Returns: Junior Rob Froio led the team in batting average (.367), runs scored (45) and OBP (.437) while also stealing 20 bases. Senior Matt Hall (.306, 8 HR, 38 RBIs) was the team home run leader. The Leopards also return their top four pitchers (ERA), including team pitching MVP Corey Shea (4-3, 4.81 ERA).

Lehigh

2009 Record: (11-36-1, 4-14)

Mascot: Moutain Hawks

Head Coach: Sean Leary

Location: Bethlehem, PA

Vitals: .279 BA, 28 HR, .352 OBP, .945 Fld%…7.13 ERA, 5 CG, 4 SV, 260 K, 216 BB, .325 Fld%

Andy Russell

Top Hawk: Returning junior Andy Russell led the team in virtually every category including batting average (.348) , slg.% (.604), OBP (.457), runs scored (35), RBIs (38) , doubles (13), triples (4), home runs (7), and stolen bases (10). Russell also hit .418 in Patriot League play.

Pitching Prowess: Lehigh returns 10 of its 12 pitchers from 2009, including Andy Russell’s brother senior Rob Russell.

Cats And Hawks: The Mountain Hawks host the defending America East champion Binghamton Bearcats with a pair of doubleheaders on March 20th & 21st.

Navy

2009 Record: (20-26-1, 8-12)

Mascot: Midshipmen

Head Coach: Paul Kostacopoulos

Location: Annapolis, MD

Vitals: .286 BA, 30 HR, .376 OBP, .965 Fld%…5.84 ERA, 1 CG, 6 SV, 319 K, 177 BB, .965 opp. BA

Academy Action: Navy plays three games vs. Air Force Feb. 26-28 in

Mike Guadagnini

Savannah, GA and hosts its Patriot League series vs. Army with doubleheaders on April 10 & 11.

Back In Action: The Mids return their top three hitters from 2009: Mike Guadagnini (.374), Kendall Bolt (.328) and Matthew Curley (.311). The trio combined to hit 13 of Navy’s 30 HR and had 25 of the team’s 54 stolen bases last year.

Mighty Mid Duo: Luke Roberts (2-0, 1.00, SV) and Alec Thomas (2-0, 4.18) are two of 10 returning Navy pitchers. Together they struckout 35 batters with just 9 walks in a combined 50 2/3 IP last year. They were Navy’s only two pitchers with winning records in ’09.

2010 Patriot League Predictions

Champion: Army-The combination of returning hitting and pitching from a team that beat Texas State and Boston College in NCAA play is unmatched in the league.

Player of the Year: Clint Moore-Army

Pitcher of the Year: Matt Fouch-Army