Feb. 3, 2010

Center Valley, Pa. - Defending Patriot League Baseball champion Army received two pieces of good news heading into the 2010 campaign recently, as junior Kevin McKague was selected to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award watch list and the Black Knights received votes in the organization's preseason top 35 poll.

McKague enjoyed an outstanding season in his first turn as Army's closer last spring. In addition to garnering a First-Team All-Patriot League certificate at first base, McKague topped the League and ranked 76th nationally with seven saves.

McKague received mound duty in 23 contests last spring, listing tied for second among league leaders. He posted a 4.57 earned run average while not factoring into a decision. McKague allowed 17 base hits in 21.2 innings of work, striking out 17 and walking 17. He permitted just four extra-base hits and was scored upon in only 4 of 23 appearances. McKague limited opponents to a lowly .215 batting average and pitched to a stingy 1.24 seasonal earned run average when discounting subpar performances against nationally ranked squads Illinois and Texas.

The Black Knights were among the team receiving votes when the NCBWA released its top 35 preseason poll on Monday. Army returns 72 percent of its run production and pitchers responsible for 28 of 36 victories from last year's team that went 36-21 overall and advanced to the final of the Austin Regional before losing to No. 1 Texas after winning the Patriot League title.

Army is among the first Patriot League teams to set foot on the diamond in 2010 when it plays Dayton and Wake Forest in a split doubleheader in Winston-Salem, N.C. on Friday, February 19.

To read the full releases from Army Athletic Communications, as well as the first in a series of blogs by McKague, click on the links below.

McKague Named to Stopper of the Year Watch List
Army Receives Votes in Preseason NCBWA Poll
Kevin McKague To Chronicle Army Baseball Season Online