May 7, 2012

LUBBOCK, Texas - Army senior baseball standout Kevin McKague was one of 20 players from around the county named to the watch list for the 2012 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award, it was announced by the organization on Monday.

It marks the third consecutive season that an Army player has been in the running for the prestigious award, which is handed out annually to the nation's best two-way player. Ben Koenigsfeld (USMA '11) earned a spot on the watch list in both 2010 and 2011.

McKague stars on the diamond as Army's starting first baseman and doubles as the Black Knights' shutdown closer. The Fayetteville, N.C., native leads the Patriot League with a .385 batting average, 67 base hits and a .481 on-base percentage. He also ranks second in the conference with 41 runs batted in and 14 doubles, lists third with five home runs and 96 total bases, and stands eighth with 32 runs scored.

McKague has also excelled on the mound, having compiled a 1.46 earned run average in 11 appearances. He boasts a 1-0 record and five saves to go along with 15 strikeouts in 12.1 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting a paltry .182 against the hard-throwing righty.

A three-time all-conference selection, McKague is in the midst of re-writing the Army history books. He already owns the Academy career standards for base hits (275), doubles (53), multiple-hit games (84) and at-bats (772). McKague also holds the program marks for career saves (27) and single-season saves (13 in 2010).

The John Olerud Award, named for the Washington State star who achieved success as both a first baseman and a right-handed pitcher, will be presented as part of the annual College Baseball Night of Champions on June 30 in Lubbock, Texas.

Army (37-12) will return to action this weekend (May 12-13) when the top-seeded Black Knights host fourth-seeded Lafayette (14-35-1) in the Patriot League Tournament semifinals. First pitch for Saturday's doubleheader is set for 12 p.m.

2012 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Watch List
Pitcher, School
Zane Evans, Georgia Tech
Jake Davies, Georgia Tech
Reid Roper, Illinois
Josh Dezse, Ohio State
Cole Sturgeon, Louisville
Michael Lorenzen, Cal State Fullerton
Greg Mahle, UC Santa Barbara
Drew Reynolds, East Carolina
Ryan Gorton, Oregon State
Kevin McKague, ARMY
Justin Bryant, Auburn
Brian Johnson, Florida
Austin Maddox, Florida
A.J. Reed, Kentucky
Drew Steckenrider, Tennessee
C.K. Irby, Samford
Jeff McVaney, Texas State
Casey Selsor, UTSA
Marco Gonzales, Gonzaga
Aaron Brown, Pepperdine