May 27, 2009

Patriot League NCAA Baseball Release - 5.27.09

Center Valley, Pa. - Patriot League champion Army opens play at the 2009 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship by facing the No. 1 overall seed in the field on Friday at 7 p.m., as the Black Knights take on host Texas in the opener of the Austin Regional. Army is the No. 4 seed in the group, with Texas as No. 1, Texas State at No. 2 and Boston College at No. 3. Texas State and Boston College match up earlier on Friday.

The Black Knights (34-19) enter the field as one of the hotter teams in the Tournament. After starting at 10-13 overall, Army has won 24 of its last 30 games and split a two-game series with Ivy League champion Dartmouth over the weekend. The Black Knights have won 12 of their last 14 and 18 of their last 21 overall.

Army won the Patriot League Championship on May 16 by completing a doubleheader sweep over Lafayette (6-2 and 8-1) at Doubleday Field to capture the three-game set. The Black Knights had advanced to the title matchup by knocking off Holy Cross in two of three games in the semifinals from May 9-10. Army shared the regular-season Patriot League title with Bucknell, finishing 13-7 in League action.

The Black Knights finished the year as the top hitting, pitching and fielding team in the Patriot League, and are among the national leaders in runs, hits, batting average and fielding percentage. Army's 424 runs and 54 home runs are Patriot League records, and its .334 team batting average is on track to set a League mark. Sophomore Ben Koenigsfeld was named the Patriot League Pitcher of the Year and Tournament Most Valuable Player while also becoming the first player in League history to earn First-Team All-Patriot League honors at two positions (pitcher and outfield) in the same year. Sophomores Kevin McKague, Clint Moore and Joey Henshaw all boast batting averages over .390 in the heart of the Army order.

While Army earned the Patriot League's automatic berth to the field, Texas (41-13-1) received its bid by winning the Big 12 regular-season and Tournament title. The Longhorns have six national titles to their name, with the last coming in 2005. Texas State and Boston College each earned at-large berths in the field.

The losers of Friday's contests will square off in an elimination game at 1 p.m. on Saturday, while the winners meet in the evening at 7 p.m. The NCAA Regional is a double-elimination format and will continue on Sunday and, if necessary, Monday.

Patriot League NCAA Tournament Notebook

Army Makes Fourth NCAA Appearance This Decade

After winning the Patriot League Championship on May 16, Army will make its fourth NCAA Regional appearance as a League member, matching Bucknell for the most in Patriot League annals. The Black Knights are in the field for the third time in the last six years after also making an appearance in 2000, 2004 and 2005.

Repeat the Feat?

Army will be facing the top-seed in the entire NCAA Tournament when it plays Texas on Friday night, and the Black Knights will go for a major upset for the second straight season by a Patriot League school. Bucknell earned a 7-0 victory at No. 4 seed Florida State in the opening game of last year's regionals. Patriot League teams have won four games in NCAA Regional play, including Army's 8-5 win over South Alabama in a loser's bracket game in the Black Knights' last appearance in 2005.

Second Time to Austin

Army becomes the second Patriot League school to make a trip to Austin for the NCAA Baseball Regionals. Bucknell made the trek in 2003, losing its first game to Texas, 7-0, and also falling in its next contest to Arkansas. Bucknell's matchup with Texas is the only regional game for a Patriot League school against the Longhorns or any other Big 12 opponent.

Army Wins Fifth Patriot League Crown

Army tied Navy for the most titles in Patriot League history by winning its fifth all-time crown with a sweep of Lafayette in the Patriot League Championship series on May 16. The Black Knights won two of three games against Holy Cross in the semifinals on May 9-10 to advance to the final series. Army improved to 10-5 in the Patriot League Championship series, and 15-9 all-time in the League Tournament.The Black Knights have won all four Championship series played at Doubleday Field.

Koenigsfeld Notches Two Unprecedented Achievements

Army sophomore Ben Koenigsfeld put together an outstanding season at the plate and on the mound for the Black Knights, and earned two first-time distinctions in Patriot League history. Koenigsfeld became the first player selected as a First-Team All-Patriot League player at both pitcher and in the field on May 5, and followed it up by concluding the Patriot League Tournament as the first player to earn both Pitcher of the Year and Tournament Most Valuable Player honors in the same year.

Moore One To Watch

Army sophomore Clint Moore was placed on the updated Brooks Wallace Award watch list earlier in the month. The award is given to the top shortstop in college baseball.

Army Gets Record Seven First-Team All-Patriot League Honors

Army became the first team in Patriot League history to receive seven First-Team All-Patriot League selections in 2009. In addition to the two selections for Koenigsfeld, Black Knights honored on the first team included: senior relief pitcher Tyler Anderegg, sophomore first baseman Kevin McKague, freshman second baseman Zach Price, sophmore shortstop Clint Moore and sophomore designated hitter Joey Henshaw. Senior outfielder Kyle Fleming was a Second-Team All-Patriot Leaguer.

Army Brings Record-Setting Offense into Regional

Army has already set Patriot League records in two offensive categories in 2009, and is on pace for a third. The Black Knights' 424 runs and 54 home runs are single-season League records, and their .334 batting average is on pace to top the current mark of .329, set by the Black Knights in 1997.

Black Knight Hitters Putting Up Huge Numbers

A sophomore trio leads Army's offense, and all three are among Patriot League season or career leaders. Joey Henshaw's 67 RBI are tied for second in a single-season in League annals, while his 76 hits rank seventh and 11 home runs are tied for 10th. Clint Moore is fourth with 62 RBI, while Kevin McKague's .400 average and 74 hits are just off the top 10. All three players are among the top 10 in Patriot League annals in career batting average, each hitting over .360 in two full seasons.