Air Force Baseball Travels To Service Academies Spring Classic
2/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 24, 2004
Complete Game Notes in PDF Format
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Game 1: Friday, 2/27, Noon (MST) vs. Kentucky (3-2)
Game 2: Saturday, 2/28 Noon vs. Navy (1-6)
Game 3: Sunday, 2/29 9 a.m. vs. Murray State (0-3)
Site: USA Stadium - Millington, Tenn.
Air Force Probable Pitching Starters:
Game 1: Ken Hodgson, Jr. LHP (1-1, 9.31 ERA)
Game 2: Clayton Couch, So. RHP (1-0, 5.40)
Game 3: Paul Vignola, So. RHP (0-1, 6.75)
Coverage There will be no radio/tv/livestats for the games. Recap and box scores will be posted immediately after the conclusion of each game.
Air Force Baseball Travels To Service Academies Spring Classic
The 2-4 Falcons baseball team will take on Kentucky, Navy and Murray State at the 2004 Service Academies Spring Classic at USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn. Each team will play three games and the tournament champion will be based upon the three-game record. Tiebreakers will be used as needed.
Hutcheon At The Helm
Mike Hutcheon begins his first year as the head coach of the Falcons. Hutcheon spent the last four years at Bethel College in Mishawaka, Ind. and compiled a record of 130-78 during his tenure there. In 2002, Hutcheon was named National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Coach of the year after leading Bethel to the 2002 NCCAA national title. Prior to his stay at Bethel, Hutcheon coached at Belhaven College in Jackson, Miss., for five seasons where he went 109-62. In his tenth season as a head coach, Hutcheon has compiled a 241-144 record.
Last Season At The Tournament
Due to heavy rain in the greater Tennessee area, Air Force was only able to get one game in at the Tourney, falling to Memphis 14-1. Starter Paul Vignola took his first collegiate loss in that game. Memphis scored in each of the first five innings. Mike Rose and Nathan DeRohan had base hits in the game. Ken Hodgson pitched a scoreless inning in relief.
Tournament History
The tournament began in 1990 as a round-robin tournament between Army, Navy and Air Force and has since expanded greatly. Memphis gave the the tournament some local flavor in 1992 and has played ever since. Since 1992, Notre Dame, Minnesota, Kentucky, Arkansas, Mississippi and Ohio State have all played in the Classic. Air Force is 28-21 overall in the 14-year history of the tournament. AFA is 18-8 vs. Army and Navy in the tournament. In the last four years, Air Force is 11-6 and has played in the championship game in three of the last five years. The Falcons won the tournament title in 1999 and 2001. Below is a list of all of Air Force's games and scores in the tourney:
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 Navy, W 9-1 Navy, W 6-0 Army, L 2-5 Army, L 6-8 Army, W 6-1 Navy, W 3-0 Army, W 9-6 Memphis, L 4-5 Navy, W 8-7 Navy, L 5-6 Rhodes Coll., W 8-3 Army, W 5-4 Notre Dame, L 4-12 Minnesota, W 3-0 Memphis, W 10-0 Navy, L 1-3 Navy, W 6-5 Memphis, L 2-5 Memphis, L 5-61995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Army, L 1-6 Army, W 4-3 Army, W 6-5 Army, L 3-4 W. Virginia, W 7-1 Memphis, W 2-0 Memphis, W 3-2 * Rest of Memphis, L 2-3 Army, W 10-3 Kentucky, L 1-4 Notre Dame, L 8-12 tournament Memphis, L 2-3 Navy, W 3-2 Navy, L 3-7 Navy, W 4-3 rained out Miss., L 2-15 UConn, W 7-6
2000 2001 2002 2003 Notre Dame, L 0-6 Army, W 5-0 Navy, W 11-0 Memphis, L 1-14 Navy, W 5-0 Navy, W 4-2 (10) Memphis, L 3-6 * Rest of Army, W 14-1 Memphis, L 3-9 Villanova, L 1-5 tournament Ohio State, W 5-4 Memphis, W 3-1 Memphis, W 4-3 rained out
Recapping the Southern Utah-Creighton Series
The Falcons went 2-1 last weekend, rallying to defeat Southern Utah twice and falling to Creighton. On Saturday, Air Force rallied from a 4-1 deficit to down the Thunderbirds 9-5, earning Mike Hutcheon his first career win as Falcon head coach. Clayton Couch struck out a career-high seven batters in six innings pitched for the win. On Sunday morning, Creighton pounded out 21 hits to beat AFA, 13-8. The Falcons rebounded in their second game rallying from a 5-0 deficit, downing SUU 15-12. Ken Hodgson picked up his first career win against the Thunderbirds.
Scouting Kentucky
Kentucky enters the week with a 3-2 record. The Wildcats, who play Eastern Michigan during the week, are led by first-year head coach John Cohen. UK is batting .363 as a team, led by senior outfielder Caleb Stewart (.500 Avg., 11 runs, .615 on base percentage.). The Wildcat pitching staff has an earned run average of 7.60, led by senior right-hander Seth Stanley, who is 2-0 with 12 strikeouts in eight innings pitched.
Scouting Navy
Navy enters the weekend with a 1-6 record. The Midshipmen are led by Steve Whitmyer (81-107-1) in his fifth year at the helm. USNA is currently batting .244 as a team, led by sophomore infielder Peter Curnow (.500 Avg., 3 RBI, .560 Obp.). The Mid's pitching staff ERA is 5.87, led by sophomore right-hander Ryan Hefner (1-1, 1.84 ERA, 6 K's, 12 IP).
Scouting Murray State
Murray State is looking for its first win as they enter the tournament with an 0-3 record. The Thoroughbreds are led by first-year head coach Rob McDonald. The 'Breds are batting .256 as a team, led by Derrick Newton and James Akin, whom are both batting .333. Murray State's pitching staff ERA is 8.13. The top pitcher for the 'Breds is Jake Ociesa, who fanned eight batters in five innings in his first outing of the year.
AFA-UK Series History
Air Force and Kentucky have met once before with the Wildcats coming out on top, 4-1, on Feb. 26, 1995 at the Service Academies Classic.
Falcon-Wildcat Connections
There are no Falcons on the roster from the state of Kentucky... There are no Wildcats on the roster from the state of Colorado... Air Force last played a team from the Southeastern Conference on Feb. 15, 2002, a 18-1 loss to Arkansas at the Service Academies Classic... AFA is 0-3 all-time against SEC opponents and have scored four runs total in those three games.
The AFA/UK Series At-A-Glance
Overall: Kentucky leads, 1-0 Current Streak: Kentucky, one game First Meeting: Feb. 26, 1995 (Kentucky, 4-1) Last Meeting: Feb. 26, 1995 (Creighton, 4-1) Most Air Force runs: 1 on Feb. 26, 1995 (4-1) Most Kentucky runs: 4 on Feb. 26, 1995 (4-1) Biggest win by Air Force: None Biggest win by Kentucky: 3 on Feb. 26, 1995 (4-1)
AFA-USNA Series History
Air Force and Navy have played each other 14 times with the Falcons having won 10 of those... AFA and USNA last met on Feb. 22, 2002, a 11-9 Falcon win at the Service Academies Classic ... The two teams first played each other 14 years ago on March 3, 1990, a 9-1 Air Force win in Annapolis, Md.... Air Force has won the last four meetings between the two Service Academies... Air Force has won the last seven meetings against Army and Navy... Nine of the 14 games in the series have been decided by two runs or less.
Falcon-Midshipmen Connections
Air Force RHP Jason Brown and Navy outfielder Ryan McGinn both hail from Arvada, Colo. Brown attended Arvada West HS while McGinn went to J.K. Mullen HS where he was teammates with Falcon catcher Josh Oakley (Littleton, Colo.) who also attended Mullen.
The Series At-A-Glance
Overall: Air Force leads, 10-4 Current Streak: Air Force, four wins (since 1999) First Meeting: March 3, 1990 (Air Force, 9-1) Last Meeting: Feb. 22, 2002 (Air Force,11-9) Most Air Force runs: 11 on Feb. 22 2002 (11-9) Most Navy runs: 9 on Feb. 22 2002 (11-9) Biggest win by Air Force: 8 on March 3, 1990 (9-1) Biggest win by Navy: 4 on Feb. 26, 1995 (7-3)
Air Force-Navy: The Last Meeting
Air Force withstood a furious late-game rally by Navy to hold on to a 11-9 win over the Mids on Feb. 22, 2002 at the Service Academies Classic... Up 10-2 after seven innings, Navy scored seven runs in the final two innings... Mike Rose went 1-for-1 with an RBI in that game.
AFA-Murray State Series History
Air Force and Murray State meet for the first time ever... This is also the Falcons first opponent from the Ohio Valley Conference.
Falcon-Thoroughbred Connections
There are no Falcons from the state of Kentucky... There are no Thoroughbreds from the state of Colorado.
Bunch of Rickey Henderson Jr's
Through six games in 2004, the Falcons have stolen 15 bases in 20 attempts (75%). That's an average of 2.5 stolen bases per game. Air Force is currently on pace to steal 140 bases in a 56 game season, which would shatter the school record of 122, set back in 1978 and 79. In the season-opener against New Mexico State, the Falcons stole six bases and had stolen nine consecutive bases in the series until getting caught on a failed hit-and-run attempt on the 10th try. Nine different Falcons have a stolen base and four have two-or more swipes.
Records, Milestones and Streaks to Watch
* Karl Bolt and Ryan Fitzgerald currently have a five game hitting streak.
* Mike Rose and Colton Walter have a four game streak. Rose has hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games.
Hitting Notes:
Falcons lead the MWC in hitting (.369), slugging (.523) and on base pct. (.455)... Air Force batted around three times on Sunday (Once against Creighton and twice in consecutive innings against Southern Utah)... The Falcons had six consecutive base hits twice on Feb. 15, doing so in the 7th inning against Creighton and again in the 6th inning against Southern Utah... 13 of 18 Falcons with a plate appearance are batting over .333, nine are over .400... AFA had a season-high 18 base hits in its last game vs. Southern Utah.
Pitching Notes:
Freshman Mitch Brown notched the first save of the season, closing the Southern Utah game on Sunday... The Falcons lowered their team ERA 7.59 points over the weekend, from 20.45 to 12.86... Junior left-hander Ken Hodgson picked up his first career win vs. Southern Utah.
DeRohan Earns MWC Player of the Week Honors
Air Force junior shortstop Nathan DeRohan was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Week on Feb. 9, for his performance against New Mexico State, Feb. 7-8, in Las Cruces, N.M. DeRohan, from Waukegan, Wis. (Waukegan HS), was 5-for-14 (.347) with a pair of doubles, a home run and five RBI in a three-game series vs. New Mexico State. He was 2-for-4 with two RBI on Feb. 7, and nearly hit for the cycle the next day, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored, a double off the fence, a home run and three RBI.
What's Next
Air Force travels to Lubbock, Texas, next weekend for a Friday doubleheader against Texas Tech and Saturday and Sunday games against Harvard. The Falcons have four players from the state of Texas on their roster.
Fledgling Falcons
Miscellaneous Falcon Facts
Air Force welcomes 21 newcomers to the varsity team, including a freshmen class of 16.
The list of 21 new Falcons include:
* Senior co-captain Ryan Fitzgerald and sophomore Dustin Smith both homered in their first career at-bats as Falcons.
* Sophomore Jason Brown (varsity wide receiver) and freshman Jon Polston (junior varsity quarterback) also play for the Air Force football team. Freshman Danny Kimmich (water polo) and sophomore Jackson Ranes (fencing) are also two-sport athletes.
* Three current Falcons--Travis Fugler, Dale Kasel and Josh Wolfram--have brothers who also played for the AFA baseball team. Fugler's twin brother, Tommy, played for the team in 2002. Kasel's older brother, Derck, played for the team from 2000-03. Wolfram's older brother, Kris, played for the Falcons from 1999-2001.
* Before going on to become the all-time winningest NCAA Division I men's basketball coach at North Carolina, hoops coaching legend Lt. Dean Smith was an assistant baseball coach for the Falcons in 1958.
