Air Force Baseball 2015 Outlook
2/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
At the United States Air Force Academy, integrity, service and excellence provide the basis for what is necessary to succeed in both the classroom and on the fields of endeavor.
To no surprise, Air Force baseball is no different.
The Falcons enter the 2015 season, the 59th in program history, off the heels of a 20-win campaign, the Academy's most since 2002. In addition, Air Force's ten conference-wins a year ago were also the most since the `02 season.
"We are chomping at the bit about this upcoming Spring as we start our journey," Kazlausky said. "I have the best coaching staff in the country with coach Toby Bicknell, coach Blake Miller, and coach C.J. Gillman! Our Cadets will be ready to compete at the highest level and we are looking forward to playing opponents that don't have Air Force across their chest. Our recruiting has improved every year and I am excited for the boys that have made the decision to attend the greatest school in the world and to be a difference maker for our country."
Last year's Falcons also broke a multitude of program records. The pitching staff's 5.31 team ERA was the lowest since 1979, while the 363 recorded strikeouts were the second-most in school history. As well, coach Mike Kazlausky's team claimed 19 wins over Division I competition, the second most in the history of the school. Also, the Falcons' 2.99 walks allowed per game average was the lowest mark in program history.
Speaking of Coach Kaz, the 1991 Air Force Academy graduate enters his 5th season as the dugout general of the Blue and White. Kazlausky, notably admitting, will be leaning heavily on his established starting staff of Griffin Jax, Steven Trojan and Jacob DeVries.
Jax, a sophomore right-hander from Cherry Creek High School in Denver, tallied a 3-8 record in 2014 in 14 starts, posting a 5.86 ERA. Jax set an Academy record for innings pitched by a freshman with 90.2. A two-time Air Force Athletics Athlete of the Week in 2014, Jax mixes a mid-90's fastball with a slider and changeup.
"I am thankful every day that I am surrounded by the greatest young men in the country," Kazlausky said. "Griffin is no different. He is our bulldog and that is why he will be on the bump on Friday night. Griffin has the tenacity that we want to represent our team from the get-go. His make-up is that no one will outwork him and he will come right at you. Griffin is our guy that you want flying our fighter jets and delivering when called upon to complete a mission."
Trojan, a fellow right-handed starter, made his mark as a sophomore in 2014, leading the Falcons in starts (16), and was second behind Jax in ERA (5.99). Trojan's arsenal includes an above-average fastball with a slider that coach Kaz describes as "nasty".
"Steven epitomizes a Cadet at the Air Force Academy," Kazlausky said. "He is an aeronautical engineer and does well in all facets of the Academy. His ultimate goal upon graduation is to fly F-16s. Steven is our most veteran pitcher and we have high expectations for this upcoming year."
To round out the weekend rotation, coach Kaz will look to Texas native Jacob DeVries. The sophomore left-hander made nine appearances a year ago, eight of those out of the bullpen. Of his nine outings last spring, five of those ended without allowing a run.
"Jacob has come on very strong this past Fall and will be in our starting rotation," Kazlausky said. "He can run it up there from the left side in the mid-90's. He is another of our hardest working men in the program and through his diligence has made him into the pitcher that he is today. Jacob has forgone the opportunity to play summer baseball to spend six weeks on Deployed Operations and will be in Kuwait this upcoming summer. What a great opportunity for him!"
With Jax, Trojan and Devries rounding out the Friday-Sunday probables, occasional starting duties will also fall to junior LHP Trent Monaghan and freshman RHP Tucker Jacobs. The bullpen will be made up of returners soph. RHP Nathan Stanford and sr. RHP Ben Yokley. The Falcons will rely on their youthful, yet experienced starting staff, while the Academy's starting lineup will also see a blend of veteran leadership mixed with an abundance of promising, talented freshmen.
Those first-year players include catcher Travis Wilkie, second baseman Tyler Zabojnik and shortstop Shaun Mize.
"Yes, we will often start as many as three freshmen in the lineup and once again kudos goes out to the staff for recruiting young men that can step in early in their careers to provide the boost that we will need," Kazlausky said. "Mize started his career at the University of Nevada and sat out last year to come to the Academy. He has Div. I experience so he is technically not a true Freshman. Also, Zabojnik attended our Preparatory School last year, so he could be considered a redshirt freshman so he has the age and the experience that we will be relying on. Wilkie is a true frosh and he will have the duty of being of being behind the dish for Game one."
A young Falcon infield won't be alone on the field of play however, as two infield corners will be manned by seniors Noah Pierce and Tyler Saleck. Along with a talented outfield of several returners, the offense will surely strike fear into opposing pitchers this upcoming spring.
"Noah and Tyler and all of our seniors have provided tremendous leadership during the off-season and for the season," Kazlausky said. "It is great to be able to rely on our seniors as they have gone through the trials and tribulations of the Academy and continually lead our young men to be ready for competition. They are great role models for all and in a few short months will be ready to lead our country as 2nd Leuitentants."
The most credentialed of those outfielders is Tyler Jones, a sophomore left fielder who started 53 of 54 games in 2014. A member of the All-Mountain West Second Team and a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American last season, Jones enters this spring as one of College Sports Madness' Mountain West Preseason All-Conference First Team selections. Jones led the Falcons with a .338 average, including 4 HR's and 31 RBI's. Jones was Air Force's first freshman all-conference selection since 1991.
"Tyler Jones is one of the best outfielders in the country!," Kazlausky said. "He will be in the middle of our order as we expect a great sophomore year from Tyler."
The other two outfield spots include sophomore center fielder Adam Groesbeck and junior right fielder Spencer Draws. Groesbeck, who started 24 games at second base last season, has won the job in centerfield and will be backed up by senior David Thomas. Draws started 51 games in 2014, collecting a respectable .269 batting average, adding 1 HR and 16 RBI's. A left-handed bat, Draws earned multiple Player of the Week honors a year ago, including Collegiate National Player of the Week for the week of April 21st, 2014. Such recognition garnered the Georgia native into a College Sports Madness' 2015 Mountain West Preseason Second Team All-Conference selection.
"We are expecting a great defensive year from all of our players, and offensively Adam will be our leadoff hitter and Spencer will hit in the middle of the order," Kazlausky said.
The upstart Falcons play almost entirely on the road to start the season, as 9-of the-14 weekend series' will take place away from Colorado Springs. Air Force opens its 2015 season in Charleston S.C. this Friday against The Citadel. Other notable road series include a three-game set in Kinston N.C. against fellow service academy Navy beginning Feb. 27, as well as quick two-game matchups with the Missouri Tigers in Columbia from March 17-18, and in Omaha against Creighton, a series to be played March 24-25 at T.D. Ameritrade Park, the home of the College World Series.
Air Force will also play visitor to the Ohio Valley Conference defending champion Jacksonville State, from March 27-29. The Falcons' most intriguing road series won't take place until May 1, where the Blue and White will square off with the Army Black Knights. For the first time in the history of both academies, the two programs will play each other in West Point, N.Y.
"As an Academy graduate, there are no bigger competitions than those against your fellow service academies," Kazlausky said. "I am so excited that we will travel to West Point this upcoming Spring. We are brothers in arms and we all have the same mission -- That is to protect and serve our country. To be able to have the opportunity for my Cadets to be able to experience West Point will be a great memory for all. What a great year for the Air Force Academy to open up at Citadel, play Navy, and play Army. Yes, we are on the road for these games, but as I tell our Cadets, this is a great learning experience as in their futures they will understand that we don't fight wars on our home soil. I hope in the years ahead that we will also have the opportunity to play Army as we are able to do with Navy each year. It has been 15 years since we played Army, that is way too long."
The Falcons' first Mountain West Conference games begin Feb. 20 at Falcon Field against last season's co-champion New Mexico. Other notable home conference series include a matchup against 2014 conference co-champion UNLV beginning March 13, a three-game set versus San Jose State starting April 2, a weekend slate scheduled to kick off April 17 against Fresno State, and lastly, the final home series against San Diego State beginning May 8.
"Air Force is a budding baseball program slated to once again open eyes in 2015, but in the grand scheme, the mission being completed off the field triumphs above all," Kazlausky said. "For our baseball cadets, baseball provides them the opportunity to deal with stress, adversity, teamwork, winning, and losing. General MacArthur stated, `On the Fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that on other days and other fields will bear the fruits of victory'. We are training our Cadets not only to be men, but more importantly to be warriors that are going to provide the security blanket that allows our great nation to sleep well each night,. Our mission of the Air Force is to Fly, Fight, Win!"
