Friday, February 14
DeLand, Fla.
11 a.m. MT
Air Force Academy
vs
Manhattan
Photo by: Eric Strom
Baseball Opens 2020 Campaign In Florida
2/13/2020 5:31:00 PM | Baseball
The Falcons will face Manhattan and host Stetson for two games each
Air Force vs. Manhattan & Stetson
DeLand, Fla. | Conrad Park
SCHEDULE
Manhattan - Friday, Feb. 14 - 11 a.m. MT
Manhattan - Saturday, Feb. 15 - 11 a.m. MT
Stetson - Saturday, Feb. 15 - 4:30 p.m. MT
Stetson - Sunday, Feb. 16 - 11 a.m. MT
Falcons Open 2020 in Florida
The Air Force Academy baseball team opens its 2020 season down in the Sunshine State as they face Manhattan College and Stetson University for two games each, Friday-Sunday, Feb. 14-16 at Conrad Park in DeLand, Fla. AF opens with two games against the Jaspers, Friday and Saturday, both at 11 a.m. MT. Then the Falcons will battle the host Hatters, first as part of the second leg of a doubleheader, Saturday, at 4:30 p.m. followed by the final game on Sunday at 11 a.m. MT.
Following Along At Home
All four games will have live stats available through Stetson's website, gohatters.com. The two SU games will also have a free live stream through Hatter Vision. As always, fans can follow along on Twitter, @AF_Baseball.
Falcons In Season Openers
- Air Force is 35-28 all-time in season openers.
- Last year, the Falcons fell to Army West Point in the season opener down in Baton Rouge, La.
- Head coach Mike Kazlausky is 4-5 in season-openers.
Easley & Price Named Preseason All-Conference
Senior outfielder Ashton Easley and sophomore pitcher Nathan Price were both named to the Mountain West Preseason All-Conference Team, announced Tuesday, Feb. 11. It is the first preseason accolades for both players. Both Easley and Price had outstanding campaigns in 2019, with both receiving recognition at season's end. Easley was named a Second Team All-Conference outfielder, while Price was selected as a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball News.
Who's Back
- Air Force returns 20 letterwinners
- Includes 11 pitchers, four with starting experience
- Air Force returns four primary starters
Sr. OF Ashton Easley
Sr. IF Tommy Gillman
Jr. IF/OF Christian Gambale
So. IF Alexander Pup
- Air Force also returns its closer in sophomore RHP Nathan Price and two midweek starters in sophomores Zach Argo and Stevan Fairburn Jr.
Key Losses
- Perhaps the biggest story line for AF is the amount of production that was lost with the class of 2019
- Was an 11-man senior class
- It was the winningest senior class in program history with 107 wins
- Lost five primary senior position players
C Rob Dau (First Team All Conference)
1B Gabe Martinez
2B Colby Brown
3B Nic Ready (Second Team All-Conference)
CF Drew Wiss
- Lost what was the primary weekend starting rotation
RHP Jake Gilbert (Second Team All-Conference)
RHP Matt Hargreaves
LHP Ethan Nichols
- As well as a key swing arm in RHP Tyler Mortenson
- Ready perhaps the greatest player in program history. Four time All-Conference, two-time All-American, holds six school records. Drafted in the 23rd round by the Miami Marlins.
- Five offensive seniors responsible for 54 percent of total hits last season, 64 percent of the RBIs, and 55 percent of the total bases.
- Pitchers responsible for 67 percent of total starts last season, 42 percent of innings pitched, and 44 percent of strikeouts.
Who's New
Air Force welcomes 13 newcomers to the team, including six pitchers. The fresh faces are expected to see plenty of action in the early goings as Head Coach Mike Kazlausky shapes his lineup for the start of conference season in April.
2019 Season Notes
-The Falcons went 26-26 overall in 2019.
-Air Force went 12-14 in Mountain West contests, finishing fifth
- AF was one game away from clinching a spot in the MW Conference Tournament.
- The Falcons had four of its conference games canceled, one against each of San Diego State and Fresno State due to inclement weather, and two at New Mexico after the tragic death of one of their players.
-The Falcons posted its sixth-straight season of 20 wins or more, which is just the second time that has been accomplished in program history.
-The Falcons posted its fifth straight season over 23 wins, setting a new program record
- Air Force finished with a 13-10 home record.
Kazlausky Second In Wins At Air Force
Air Force head coach Mike Kazlausky ranks second for most wins ever at Air Force with 198. He is just 84 wins behind Joe Robison, who is the all-time winningest coach with 282 from 1971-75, and 77-85. Kazlausky surpassed his mentor back in 2018, Paul Mainieri, the current head coach at LSU. Coach Kaz is the winningest coach at Air Force in terms of career wins in Mountain West play.
Coach Kaz First USAFA Grad Head Coach
Air Force baseball head coach Mike Kazlausky is the first USAFA graduate to be the head coach for Air Force baseball. Coach 'Kaz' is a 1991 graduate of the Academy and four-year letterwinner for the Falcon baseball team.
Remembering 2Lt. Travis Wilkie
This season and the season's that follow will be about honoring the life and legacy of former AF baseball player Travis Wilkie. Wilkie tragically lost his life last November in an aircraft mishap while going through undergraduate pilot training at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma. Travis was a three-year letterwinner for the Falcons from 2015-2018, appearing in 119 games, and starting 102 times behind the plate as a catcher. He earned a degree in systems engineering with a focus on factors engineering, graduating with the class of 2018. He was named to the Academic All-Mountain West Team all three years he played.
This weekend, there will be an F-15 flyover for the season opener, while flags will fly at half mast both Friday and Saturday. On Saturday, there will be a video tribute to Wilkie, as well as a moment of silence before first pitch.
Throughout the season and for future season's to come, there will be a TW20 patch on AF's jerseys, and on the new turf behind home will be a subdued TW. Also, Wilkie's No. 20 jersey will be assigned to the player or team personnel that best exemplifies Wilkie's spirit and values. This season, it has been bestowed upon senior manager and bullpen catcher, Connor Clancy.
Easley's Eye on the Record Book
Senior OF Ashton Easley enters the 2020 season with the potential to have a serious impact on the AF record book. Already, he is 11th in career triples with 11 and 10th in career stolen bases with 47. If he maintains his career averages in numerous categories, he will also reach the upper echelons on the Falcon record book before season's end.
On the Horizon
The Falcons will continue its southern swing as they head to Kinston, N.C. for the annual Freedom Classic against the Naval Academy, Feb. 21-23. AF and the Midshipmen will play a three game series at Grainger Stadium, the home of the Down East Wood Ducks, the High-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers.
DeLand, Fla. | Conrad Park
SCHEDULE
Manhattan - Friday, Feb. 14 - 11 a.m. MT
Manhattan - Saturday, Feb. 15 - 11 a.m. MT
Stetson - Saturday, Feb. 15 - 4:30 p.m. MT
Stetson - Sunday, Feb. 16 - 11 a.m. MT
Falcons Open 2020 in Florida
The Air Force Academy baseball team opens its 2020 season down in the Sunshine State as they face Manhattan College and Stetson University for two games each, Friday-Sunday, Feb. 14-16 at Conrad Park in DeLand, Fla. AF opens with two games against the Jaspers, Friday and Saturday, both at 11 a.m. MT. Then the Falcons will battle the host Hatters, first as part of the second leg of a doubleheader, Saturday, at 4:30 p.m. followed by the final game on Sunday at 11 a.m. MT.
Following Along At Home
All four games will have live stats available through Stetson's website, gohatters.com. The two SU games will also have a free live stream through Hatter Vision. As always, fans can follow along on Twitter, @AF_Baseball.
Falcons In Season Openers
- Air Force is 35-28 all-time in season openers.
- Last year, the Falcons fell to Army West Point in the season opener down in Baton Rouge, La.
- Head coach Mike Kazlausky is 4-5 in season-openers.
Easley & Price Named Preseason All-Conference
Senior outfielder Ashton Easley and sophomore pitcher Nathan Price were both named to the Mountain West Preseason All-Conference Team, announced Tuesday, Feb. 11. It is the first preseason accolades for both players. Both Easley and Price had outstanding campaigns in 2019, with both receiving recognition at season's end. Easley was named a Second Team All-Conference outfielder, while Price was selected as a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball News.
Who's Back
- Air Force returns 20 letterwinners
- Includes 11 pitchers, four with starting experience
- Air Force returns four primary starters
Sr. OF Ashton Easley
Sr. IF Tommy Gillman
Jr. IF/OF Christian Gambale
So. IF Alexander Pup
- Air Force also returns its closer in sophomore RHP Nathan Price and two midweek starters in sophomores Zach Argo and Stevan Fairburn Jr.
Key Losses
- Perhaps the biggest story line for AF is the amount of production that was lost with the class of 2019
- Was an 11-man senior class
- It was the winningest senior class in program history with 107 wins
- Lost five primary senior position players
C Rob Dau (First Team All Conference)
1B Gabe Martinez
2B Colby Brown
3B Nic Ready (Second Team All-Conference)
CF Drew Wiss
- Lost what was the primary weekend starting rotation
RHP Jake Gilbert (Second Team All-Conference)
RHP Matt Hargreaves
LHP Ethan Nichols
- As well as a key swing arm in RHP Tyler Mortenson
- Ready perhaps the greatest player in program history. Four time All-Conference, two-time All-American, holds six school records. Drafted in the 23rd round by the Miami Marlins.
- Five offensive seniors responsible for 54 percent of total hits last season, 64 percent of the RBIs, and 55 percent of the total bases.
- Pitchers responsible for 67 percent of total starts last season, 42 percent of innings pitched, and 44 percent of strikeouts.
Who's New
Air Force welcomes 13 newcomers to the team, including six pitchers. The fresh faces are expected to see plenty of action in the early goings as Head Coach Mike Kazlausky shapes his lineup for the start of conference season in April.
2019 Season Notes
-The Falcons went 26-26 overall in 2019.
-Air Force went 12-14 in Mountain West contests, finishing fifth
- AF was one game away from clinching a spot in the MW Conference Tournament.
- The Falcons had four of its conference games canceled, one against each of San Diego State and Fresno State due to inclement weather, and two at New Mexico after the tragic death of one of their players.
-The Falcons posted its sixth-straight season of 20 wins or more, which is just the second time that has been accomplished in program history.
-The Falcons posted its fifth straight season over 23 wins, setting a new program record
- Air Force finished with a 13-10 home record.
Kazlausky Second In Wins At Air Force
Air Force head coach Mike Kazlausky ranks second for most wins ever at Air Force with 198. He is just 84 wins behind Joe Robison, who is the all-time winningest coach with 282 from 1971-75, and 77-85. Kazlausky surpassed his mentor back in 2018, Paul Mainieri, the current head coach at LSU. Coach Kaz is the winningest coach at Air Force in terms of career wins in Mountain West play.
Coach Kaz First USAFA Grad Head Coach
Air Force baseball head coach Mike Kazlausky is the first USAFA graduate to be the head coach for Air Force baseball. Coach 'Kaz' is a 1991 graduate of the Academy and four-year letterwinner for the Falcon baseball team.
Remembering 2Lt. Travis Wilkie
This season and the season's that follow will be about honoring the life and legacy of former AF baseball player Travis Wilkie. Wilkie tragically lost his life last November in an aircraft mishap while going through undergraduate pilot training at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma. Travis was a three-year letterwinner for the Falcons from 2015-2018, appearing in 119 games, and starting 102 times behind the plate as a catcher. He earned a degree in systems engineering with a focus on factors engineering, graduating with the class of 2018. He was named to the Academic All-Mountain West Team all three years he played.
This weekend, there will be an F-15 flyover for the season opener, while flags will fly at half mast both Friday and Saturday. On Saturday, there will be a video tribute to Wilkie, as well as a moment of silence before first pitch.
Throughout the season and for future season's to come, there will be a TW20 patch on AF's jerseys, and on the new turf behind home will be a subdued TW. Also, Wilkie's No. 20 jersey will be assigned to the player or team personnel that best exemplifies Wilkie's spirit and values. This season, it has been bestowed upon senior manager and bullpen catcher, Connor Clancy.
Easley's Eye on the Record Book
Senior OF Ashton Easley enters the 2020 season with the potential to have a serious impact on the AF record book. Already, he is 11th in career triples with 11 and 10th in career stolen bases with 47. If he maintains his career averages in numerous categories, he will also reach the upper echelons on the Falcon record book before season's end.
On the Horizon
The Falcons will continue its southern swing as they head to Kinston, N.C. for the annual Freedom Classic against the Naval Academy, Feb. 21-23. AF and the Midshipmen will play a three game series at Grainger Stadium, the home of the Down East Wood Ducks, the High-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers.
Players Mentioned
IF
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OF
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LHP
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IF/OF
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RHP
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IF/OF
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RHP
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C/IF
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RHP
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LHP
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RHP
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IF
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C
/ Baseball
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