Saturday, February 27
Albuquerque, N.M.
1 p.m. MT
Air Force Academy
at
New Mexico
Air Force Opens MW Conference Play At New Mexico
2/25/2021 3:16:00 PM | Baseball
The Falcons and Lobos will meet for the first time since 2019
Air Force Falcons (1-2) at New Mexico Lobos (1-3)
Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 27-28 | Albuquerque, N.M. (Santa Ana Star Field)
SCHEDULE
Saturday, Feb. 27 - 1 p.m. MT (DH)
Sunday, Feb. 28 - 12 p.m. MT
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV/Internet Stream: MW Network
Audio: GoLobos.com
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Falcons Open Conference Play at UNM
The Air Force Academy baseball team begins its grueling 36-game Mountain West Conference schedule this weekend with a three game series at New Mexico, Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 27-28, at Santa Ana Star Field. The Falcons and Lobos will open with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. MT, followed by the finale on Sunday starting at noon MT.
Following Along At Home
All games will have a live stream on the Mountain West Network, as well as a live audio stream and live stats on GoLobos.com. As always, fans can follow along on Twitter, @AF_Baseball.
Boomerang Series
The weekend series was originally moved to Amarillo, Texas and HODGETOWN Stadium, home of the Amarillo Sodpoodles, however recent restrictions in the state of New Mexico were lifted, paving the way for a home series for the Lobos.
22nd Season of Mountain West Baseball
- This weekend marks the opening of the 22nd season for Air Force in the Mountain West Conference, since joining the league during the 1999-2000 season.
- It will mark the 21st time AF has played conference games in a season after the 2020 season was canceled before conference play started.
- The Falcons are 119-383 over the past 21 seasons,
- Air Force's team record for wins in a MW season is 14 back in 2002.
- The Falcons currently have six straight double digit win MW seasons, while the previous 14 had just one (2002)
Marathon MW Conference Schedule
The Falcons are scheduled to play 36 conference games in the 2021 season. If they wind up playing all 36, it would set a program high for conference games in a season. The current benchmark is 30, which has happened six times, including four in the MW era. The last time AF reached that mark was 2016 when the team went 12-18 in conference.
This weekend also marks the earliest the Falcons have opened MW Conference play since 2015, when the Falcons met the Lobos in a series played Feb. 20-22 in Albuquerque.
Tripping Up the Tigers
The Falcons upset #7 nationally ranked LSU, 6-5, Sunday, Feb. 21. It was the first top-10 ranked win for Air Force since knocking off #5 TCU, 14-11, in 2010. It was also the first win for Head Coach Mike Kazlausky over his friend and mentor Paul Mainieri in six games against each other.
Byrnes Named MW Pitcher of the Week
Senior pitcher John Byrnes was named the Mountain West Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week for the period ending Feb. 21, the conference announced, Monday, Feb. 22.
Byrnes was the starting pitcher in a 6-5 upset win over #7 LSU on Sunday. The righty went the first five innings, only allowing two runs on four hits while striking out three batters. It is the first weekly award of Byrnes' career.
Fly Falcons Fly
In each season under Head Coach Mike Kazlausky, the team has been aggressive on the base paths. The last three seasons in particular have been the most aggressive, as AF has ranked nationally in stolen bases, including second in 2020 (46), 56th in 2019 (78), and 65th in 2018 (74).
Already this season, AF has eight swipes, which ranks 13th. Junior Alexander Pup leads the way with four, which is the fifth-most in the nation.
On the Horizon
The Falcons dip back into non-conference play when they head to Kinston, N.C. for the annual Freedom Classic, March 5-7. While the series is usually against Navy, this year's version will come against Army West Point.
Cole Blatchford Named Preseason All-Conference
Senior infielder Cole Blatchford was named to the Mountain West Preseason All-Conference Team, Feb. 11. Blatchford was named All-MW at the end of the canceled 2020 season after he started all 19 games of the shortened season at third base, while leading the team in batting average (.343), slugging (.627), hits (23), runs (16), doubles (10), home runs (3) and total bases (42). He was also second in RBIs (13). He finished the season top-five in the conference in doubles (1st), hits (5th), home runs (4th), runs (3rd), slugging (4th), and total bases (3rd). Meanwhile, his doubles were second-most in the nation, while his total bases were 47th.
Who's Back
- Air Force returns 21 letterwinners
- Includes 11 pitchers, five with starting experience
- Air Force returns eight of nine primary starters from a season ago
- AF position player returnees account for 80 percent of ABs and 82 percent of hits from a season ago.
- Air Force also returns its closer in junior RHP Nathan Price, who was a 2019 Freshman All-American
Key Losses
- AF only lost four players to graduation from a season ago, but a pair were key losses.
- OF Ashton Easley was a two-time All-Conference honoree, and was set to get into the top-10 in numerous AF career record categories before the season was cut short.
- Easley was signed as a NDFA by the Miami Marlins following the 2020 MLB Draft.
- The other was relief pitcher Josh Leaser, who was also named All-MW in 2020 after pitching to a 1.88 ERA over 14.1 innings and a percent 2-0 record.
Who's New
Air Force welcomes 14 newcomers to the team, including eight pitchers. The biggest name to watch is C/RHP Paul Skenes, who was named the Preseason MW Freshman of the Year by D1Baseball. The 6-6 235 pound rookie will look to make an impact both on the mound, and behind the plate in his first season as a Falcon.
2020 Season Notes
-The Falcons went 7-12 in non-conference play before the season was canceled
-Air Force did not play any MW Conference games
- AF finished the season having won four of their last five games
- The pitching staff finished with a 5.43 ERA, continuing a trend of fourth-year pitching coach Ryan Forrest lowering the team ERA in each of his three seasons.
Kazlausky Second In Wins At Air Force
Air Force head coach Mike Kazlausky ranks second for most wins ever at Air Force with 206. 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.
Most Wins at Air Force
Joe Robison 1971-75, 77-85 282
Mike Kazlausky 2011-Pres. 206
Paul Mainieri 1989-94 152
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
Kaz was a standout in his four year career, as he still ranks on the career AF lists in games played (10th), hits (14th), runs scored (2nd), doubles (10th), triples (3rd), steals (8th), and walks (3rd).
C-17 Uniforms
This season, the Falcons will be busting out a new uniform combination that is sure to turn some heads. The uniform honors the C-17 aircraft, a large military transport, which was the main plane that Coach Kaz flew in his time in the Air Force.
The batting helmet is flat gray and designed after the plane. The gray uniform with black lettering features nine Air Force base tail flashes in place of the nameplate on the back of the jersey. The nine bases are Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, March Air Reserve Base, California, Travis Air Force Base, California, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
Bonus Season for Gillman
Heading into the 2020 season, Tommy Gillman thought it would be his final in a Falcon uniform. Despite being a sophomore academically at the Academy, Gillman was in his final year of eligibility after spending his first two seasons at Texas A&M and Midland College. However, after the pandemic wiped out the 2020 season early, Gillman was granted an extra year of eligibility on the field.
Gillman will lead the Falcons as a team captain in 2021, while also wearing the special #20 jersey for AF. More on that special honor is below.
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 in November 2019 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.
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 infielder Tommy Gillman.
Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 27-28 | Albuquerque, N.M. (Santa Ana Star Field)
SCHEDULE
Saturday, Feb. 27 - 1 p.m. MT (DH)
Sunday, Feb. 28 - 12 p.m. MT
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV/Internet Stream: MW Network
Audio: GoLobos.com
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Falcons Open Conference Play at UNM
The Air Force Academy baseball team begins its grueling 36-game Mountain West Conference schedule this weekend with a three game series at New Mexico, Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 27-28, at Santa Ana Star Field. The Falcons and Lobos will open with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. MT, followed by the finale on Sunday starting at noon MT.
Following Along At Home
All games will have a live stream on the Mountain West Network, as well as a live audio stream and live stats on GoLobos.com. As always, fans can follow along on Twitter, @AF_Baseball.
Boomerang Series
The weekend series was originally moved to Amarillo, Texas and HODGETOWN Stadium, home of the Amarillo Sodpoodles, however recent restrictions in the state of New Mexico were lifted, paving the way for a home series for the Lobos.
22nd Season of Mountain West Baseball
- This weekend marks the opening of the 22nd season for Air Force in the Mountain West Conference, since joining the league during the 1999-2000 season.
- It will mark the 21st time AF has played conference games in a season after the 2020 season was canceled before conference play started.
- The Falcons are 119-383 over the past 21 seasons,
- Air Force's team record for wins in a MW season is 14 back in 2002.
- The Falcons currently have six straight double digit win MW seasons, while the previous 14 had just one (2002)
Marathon MW Conference Schedule
The Falcons are scheduled to play 36 conference games in the 2021 season. If they wind up playing all 36, it would set a program high for conference games in a season. The current benchmark is 30, which has happened six times, including four in the MW era. The last time AF reached that mark was 2016 when the team went 12-18 in conference.
This weekend also marks the earliest the Falcons have opened MW Conference play since 2015, when the Falcons met the Lobos in a series played Feb. 20-22 in Albuquerque.
Tripping Up the Tigers
The Falcons upset #7 nationally ranked LSU, 6-5, Sunday, Feb. 21. It was the first top-10 ranked win for Air Force since knocking off #5 TCU, 14-11, in 2010. It was also the first win for Head Coach Mike Kazlausky over his friend and mentor Paul Mainieri in six games against each other.
Byrnes Named MW Pitcher of the Week
Senior pitcher John Byrnes was named the Mountain West Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week for the period ending Feb. 21, the conference announced, Monday, Feb. 22.
Byrnes was the starting pitcher in a 6-5 upset win over #7 LSU on Sunday. The righty went the first five innings, only allowing two runs on four hits while striking out three batters. It is the first weekly award of Byrnes' career.
Fly Falcons Fly
In each season under Head Coach Mike Kazlausky, the team has been aggressive on the base paths. The last three seasons in particular have been the most aggressive, as AF has ranked nationally in stolen bases, including second in 2020 (46), 56th in 2019 (78), and 65th in 2018 (74).
Already this season, AF has eight swipes, which ranks 13th. Junior Alexander Pup leads the way with four, which is the fifth-most in the nation.
On the Horizon
The Falcons dip back into non-conference play when they head to Kinston, N.C. for the annual Freedom Classic, March 5-7. While the series is usually against Navy, this year's version will come against Army West Point.
Cole Blatchford Named Preseason All-Conference
Senior infielder Cole Blatchford was named to the Mountain West Preseason All-Conference Team, Feb. 11. Blatchford was named All-MW at the end of the canceled 2020 season after he started all 19 games of the shortened season at third base, while leading the team in batting average (.343), slugging (.627), hits (23), runs (16), doubles (10), home runs (3) and total bases (42). He was also second in RBIs (13). He finished the season top-five in the conference in doubles (1st), hits (5th), home runs (4th), runs (3rd), slugging (4th), and total bases (3rd). Meanwhile, his doubles were second-most in the nation, while his total bases were 47th.
Who's Back
- Air Force returns 21 letterwinners
- Includes 11 pitchers, five with starting experience
- Air Force returns eight of nine primary starters from a season ago
- AF position player returnees account for 80 percent of ABs and 82 percent of hits from a season ago.
- Air Force also returns its closer in junior RHP Nathan Price, who was a 2019 Freshman All-American
Key Losses
- AF only lost four players to graduation from a season ago, but a pair were key losses.
- OF Ashton Easley was a two-time All-Conference honoree, and was set to get into the top-10 in numerous AF career record categories before the season was cut short.
- Easley was signed as a NDFA by the Miami Marlins following the 2020 MLB Draft.
- The other was relief pitcher Josh Leaser, who was also named All-MW in 2020 after pitching to a 1.88 ERA over 14.1 innings and a percent 2-0 record.
Who's New
Air Force welcomes 14 newcomers to the team, including eight pitchers. The biggest name to watch is C/RHP Paul Skenes, who was named the Preseason MW Freshman of the Year by D1Baseball. The 6-6 235 pound rookie will look to make an impact both on the mound, and behind the plate in his first season as a Falcon.
2020 Season Notes
-The Falcons went 7-12 in non-conference play before the season was canceled
-Air Force did not play any MW Conference games
- AF finished the season having won four of their last five games
- The pitching staff finished with a 5.43 ERA, continuing a trend of fourth-year pitching coach Ryan Forrest lowering the team ERA in each of his three seasons.
Kazlausky Second In Wins At Air Force
Air Force head coach Mike Kazlausky ranks second for most wins ever at Air Force with 206. 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.
Most Wins at Air Force
Joe Robison 1971-75, 77-85 282
Mike Kazlausky 2011-Pres. 206
Paul Mainieri 1989-94 152
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
Kaz was a standout in his four year career, as he still ranks on the career AF lists in games played (10th), hits (14th), runs scored (2nd), doubles (10th), triples (3rd), steals (8th), and walks (3rd).
C-17 Uniforms
This season, the Falcons will be busting out a new uniform combination that is sure to turn some heads. The uniform honors the C-17 aircraft, a large military transport, which was the main plane that Coach Kaz flew in his time in the Air Force.
The batting helmet is flat gray and designed after the plane. The gray uniform with black lettering features nine Air Force base tail flashes in place of the nameplate on the back of the jersey. The nine bases are Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, March Air Reserve Base, California, Travis Air Force Base, California, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
Bonus Season for Gillman
Heading into the 2020 season, Tommy Gillman thought it would be his final in a Falcon uniform. Despite being a sophomore academically at the Academy, Gillman was in his final year of eligibility after spending his first two seasons at Texas A&M and Midland College. However, after the pandemic wiped out the 2020 season early, Gillman was granted an extra year of eligibility on the field.
Gillman will lead the Falcons as a team captain in 2021, while also wearing the special #20 jersey for AF. More on that special honor is below.
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 in November 2019 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.
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 infielder Tommy Gillman.
Players Mentioned
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