WEST POINT, N.Y. – Kevin McKague has played a large role in the Army baseball team’s recent vault atop the Patriot League standings. For the second time in less than a week, McKague has earned national attention for the Black Knights.

Army’s dual-position standout is featured in this week’s issue of Sports Illustrated magazine as one of six athletes highlighted in the publication’s “Faces in the Crowd” section. The issue is dated April 27, 2009.

McKague returned from a shoulder injury to lead Army’s sixth consecutive series defeat of arch-rival Navy earlier this month. During his first four games back in the Black Knights’ starting lineup, Army’s starting first baseman batted .813 (13-16) with eight runs scored and six runs batted in. He led Army’s doubleheader sweep of Navy on Easter Sunday by blasting a 500-foot, two-run home run. He also pitched a perfect inning of relief to notch his third save of the season, doubling as the Black Knights’ closer.

He was also named to the College Baseball Foundation National All-Star Lineup for the weekend ending April 13 for his efforts against Navy.

Just a sophomore, McKague is currently batting .421 on the season and ranks second among Patriot League batting leaders. He has registered seven doubles, four home runs, 28 runs scored and 30 runs batted in. He earned second team All-Patriot League honors as a freshman last spring.

McKague becomes the latest in a long line of Army athletes to be honored in Sports Illustrated the past two decades and the fourth Black Knight baseball player, joining the likes of Steve Reich in 1992, Mike Scioletti in 1997 and Nick Hill in 2007. In fact, it marks the fourth consecutive year that a West Point athlete has been featured in “Faces in the Crowd.” Hill was recognized in July 2007, gymnast George Rhynedance in May 2006 and rifleman Stephen Scherer in March 2008.

All-Amercia swimmer Ann Marie Wycoff (1988) and women's soccer goalie Annah Castellini (1993) have also earned placement in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” in recent years.

In the midst of a five-game winning streak, Army sports a 21-16 overall record. The Black Knights have won nine of their last 10 Patriot League contests and stand 10-6 in conference action. Army enters its final weekend of regular season conference play against Lafayette holding down a share of first place in the Patriot League standings. Army needs only one win or a loss by Navy this weekend to ensure its fifth Patriot League Tournament appearance in six years. The Black Knights claimed their third regular season Patriot League title in five years last spring.

McKague’s entry can be viewed online at the following link: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/scorecard/faces/2009/04/27/