WEST POINT, N.Y. --  Those thinking that Joe Sottolano might stray from his oft-stated vision for the program – to win a Patriot League championship and to win in the NCAA Tournament – had better think again. It seems nothing will re-direct Army’s highly regarded ninth-year field boss, already the third winningest head coach in school history. Not even the loss of players like Milan Dinga and Nick Hill, a dynamic duo that combined to establish or tie 78 Army and Patriot League records on single game, season and career levels; a twosome that strutted their way from West Point’s graduation stage straight into the top 10 rounds of Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft.

For an Army baseball player under Sottolano’s watch, the mission remains succinctly stated, the objective clear as the view off Trophy Point on a beautiful spring afternoon.

“Will our goals change this year?,” Sottolano asks, incredulously repeating the question harmlessly posed before him.
 “ABSOLUTELY NOT,” he fires back. “We believe the talent level in this program is such that we should compete for a Patriot League championship EVERY year. It’s our job as coaches to make sure our team is in position to compete for a conference championship every season. I believe the young men we have in this program currently will allow us to accomplish that mission. We’ll find ways to win. I believe in this group.”

Sottolano has good reason for his rock-steady resolve. Despite losing professional-level talent such as Dinga and Hill, along with four-year pitching stalwart Ben Mayhew, the Black Knights are boosted by the return of last year’s Patriot League Player of the Year, Cole White. A dual-position standout, White became the first player in Patriot League history to snag all-conference honors at two different positions, three consecutive years. He boasts the same type of skills flashed by Dinga and Hill and could rate as the next Army player to navigate the well-beaten path leading from Doubleday Field to the minor leagues. Four Army players have traveled that trail the last few years. White is poised to add to that figure and teammate Drew Clothier, Army’s latest impact mound talent, might well follow.

Clothier, a hard-throwing left-hander who has featured big-league stuff since his arrival at the Military Academy, blossomed into one of the Patriot League’s most effective starting pitchers last spring. Clothier’s command and control continued to improve this past fall and has subsequently landed squarely on the radar of professional scouts, right alongside White.
 In addition to that tandem, Army returns 12 other letterwinners, a group that includes five positional starters from a year ago. Senior team captains Chris Simmons and Kyle Stramara head the list.

A two-year starter behind the plate and a three-year starter overall, Simmons possesses the skills necessary to develop into one of the Patriot League’s elite performers. While showing glimpses of his talent bounty in the past, he will be counted on for increased production both at the plate and behind it. Stramara, meanwhile, bounced between the outfield corner positions, first base and designated hitter last year. Like Simmons, he will be relied upon for increased offensive production during his final campaign.

Off the field, both players assumed greater leadership roles during the offseason and provide the club with crucial direction following last May’s graduation departures.

“I’ve been very pleased with the leadership of the upperclassmen, particularly that of our captains, Chris Simmons and Kyle Stramara,” Sottolano quickly states. “The captains have helped this team make a great transition from the fall to the spring seasons. They are really starting to grab the reins of this program. They are holding their teammates accountable. They understand the goals of this program and have bought into our overall philosophy.”

So have talented veterans J.P. Polchinski, Tony Capozzi and Andy Ernesto, a trio of two-year starters who return for their junior seasons along the banks of the Hudson. Polchinski and Capozzi performed well last spring following position switches. After spending the majority of his freshman season at first base, Polchinski shifted to the opposite corner of the infield a year ago and flourished at third base. Capozzi slid over from second base to shortstop early last season and wound up earning second team All-Patriot League honors. Ernesto, meanwhile, improved all facets of his game en route to establishing himself as one of the conference’s top defensive center fielders and a clutch offensive performer.

Joining this battle-tested core is a heralded freshman class that could rank as the most gifted incoming group ever assembled at Doubleday Field. The high-ceiling contingent is large in physical size (averaging 6-3, 196 pounds), number (15 in all) and talent. While one member of this year’s impressive herd of rookies was selected in last year’s MLB First-Year Player Draft, several others certainly would have been chosen were it not for their steadfast commitments to West Point.

“This might be the strongest freshman class that we’ve been able to bring in since I’ve been coaching at the Academy,” Sottolano says firmly. “We have high-level talent on the mound, positionally and at the plate. This group has the talent necessary to beat an opponent in many different ways. Most, if not all of them, will be competing for starting positions immediately. I feel very comfortable in saying that this group will win championships. How quickly they experience success will depend upon how quickly they acclimate to the college game. I know they will win championships during their time here.

“We were concerned that our upperclassmen might feel threatened by the freshmen, but I don’t see that at all. This is a very close group with a lot of pride. The upperclassmen are doing a great job of leading, working hard on their individual talents and becoming stronger players. The competition has been fun to watch.”

The scurrying for starting jobs has not been something that Sottolano and his staff had grown accustomed to in recent years, not with the cast of all-star performers that have speckled Army’s roster recently, leading the Black Knights’ continuing parade to the postseason.

“It’s an exciting time for us in a lot of ways,” Sottolano explains. “ A lot of the things you assume with experienced players, you can’t assume with younger players. There’s a lot more basic teaching taking place in practice every day. We are working on our foundation more than we have the last few years. We’re not focused on what we’re missing. We’re looking at the things we think are necessary for our players to win a championship.

“I don’t get the feeling from our players that they are ever looking behind. Everything about this group is about the future. It’s not what we’re not. It’s what we are. That’s the feeling I get from this group. I’ve never heard our players talking about the loss of Milan Dinga or the loss of Nick Hill. It’s about who WE are. That’s this team’s focus. I think the Academy instills that in our cadets. We’re very pleased about the direction the program is heading.”

With a challenging early season schedule that includes a season-opening weekend against the likes of Louisiana-Lafayette, Oral Roberts and Texas-San Antonio in the UTSA Baseball Classic, the program is headed straight into the teeth of some of the finest talent college baseball has to offer. It is a test Sottolano and his young team embrace.

“We’re excited about the schedule,” he offers. “We understand that it is going to be very challenging, but that’s why young men and women choose to attend West Point. They want to test themselves against the best. The biggest thing for us is to remain grounded. The teams we will be playing will have the ability to expose areas in which we need to improve. We have to keep the confidence of our young players high. We can’t get alarmed if we don’t have the success that we’re looking for early in the season. On the flip side, if we have success early, it could really boost us. We are not looking to just win in our conference. We are looking to win on a national level, and we’re playing national level teams.”

Despite their lack of game experience at the college level Army’s battalion of freshmen lends a very valuable dynamic. In addition to injecting a tremendous amount of overall ability into the Black Knights’ program, the multi-talented lot carries a great deal of versatility, with most of the newcomers capable of handling several different positions.

“The versatility of this group will be a strength,” Sottolano says. “We have more depth on this club and more physical talent than in the past. Whether we compete at a high level from the start remains to be seen. Ultimately, this club will be more prepared to play at the national level.

“We view this as an opportunity for this specific team to develop its own identity. Obviously we’ve graduated some wonderful players that have moved on. We’re looking at a relatively new group in a lot of ways. It’s a unique blend of very qualified veterans and gifted freshmen. It will be exciting to watch these young men compete every day. I believe the present state of the program is very strong and the future is even stronger. Championships are certainly in the future.”
 Make no mistake about it, Joe Sottolano demands nothing less for his Army program, each and every year. That much will never change.

Infielders

 Juniors Tony Capozzi (.288, 20 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 14 RBI) and J.P. Polchinski (.281, 25 R, 5 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 24 RBI) return to anchor Army’s infield, a unit that projects no fewer than two freshman starters.

Capozzi transitioned well from second base to shortstop early last season, earning second team All-Patriot League honors at year’s end. A steady offensive force, Capozzi maintained his batting average above .300 much of the season, but a late-year slump dragged his final figure below the magic mark. The pesky junior returns to second base this season, the same position he held throughout most of his freshman campaign at the Academy. He will be pushed for a starting role by newcomer Steve May, an athletic freshman import to the Army program. May boasts excellent athleticism and a strong passion for the game.

“Tony Capozzi did a great job for us at shortstop last season,” states head coach Joe Sottolano. “We expect him to be our starter at second base this year. He is a very solid defender who fights and scraps at the plate. We feel strongly that Steve May will be in position to contribute at the position as well. He is an intense worker and certainly has a very bright future in the Army program.”

Polchinski represents Army’s other returning starter along the infield following a breakout season in which he established himself as one of the club’s chief run-producers. A fiery competitor with a strong will to succeed, Polchinski ranked third on the team in batting average, on-base percentage (.359), runs scored, base hits (47), runs batted in and total bases (62). He batted .314 with runners in scoring position and boosted his overall batting average to .328 in Patriot League play. The North Carolina native elevated his game during the offseason in an effort to fend off challenges from several talented newcomers. The hard work yielded tangible results as Polchinski enters this spring listed atop the depth chart at the position.

“We thought J.P. would be pushed in the offseason, but he came back from the summer much stronger and raised his game both offensively and defensively. He responded to the challenge exactly like we thought he would. J.P. wears the ‘Army’ name on his uniform with a great deal of pride. He is one of the emotional leaders of our club. His passion is the tool that brings his game to another level.”

A group of skilled newcomers will scuffle for playing time behind Polchinski at third base with Mike Greco, Shaun Wixted and Brandon Hines topping the list. Wixted, who will double as the primary backup at shortstop, is a tall, rangy athlete with above average defensive skills. Hines rates as a plus defender and handles the bat extremely well. Both are expected to compete for at-bats behind Polchinski. In an impressive cast of offensive newcomers, Greco might stand as the most polished plate performer of the lot. He boasts legitimate home run power and is expected to fill a middle opening in Sottolano’s daily lineup. Though expected to shoulder starting duties at first base, the high school shortstop could see additional playing time at third base after being selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 47th round of last spring’s First-Year Player Draft.

“Wixted and Hines love playing defense,” Sottolano says. “As both of their offensive games mature, they will continue to fight for starting berths. Greco is one of the freshmen that provides us with tremendous flexibility. He is a very versatile athlete, and could play in left field as well. Greco has a wealth of talent and provides us with a dangerous bat in the middle of the order.”
 The same can be said for Kevin McKague (6-5, 220 pounds) and Joey Henshaw (6-7, 220), a pair of physically imposing first-base bashers that promise to inject tremendous raw power into the Black Knights’ lineup. The versatile McKague is capable of handling either infield corner position and could receive additional plate appearances in left field as Sottolano searches for methods to weave all of his dangerous bats into the everyday batting order.

McKague was an accomplished run-producer in high school and figures to hold an important place in Army’s batting order throughout the year. Henshaw owns much of those same qualities from the left side of the plate. The power-swinging left-hander boasts immense natural power and could settle into the middle of Army’s lineup card for years to come. Both players should see playing time at designated hitter and on the pitching mound, with Henshaw making a solid case to crack the Black Knights’ weekend pitching rotation. Thanks to a buzzing fastball and snapping curve, he might also be slotted in the back-end of Army’s bullpen, helping to cushion the loss of All-American closer Milan Dinga.

“We have a lot of versatility in this group,” Sottolano gushes. “We’ll play some of our younger guys at different positions early in the year, but we believe the powerful bats of Mike Greco, Kevin McKague and Joey Henshaw need to be in our lineup every day. We’ll explore different methods in order to make that happen.”

Another freshman, Clint Moore, emerged as Army’s starting shortstop through steady defensive play in the fall. The slick-fielding middle infielder features excellent range, soft hands and a willingness to do the little things in order to be successful. Another two-way threat with the ability fill a prime spot in the Black Knights’ bullpen, Moore is a line-drive hitter capable of launching lasers to all fields. He plays the game with a great deal of passion and could fill a prominent relief role on the pitching mound.

“Clint brings a great deal of athleticism to our infield. He owns great presence and possesses an outstanding feel for the game,” Sottolano states. “He slows the game down as well as anyone that I’ve had the privilege of coaching and that allows him to play with great confidence.”

Greco or Capozzi could fill in at shortstop behind Moore and Wixted if necessary, further speaking to the wealth of options at Sottolano’s disposal.

Outfielders

While Army’s revamped infield sports major revisions, the Black Knights’ outfield boasts a familiar look. In fact, starters return at all three outfield spots, anchored by 2007 Patriot League Player of the Year Cole White (.408, 27 R, 12 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 29 RBI, 103 TB, 16 SB, 575 SLG, .481 OBP.) in right field.

A dangerous offensive performer with the rare ability to hit for both power and average, White is recognized as one of the top run-producers in the East and landed on several preseason All-America lists this winter. Coming off a season that saw him earn Patriot League all-star honors at two positions for the third straight year, White stands as a multi-dimensional threat and remains the key figure in Army’s everyday lineup. He should flourish in the middle of the Black Knights’ revamped batting order, surrounded by power threats throughout.

An outstanding defensive right fielder, White captured his first Patriot League batting title last spring, finishing 39 percentage points ahead of his nearest competitor. He was named to the Wallace Award Watch List this winter and is capable of changing a game with one swing of the bat.

“Obviously, Cole White is a very gifted athlete,” says head coach Joe Sottolano. “He’s a five-tool player and someone on whom we count very heavily, both in right field and on the pitcher’s mound.”

A tremendous battle for playing time in right field rages when White assumes his familiar place in Army’s weekend pitching rotation. Senior Caleb Love (.241, 15 R, 4 2B, 12 RBI, 25 TB, 10-11 SBA), team co-captain Kyle Stramara (.220, 14 R, 4 2B, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 35 TB), junior Kyle Fleming (.217, 3 R, 2 RBI, 5 TB) and freshman Sean Rainbird shape up as the chief contenders for playing time in right field behind White.

Love has developed into an outstanding defender, capable of handling all three outfield spots. He ranks as one of the Black Knights’ top base runners and is expected to fill a significant role whether in a starting or reserve capacity. Stramara enters his final season projected as the starter in left field after stating his case for playing time with a strong showing last spring. He could shift over to right field to spell White as Sottolano and his staff explore means by which to maximize Army’s many outfield choices. Fleming might rate as the “wild card” in the lot. The sweet-swinging switch-hitter began to flash some of his lofty potential last spring before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Rainbird, meanwhile, is a plus offensive player scrapping for playing time at both corner outfield spots as well as at designated hitter after spending last season at the USMA Prep School.

Stramara, who served as Army’s starting left fielder much of last season, will retain those duties entering the spring. He will be pressed for playing time on a daily basis by a large contingent headed by Love, Kevin McKague, Mike Greco and Rainbird, among others. All could see time in left field before the season is complete.

“The battle for playing time in left field and in right during games in which Cole White pitches will be very interesting,” Sottolano adds. “We feel like we’re going to have several different options to mix and match out there.”

Things appear much more settled in center field where two-year starter Andy Ernesto (.222, 17 R, 8 2B, 2 3B, 14 RBI, 40 TB) remains in place. A line-drive hitter capable of regularly reaching the outfield gaps, Ernesto developed into one of the Patriot League’s top defensive center fielders last season, failing to make a single fielding error in 61 defensive chances. Following a slow start at the plate during the non-league portion of the season, Ernesto rebounded to hit .365 with six doubles, one triple, nine runs scored and 11 runs batted in during conference action.

“Andy is a solid defender and a very clutch offensive player. We are counting on him to hold down one of the top two places in our batting order. His ability to recover from a poor start at the plate last season speaks volumes about his character. He takes a lot of pride in being an Army baseball player and truly understands what that means.”

Love, who enjoyed an outstanding offseason, provides quality insurance behind Ernesto in center field. A scrappy offensive performer, Love began last season as the starter in center before assuming a reserve role at all three outfield spots most of the year. He shows gap power at the plate and ranks as one of Sottolano’s top pinch-runners, allowing for added bench flexibility.

“For the second straight year, Caleb Love has made great strides during the offseason,” Sottolano says. “We feel very comfortable knowing we have Caleb available to back up all three outfield spots. That allows us to manage the game very differently, knowing we have so many options.”

Freshman David Darnell is a developing young player with a bright future in the Army program. He continues to lurk for playing time, ready to pounce whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Catchers

Senior Chris Simmons (.258, 23 R, 1 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 57 TB, .350 SLG) returns to his familiar starting job behind the plate, a position he has held each of the past three seasons. One of the Patriot League’s top returning backstops, Simmons boasts a feared throwing arm and is capable of neutralizing an opponent’s running game with his accuracy and quick release. In addition to handling an Army pitching staff that has ranked among national earned run average leaders each of the past two years, Simmons has thrown out 29 percent (28 of 96) of potential base-stealers (.292) in that time.

He batted .328 with two doubles, one triple, two home runs, 10 runs scored and 10 RBI in 19 Patriot League contests last spring. The durable performer did not miss a single start in conference action, registering a .507 slugging percentage and a .382 on-base percentage against Patriot pitchers. He possesses game-wrecking power and the ability to spray the ball with authority to all fields.

Selected to serve as one of the Black Knights’ team co-captains this spring, Simmons has provided a settling influence to a youthful Army squad, shouldering a valuable leadership role within the team. That will prove extremely valuable in handling a youthful Army pitching staff long on freshman talent.

“Chris has the ability to be an outstanding catcher,” head coach Joe Sottolano offers. “He seems to be a bit more vocal this year and appears very focused.

“Offensively, we need Chris to swing the bat with confidence and drive in runs. He can be a force in the middle of our lineup when he’s going well. We’re looking for Chris to have a tremendous senior season.”

Senior Tom Frawley (.229, 7 R, 5 RBI) saw limited playing time as the primary backup to Simmons last season and should settle into a similar role this spring. Frawley has performed well off the bench in the past and his lefty-swinging bat provides Sottolano with a host of late-game possibilities. Promising freshman Cody Shorter will factor into the picture for playing time behind Simmons as well. A physical defensive presence behind the dish, Shorter has already made great strides during his short time at the Academy and projects as a solid addition to the Army program. He boasts a strong throwing arm and excellent leadership qualities. The expected battle between Frawley and Shorter for the right to back up Simmons should remain heated throughout the year.

“Tom Frawley has made some nice adjustments offensively,” Sottolano states, “and he has improved his overall knowledge of our system. He has taken on a greater leadership role this season and welcomed the responsibilities that go along with being a senior at West Point. We think Cody Shorter can be a valuable player in our program. He will only continue to improve as his comfort level within our program rises.”

Colby Smith rounds out Army’s backstop contingent. The native Texan continues to battle back from a shoulder injury and could be limited to pinch-running duties off the bench this season. Smith runs extremely well and lends yet another late-game option to Army’s burgeoning arsenal.

“Colby could really help us as a pinch-runner,” explains Sottolano. “We feel every player on our roster will contribute to our success. Colby could fill a very important role.”

Pitchers

So exactly how does a team replace arguably the finest starting pitcher and the finest closer in Patriot League history?
 That is the quandry facing Army head coach Joe Sottolano and his staff following the departures of Nick Hill and Milan Dinga. Hill, the winningest pitcher in Patriot League history, and Dinga, the conference’s all-time saves leader, combined to establish or equal 78 school and Patriot League records on single game, season and career levels. While Hill was busy dominating games from the start across his brilliant four-year West Point tenure, Dinga was just as active shortening them at the end.

“You can’t approach the situation as trying to replace Nick Hill and Milan Dinga,” Sottolano explains. “Those two young men are special talents and we were fortunate to have them in our program. You’re never going to be able to replace those two arms.

“But you have to attack things with the mindset that every member of the pitching staff must perform to the best of their ability in order to fill the void. With the talent on this staff, we will be very pleased with the results if our young men pitch to the best of their abilities.”

Helping to cushion the loss of Hill and Dinga is the return of stalwart seniors Cole White (7-3, 3.49 ERA, 54 K, 19 BB) and Drew Clothier (4-4, 3.31 ERA, 68 K, 23 K), two of the league’s top starting pitchers.

White earned All-Patriot League honors on the mound for the third straight season last spring, collecting his second consecutive second-team citing. The hard-throwing righty served as the Black Knights’ No. 2 starter during Patriot League weekends, forming a terrific complement to the left-handed Hill. While sporting impressive overall mound numbers, White excelled against Patriot League competition, posting a 4-1 record with a 2.17 earned run average in league action. He yielded just 22 base hits in 29 innings, while fanning 24 and walking only four during Patriot play. White, who can look unhittable at times when mixing his plus fastball and knee-buckling curveball, limited Patriot League opponents to a .lowly .210 batting average. He ranked tied for third among conference leaders in victories, tied for fifth in complete games, sixth in strikeouts and opponent batting average and tied for eighth in innings pitched.

With the departure of Hill atop the Army pitching rotation, White will be counted on for even greater production this season. He is slated to inherit the No. 1 spot in the Black Knights’ weekend rotation gripped so firmly by Hill the past four years.
 Clothier flashed a dominant repertoire of pitches during lengthy periods last spring, displaying the type of high-end ability professional scouts admire. His low-90s fastball, sharp breaking ball and improving changeup regularly neutralize enemy batters. He should couple with White to form a feared one-two punch atop Army’s weekend pitching rotation.

“Drew and Cole represent two quality arms in our pitching rotation,” Sottolano expresses. ‘Both of those young men have the ability to control a ball game. We expect big things from them this season.

“While Cole has experienced a great deal of success since his freshman season, it’s been fun to watch Drew’s confidence level grow over the course of his time here. He throws three above-average pitches for strikes and improved all three of those pitches during the offseason. Drew understands how to pitch and has really developed into quite a Division I pitcher. Both he and Cole possess the ability to dominate hitters and both could serve as No. 1 starters for our club.”

The new-look weekend starting rotation will feature two new members from a group that includes skilled sophomore Matt Fouch, talented freshmen right-handers Ben Koenigsfeld, Ben Gibbs and Kirk Porter, and high-ceiling plebe southpaw Joey Henshaw. The quartet of newcomers stands 6-3, 6-5, 6-5 and 6-7, respectively, with each casting an imposing figure on the “bump.”

Koenigsfeld appears most certain of claiming a spot in Army’s Patriot League rotation following a lights-out senior year that caught the attention of professional scouts. His four-pitch assortment features a hard-sinking fastball that translates well to the college game. A savvy competitor on the mound, Koenigsfeld could see additional field duty at first base, but most likely will focus on winning a regular turn in Army’s starting rotation.

Fouch, Gibbs, Porter and Henshaw should battle for the remaining starting spot with the runners-up filling vital setup roles in the Black Knights’ bullpen. In fact, all four starting candidates could factor into Sottolano’s search for a new closer. All of them possesses the “pure” stuff necessary to thrive in that critical role. Junior right-hander Tyler Anderegg (0-1, 1.11 ERA, 16 K, 11 BB) could compete for that spot as well after serving as a valuable swing man during both of his first two seasons in the Black, Gold and Gray.

“We’re very excited about the quality arms we’ve added to our program,” Sottolano says. “This is a highly talented group comprised of significant power arms. Much of the team’s success this season will be determined by our pitchers’ ability to finish hitters. The overall depth of the staff is greatly improved. Now we have to go out to the mound and perform like we’re capable.”

Joining the vast assemblage of gifted newcomers are bullpen holdovers Austin Grimes (1-2, 5.23 ERA, 7 K, 9 BB), Steve Cummings (1-0, 3.00 ERA, 7 K, 6 BB) and Chris Simpkins (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 K, 3 BB). Freshman right-hander Clint Moore, who figures to start at shortstop for the Black Knights this spring, Kevin McKague, a contender for playing time at first base, multi-purpose righty Sean Rainbird, who’s also expected to see playing time in Army’s outfield, and classmates Drew Bailey and Andy Seaman could also assume relief roles.

Grimes, a junior, struggled through an uneven sophomore campaign after opening eyes with a stellar debut season. He will be slotted into a vital late-game setup role, providing Sottolano with a much-desired, left-handed option out of the ‘pen. Durable southpaw Cummings and sidewinding righty Simpkins are expected to shoulder midweek relief duties. Each will fight for spot starts as well.

“It will be important to identify roles for our young pitchers by the time we leave Florida. It is imperative that we return from our spring trip with a clear determination of our weekend starters, setup men and closers. We expect the pitchers that do not earn weekend starting jobs to fill very key roles in the bullpen. Finding a closer could pose the greatest challenge. Hopefully, we have enough quality arms for someone to emerge in that important role.”