Dec. 1, 2011

2012 Army Softball Schedule

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Army head softball coach Michelle DePolo is excited about the 2012 spring schedule that features three Patriot League series among 17 home games, four weekend tournaments and the annual spring trip to Florida highlighting its 55-game slate.

Army's senior-laden team has its toughest schedule since opening 2004 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. The Black Knights usher in their 34th season in mid-February competing at the Fifth Annual Red & Black Showcase hosted by the University of Georgia. In addition to playing the host Bulldogs, who reached the NCAA Super Regional last spring, the Black Knights take on Utah State, Campbell, North Carolina State and St. John's over the three-day tournament slated for Feb. 10-12.

Following a week's break, Army heads to Virginia as part of a four-team field at the Spartan Classic hosted by Norfolk State. The Black Knights open and close the tournament taking on the host Spartans (Feb. 25 and 26) with Delaware and Monmouth scheduled in between.

March finds Army making its annual trek to Washington, D.C., for the Colonial Classic hosted by George Washington. The Black Knights take on Buffalo and the host Colonials on Friday, March 2, followed by Siena on Saturday (March 3) with Robert Morris and Stony Brook closing out competition Sunday (March 4).

The Black Knights leaves the cold weather behind to make their annual spring trek to Orlando, Fla., to compete at the Rebel Games. Army kicks off its eight-game slate taking on Akron and Fairfield on March 12 followed by four games over a two-day span with Nebraska-Omaha and Utah Valley scheduled for March 14, followed by Houston Baptist and Youngstown State March 15. Games with Wagner and St. Peter's on March 17 round out the final day of competition.

Army then heads to the University of Pennsylvania to compete in a four-team tournament field hosted by the Quakers March 24-25. The Black Knights take on Villanova and Penn on Saturday and Rider Sunday morning in closing out round-robin competition with the consolation game at 1:30 p.m. followed by the championship game at 3:45 p.m.

The Black Knights kick off their home slate at the Army Softball Complex hosting St. Peter's in a midweek doubleheader on Wednesday, March. 28. Three days later, Army makes its conference debut hosting Holy Cross in a four-game series (March 31, April 1) in the first of five consecutive league weekend competitions. Army closes out its league home series hosting Lafayette (21-22 April) and defending champion Lehigh (April 28-29). In between are weekend sojourns to Hamilton, N.Y., to take on the defending regular-season champion Colgate Raiders (April 7-8) followed by Bucknell (April 14-15).

During that stretch, Army has three midweek non-league home games against Temple (April 3) and Iona (April 17) followed by its regular-season finale against Mid-Hudson rival and host Marist on May 2.

The Black Knights will look to be among the four teams to earn a berth to the Patriot League Tournament to be hosted by the highest seed the weekend of May 10-12. Army has earned a berth the past two years, winning the regular-season title and serving as tournament host DePolo's first season in 2010.