Army Black Knights
UniversityUnited States Military Academy
Head coachJen Consaul (2nd season)
ConferencePatriot League
LocationWest Point, NY
Home stadiumArmy Softball Complex
NicknameBlack Knights
ColorsBlack, gold, and gray[1]
     
NCAA Tournament appearances
2000, 2002, 2013
Conference Tournament championships
MAAC: 1986, 1988[2]
PL: 1991, 1992, 2000, 2002, 2013[3]
Regular Season Conference championships
MAAC: 1986, 1988
PL: 1991, 1992, 2010

The Army Black Knights softball team represents the United States Military Academy in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Patriot League. From 1982 until 1990, the team was a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). The Black Knights are currently led by head coach Jen Consaul.[4] The team plays its home games at Army Softball Complex located on the university's campus.[5]

History

During their time in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, the Black Knights won the conference regular season title twice as well as two MAAC tournament championships, achieving both during the 1986 and 1988 seasons. The team has had two players named MAAC tournament MVP, with third baseman Andee Hidalgo winning the award in 1986 and pitcher Colleen McCabe winning in 1988.[2][6]

After switching to the Patriot League in 1991, the team found immediate success by winning the regular season and conference championship in 1991 and 1992. The team also won the PL conference tournament in 2000, 2002, and 2013, qualifying for the NCAA Division I softball tournament in each season. Army has won PL Coach of the Year five times, doing so in 1991, 1992, and 2002 with Jim Flowers, and 2010 and 2016 with Michelle DePolo.[7][8] The program has also won seven PL Player of the Year awards, doing so in 1991 with McCabe, 1992 with Paula Bostwick, 1994 with Sheri Schweiker, 2000, 2001, and 2002 with Nicki Robbins, and in 2016 with Kasey McCravey.[9][10]

The Black Knights qualified for their first NCAA tournament in 2000, facing off in the first round of regionals against Washington. They were defeated by a score of 5-0 and were sent to the losers bracket where they faced off against Chattanooga. Army was officially eliminated from the tournament after losing a close 6-4 contest that went to extra innings.[11][12] The program qualified for the tournament for the second time in three years in 2002. In the team's first game of the tournament, the Black Knights were defeated by Texas by a score of 4-0. After being sent to the losers bracket, the program won its first NCAA tournament game after defeating Utah 2-0. Army's run was ended after losing to Arkansas by a score of 2-0.[13][14][15] After an 11 year absence, the Black Knights qualified for the 2013 NCAA Division I softball tournament and faced off against Texas, where they were defeated by a score of 5-0. They were eliminated from the tournament by Houston by a score of 7-5.[16][17]

Coaching history

Years Coach Record %
1979–1980 Dennis Helsel 24–16 .600
1981, 1983 Lorraine Quinn 15–27 .357
1982 Suzi Horne 5–14 .263
1984–1985 Harold Johnson 28–36 .438
1986–1989 Al Arceo 107–47 .695
1990 Gary Winton 29–10 .744
1991–2009 Jim Flowers 394–492–2 .445
2010–2018 Michelle DePolo 280–216–1 .564
2019 Bob Beretta 26–30 .464
2020–2022 Cheryl Milligan 50–60 .455
2023–present Jen Consaul 22–37 .373

[2]

Roster

2024 Army Black Knights roster
 

Pitchers

  • 19 – Amanda Eaglin – Sophomore
  • 24 – Olivia Farris – Junior
  • 7 – Katelyn Flanders – Freshman
  • 11 – Breanna Izzo – Sophomore
  • 27 – Lauren Levendoski – Freshman
  • 16 – Parker Llantero – Senior

Catchers

  • 25 – Mia Bonsignore – Sophomore
  • 23 – Ellie Caldwell – Senior
  • 12 – Jordyn Detz – Freshman
  • 2 – Mikayla Klepfer – Senior
  • 29 – Emma Murchison – Freshman
  • 20 – Caitlyn Newburn – Sophomore
  • 13 – Sophie Smith – Junior
  

Infielders

  • 10 – Sam Bocis – Freshman
  • 6 – Taylor Brown – Sophomore
  • 1 – Maaika Dones – Junior
  • 30 – Julia Farris – Junior
  • 22 – Lauren Little – Senior
  • 9 – Samantha Sims – Freshman
  • 15 – Ashton White – Sophomore

Outfielders

  • 3 – Kayla Edwards – Junior
  • 4 – Nessa Andersen – Sophomore
  
Reference:[18]

Season by season results

Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Army Black Knights (AIAW) (1979–1981)
1979 Dennis Helsel 14–9
1980 Dennis Helsel 10–7
1981 Lorraine Quinn 9–11
Army Black Knights (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) (1982–1990)
1982 Suzi Horne 5–14
1983 Lorraine Quinn 6–16
1984 Harold Johnson 18–14
1985 Harold Johnson 10–22
1986 Al Arceo 27–7 1st
1987 Al Arceo 23–18 2nd
1988 Al Arceo 33–11 1st
1989 Al Arceo 24–11 3rd
1990 Gary Winton 29–10 2nd
Army Black Knights (Patriot League) (1991–present)
1991 Jim Flowers 28–13 12–0 1st
1992 Jim Flowers 28–15 11–1 1st
1993 Jim Flowers 15–26–1 7–5 4th
1994 Jim Flowers 23–20 8–4 3rd
1995 Jim Flowers 13–33 4–8 5th
1996 Jim Flowers 11–31 3–7 5th
1997 Jim Flowers 12–31 4–6 5th
1998 Jim Flowers 16–24 6–12 5th
1999 Jim Flowers 25–19 8–12 5th
2000 Jim Flowers 29–18 8–2 2nd NCAA Regionals
2001 Jim Flowers 20–27 9–11 4th
2002 Jim Flowers 31–19–1 14–4 2nd NCAA Regionals
2003 Jim Flowers 20–27 9–11 4th
2004 Jim Flowers 27–22 15–5 2nd
2005 Jim Flowers 29–21 12–6 2nd
2006 Jim Flowers 18–37 9–11 4th
2007 Jim Flowers 15–36 9–11 4th
2008 Jim Flowers 13–39 8–12 4th
2009 Jim Flowers 21–34 8–12 T–4th
2010 Michelle DePolo 33–20 15–5 1st
2011 Michelle DePolo 28–25 9–11 4th
2012 Michelle DePolo 37–21 14–6 2nd
2013 Michelle DePolo 35–26 12–8 2nd NCAA Regionals
2014 Michelle DePolo 23–28 9–9 4th
2015 Michelle DePolo 23–27 9–9 T–3rd
2016 Michelle DePolo 39–20 13–5 2nd
2017 Michelle DePolo 36–21 10–8 3rd
2018 Michelle DePolo 26–28 10–8 4th
2019 Bob Beretta 26–30 8–10 T–4th
2020 Cheryl Milligan 14–9 0–0 N/A

Season cut short due to COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 Cheryl Milligan 16–17 12–10 4th
2022 Cheryl Milligan 20–34 10–8 3rd
2023 Jen Consaul 22–37 8–10 4th
2024 Jen Consaul 0–0 0–0
Total: 980–985–3 (.499)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

See also

References

  1. ^ Army Brand Guidelines (PDF). April 13, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "2022 SB record book (PDF)" (PDF). Army West Point.
  3. ^ "2023 Softball Record Book (PDF) - Patriot League" (PDF). patriotleague.org.
  4. ^ "Jen Consaul - Interim Head Softball Coach - Softball Coaches". Army West Point.
  5. ^ "Softball Complex". GoArmySports.com. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  6. ^ "Championship History - MAACSports.com - The Official Website of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference". maacsports.com.
  7. ^ Gleason, Kevin. "Gleason: Army's Flowers not like most coaches". Times Herald-Record.
  8. ^ "Softball Hires DePolo As Assistant Coach". FGCU Athletics.
  9. ^ "Kasey McCravey Leaps Over Catcher to Advance to Patriot League Championship - FloSoftball". www.flosoftball.com.
  10. ^ "Army's Robbins named league's best in softball". Tampa Bay Times.
  11. ^ Staff Writer. "Army loses NCAA tourneyopener to No. 1 Washington". Times Herald-Record.
  12. ^ "Washington Huskies". Washington Huskies.
  13. ^ "No. 10 Texas Softball defeats Army 4-0 in game one of NCAA Regionals". big12sports.com.
  14. ^ "2002 NCAA Women's College World Series". Softball History USA. December 8, 2020.
  15. ^ "Army's Rally Falls Short in 2-0 Loss to Arkansas at NCAA Softball Tournament". patriotleague.org.
  16. ^ "Army vs Texas DI Softball Game Summary - May 17th, 2013 | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com.
  17. ^ "Houston vs Army DI Softball Game Summary - May 18th, 2013 | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com.
  18. ^ "2023 Softball Roster". Army West Point.

External links

United States Military Academy
Patriot League softball
Category