Army college baseball's new head coach looks to maintain dominance
WEST POINT – The coaching positions have changed but not the end goal for the Army baseball team.
Win the Patriot League title and move on to the NCAA tournament.
Chris Tracz got a taste of Army baseball as an assistant coach in 2009 and now he’s back – after 13 seasons at nearby Marist College – as head coach of the Black Knights.
“These guys know what it takes,’’ Tracz said of his newfound players. “Obviously it’s about just being to produce and execute every day.’’ Tracz won his Army debut on Friday night in Texas, beating Air Force 5-2.
Army features an all-star infield and a pitching staff that is interchangeable in their roles.
Shortstop Kevin Dubrule (.321, 47 RBI last season) is the Patriot League’s preseason defensive player of the year, with preseason nods also going to catcher Derek Berg (.307, 31 RBI), first baseman Ross Friedrick (.340, 6 HR, 49 RBI) and third baseman Sam Ruta (.390, 7 HR, 36 RBI) – all four won postseason honors last season, though Berg’s award came as a second baseman and now he returns to his natural position as backstop.
Not counting the shortened 2020 COVID year, Army has posted winning records, won the Patriot title and competed in the NCAA regionals four consecutive seasons. Last season, Army was 31-25 and 18-7 in Patriot play, bowing to Southern Mississippi and Kennesaw State at NCAAs.
“I don't think there's any reason to shy away from the goal of another Patriot League championship and being one of the four teams to play in the tournament and be there at the end,’’ Tracz said. “That's their goal. That's the goal of why, when I went through the interview process, this is what it was about. It was about continuing to win at a really, really high level with great kids and I think we have that recipe.’’
Tracz took over for Jim Foster, who led Army to a 162-140 record over six seasons (2017-22) before taking the head coaching job at Northwestern. A 2005 graduate of Marist, Tracz was an assistant with the Red Foxes from 2006-08, a pitching coach with Army in 2009 and head coach at Marist from 2010-22, compiling a 315-284-2 record.
“Obviously I feel lucky to be here and be with these guys and at West Point in general,’’ Tracz said. “But taking over a program that's kind of the class of the league and has had so much success is exciting. Our job is to continue on the winning tradition.’’
Outfield roles will go to speedy freshman Zac Farrell in left, junior switch-hitter and strong-armed Braden Golinski in center and junior college transfer Ethan Ellis in right. Sophomore lefty Justin Lehman and freshman righty Carter Hewitt are lead candidates at designated hitter.
Junior right-hander Matt Ronnebaum has locked himself into a starting role – he throws strikes, a fastball up to 91 with a breaking ball and change-up. Junior righty Tanner Gresham can throw 94 and may be used as a starter or closer. Senior righty Robbie Buecker is likely to get a few starts early on but may be looked at as a reliever.
Junior 6-foot-6 righty Mike Ruggieri had an outstanding fall campaign and is likely a starter. Senior 6-5 righty Patrick Melampy can reach 95 with an outstanding breaking ball but is coming off two seasons of arm trouble.
Tracz said he’d like to give players “opportunities to be in different situations to see how it plays out,’’ but would like to have more defined pitching roles following the third weekend of action. Army is playing Air Force in a three-game set this weekend, Charlotte next weekend and four games the following, two with Stonehill and two with host Kansas State. The Black Knights also have a March 7 game at Arkansas, three games at Wright State and three at South Florida.
The home openers are Albany on March 14 and Siena on March 22. Patriot play starts March 24 at Holy Cross. Marist visits on March 28. Army hosts Navy on April 2 and plays in Annapolis on April 22.
Army was voted first in the Patriot preseason coaches and sports information director poll, garnering nine of 12 first-place votes. Bucknell, Lehigh, Navy, Holy Cross and Lafayette round out the poll.
Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR
Army roster
Seniors (7) - No. 1 Bret Copeland, IF; No. 4 Tyler Prichard, LHP; No. 5 Ross Friedrick, 1B/OF; No. 12 Robbie Buecker, RHP; No. 14 Patrick Melampy, RHP; No. 15 Kevin Dubrule, SS; No. 24 Bennett Smith, IF/OF
Juniors (11) - No. 6 Matthew Ronnebaum, RHP; No. 8 Tanner Gresham, RHP; No. 10 Derek Berg, C/utility; No. 11 Braden Golinski, OF; No. 13 Sam Ruta, 3B; No. 17 Joel Rubin, RHP; No. 21 Steven Graver, RHP; No. 22 Dom Trippi, RHP; No. 29 Trevor Finan, RHP; No. 35 Mike Ruggieri, RHP; No. 44 Sean Dennehy, LHP
Sophomores (5) - No. 2 Kevin Luke, OF; No. 3 Coleson Titus, C; No. 9 Bryce Brownlee, RHP; No. 18 Joe Valchar, RHP; No. 33 Justin Lehman, C/RHP
Freshmen (12) - No. 7 Chris Barr, IF; No. 16 Ethan Ellis, OF; No. 19 Jack Quinlan, C; No. 25 Jack Morken, 1B; No. 26 William Parker, OF/RHP; No. 27 Addison Ainsworth, OF; No. 30 Andrew Berg, RHP; No. 31 Zac Farrell, OF; No. 32 Thomas Schreck, IF; No. 34 Will Hart, LHP; No. 37 Jared Cohen, 2B-SS; No. 39 Carter Hewitt, C/IF
Army schedule
February
Fri. 17 – vs. Air Force W 5-2; Sat. 18 vs. Air Force, 2 p.m.; Sun. 19 – vs. Air Force, noon; Fri. 24 – at Charlotte, 4 p.m. (ESPN+); Sat. 25 – at Charlotte, 2 p.m. (CUSA.tv); Sun. 26 – at Charlotte, 1 p.m. (CUSA.tv)
March
Fri. 3 – at Kansas State, 5 p.m. (ESPN+); Sat. 4 – vs. Stonehill, 5 p.m.; Sun. 5 – vs. Stonehill, 1 p.m.; at Kansas State, 5 p.m. (ESPN+); Tues. 7 – at Arkansas, 3 p.m. (SEC Network+); Fri. 10 – at Wright State, 3 p.m. (ESPN+); Sat. 11 – at Wright State, 2 p.m.; Sun. 12 – at Wright State, 1 p.m. (ESPN+); Tues. 14 – vs. Albany, 3 p.m.; Fri. 17 – at South Florida, 6 p.m. (ESPN+); Sat. 18 – at South Florida, 2 p.m. (ESPN+); Sun. 19 – at South Florida, 1 p.m. (ESPN+); Wed. 22 – vs. Siena, 3 pm.; Fri. 24 – at Holy Cross*, TBD; Sat. 25 – at Holy Cross* (DH), noon; Sun. 26 – at Holy Cross*, noon (ESPN+); Tues. 28 – vs. Marist, 3 p.m.
April
Sat. 1 – vs. Bucknell* (DH), noon; Sun. 2 – vs. Navy* (DH), noon; Wed. 5 – at Siena, 3 p.m. (Siena All-Access); Sat. 8 – vs. Lehigh* (DH), noon; Sun. 9 – vs. Lehigh*, 1 p.m.; Tues. 11 – vs. Stony Brook, 3:30 p.m.; Wed. 12 – vs. Sacred Heart, 3:30 p.m.; Sat. 15 – at Bucknell* (DH), noon; Sun. 16 – at Bucknell*, 1 p.m.; Wed. 19 – vs. Holy Cross*, 3 p.m.; Sat. 22 – at Navy* (DH), 1 p.m.; Sun. 23 – at Navy*, noon (CBS Sports Network); Tues. 25 – vs. Columbia, 6 p.m.; Sat. 29 – vs. Lafayette* (DH), noon; Sun. 30 – vs. Lafayette*, 1 p.m.
May
Tues. 2 – vs. Long Island, 3:30 p.m.; Sat. 6 – at Lehigh* (DH), noon; Sun. 7 – at Lafayette* (DH), noon (ESPN+); Sat. 13-Sun. 14 – Patriot League semifinals (best of 3) at higher seed; Fri. 19-Sat. 20 – Patriot League finals (best of 3) at higher seed
Home games played at West Point’s Doubleday Field; asterisk marks Patriot League play; (DH) – indicates doubleheader; additional webstream home and league games on subscription ESPN+ likely
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Army West Point college baseball: Get to know new head coach Tracz
