The Blue and Gray baseball team managed to squeeze in three games this week despite the rainy and cold weather conditions. All three contests pitted the Mariners against the Lehman College Lightning. The first game was at home on April 3. The Mariners' nine went over the .500 mark in the Knickerbocker Conference (3-2) with a 12-1 win over the visiting Lightning. Freshman hurler Ben Earnest (Englewood, CO) earned the win and now has a 2-1 record in 2001. Earnest threw five innings and allowed one unearned run on four hits. He walked two batters and struck out six. Sophomore Jon Burnett (Helena, MT) went 3-3 at the plate with a double and scored two runs. Senior catcher Ken Graff (Dix Hills, NY) had a day at the plate as he went 3-4 with an RBI and three runs. Sophomore shortstop Brian Kelly (Palm City, FL) was 2-4 with three RBI and a run.

The team then took to the road to Lehman College on April 7. On the year, Kings Point now stands at 5-9 overall and 4-3 in Knickerbocker action. Senior hurler and team captain Mike Albritton (Tampa, FL) was the catalyst in the Mariners 5-0 win in the first game. Albritton threw a complete-game shutout to improve his 2001 mark to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in Conference games. Albritton went seven innings allowing two hits, four walks, and striking out 11. At the plate, he was 2-4 with a run and an RBI to help his cause. Graff was 3-4, while Kelly was 2-3. Each scored a run and drove in a run in the victory.

In the second game the Blue and Gray dropped a 3-1 game with junior pitcher Bill Flowers (Valrico, FL) on the mound. Senior captain Jeff Dahl (Fairfax Station, VA) was 2-4 in the loss.

Kings Point Softball played two double-headers this past week, one in the Skyline Conference and one non-conference match-up. The week began on Wednesday, April 4 as the Mariners dropped both games at Manhattanville. The Valiants downed the Blue and Gray 5-4 and 10-2. In the first game, freshman hurler Sandra Short (Richmond Hill, GA) threw an outstanding game allowing five hits and three walks. Freshman Jena Jeffries (West Columbia, SC) went 1-3 at the plate with a double and two RBI while sophomore Aileen Villano (Sacramento, CA) was 1-2 with a stolen base.

In game #2, Short was again on the mound and allowed four hits. Jeffries was 1-3, freshman Jeanne Klaine (Cincinnati, OH) was 1-2, and sophomore Mickey Stark (Fargo, ND) was 1-3 with an RBI.

On Saturday, the women took to the diamond at Kings Point Park and split in a double-header against visiting Hunter College. The final softball scores were: 5-1 in the first game with Hunter on top and 7-2 in the second contest with the Blue and Gray earning the win. In the first game, the Mariners scored first when Stark crossed the plate in the bottom of the first inning. Hunter scored twice in the second, twice in the third and added a run later in the game on their way to the 5-1 win. Sophomore Mallanie Lovercheck (Jackson, WY) was 2-3 in the game with a single and a double. Short was the losing pitcher.

Game #2 saw the women from Kings Point turn it around as they snapped a seven-game losing skid. The Mariners scored three runs in the first two innings to jump ahead from the start. The Hawks were able to score twice in the sixth inning to cut the lead to 5-2 but Kings Point earned back the two runs in their next at bat. The final score was 7-2. Freshman Jeanne Klaine (Cincinnati, OH) played first base for the injured Malia Schoch and had a day at the plate. She was a perfect 3-3 with two doubles and a stolen base. Villano was 2-2 with a single and a triple. Short was back on the mound again in the second game and performed beautifully, tossing a two-hit game and striking out six batters.

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy's lacrosse team finished the first week of April at 5-5 overall and still holding a perfect mark in the Knickerbocker Conference (4-0). The Mariners week began Wednesday with a tough loss against Division II rival, Southampton College, 15-8. The Colonials, who had a 6-3 lead after the game's first 30 minutes, gave Kings Point a taste of their own medicine by unleashing with five tallies in the third quarter.

The Mariners got as close as 11-7 after posting two quick strikes in the fourth quarter, but the Colonials answered with two goals of their own to secure the victory. Captain Mike Daquino led the Colonials offensive charge with five goals and two assists. Junior net minder Teague Murphy (Long Beach, NY) made 21 saves in the loss, while senior Captain Larry Falkman helped push Southampton to 4-0 after stopping 24 shots.

The Kings Point offensive effort was led by sophomore Nick Watts (Safety Harbor, FL), who added four points to his season totals with two goals and two assists.

The lacrosse team picked up their fourth victory in the Knickerbocker Conference on Saturday after defeating SUNY Maritime, 17-5, on Tomb Field. The Mariners surrendered the first goal of the game, courtesy of freshman Bill Martino, but then responded with four unanswered strikes. After the Privateers answered with their second tally of the game, Kings Point sophomore Ross Cutler (Vienna, VA) scored his second goal of the game with six seconds left in the first quarter, pushing the lead to 5-2. After that goal, Maritime never recovered. Cutler paced the Mariners attack, collecting 10 points on five goals and five assists. Sophomore Nick Watts also provided a spark for the offense, adding five goals and two assists.

Defensively, the Mariners posted a tremendous effort as 21 players picked up ground balls, led by junior Frank Zingales' (East Northport, NY) seven. Junior Teague Murphy (Long Beach, NY) stopped 16 shots in the win.

On the Season, the Mariners offense has been propelled by sophomore Ross Cutler, who has scored 23 goals and dished out 22 assists. Cutler's 45 points are ten better than the total that second-place scorer Nick Watts has tallied off a team-high 24 goals and 11 assists. In the cage, Teague Murphy has done well, stopping 142 shots and picking up a shutout in nine games played. NOTE: Season stats do not include 3/7/01 game versus Hampden-Sydney.

The Blue and Gray have suffered five losses out of Conference this season, however the defeats have not come in vain. The Kings Point lacrosse program has assembled one of its toughest non-conference schedules in Academy history. Kings Point began the season with a tough loss to Hampden-Sydney, who is 9-2 and ranked #12 in Division III. They dropped their second game to the Bombers of Ithaca College, who stand at a perfect 7-0 in 2001 and are ranked #8 in Division III. The Mariners other defeats have been against Division II competition, two of which are ranked in the nation's top ten. NY Tech is 7-0 and ranked #3 in Division II, while the Colonials of Southampton remained undefeated (4-0) after handing the Blue and Gray their last defeat on Wednesday. In total, every non-conference foe is boasting a winning record, four teams are ranked in the national polls, and the opposition's winning percentage is a remarkable .853 (29-5).

In the midst of the 2001 spring season, the intercollegiate sailing team is once again among the nation's elite. The Mariners wrapped up the fall campaign ranked fourth in the nation, and have resurfaced in the polls this past week, sitting 11th among the country's sailing programs. In the early part of the new season, the Blue and Gray have taken fifth at the Owen Trophy, fourth at the 2001 Boston Dinghy Cup, and secured a victory at the Stevens Match Race Open.

The Blue and Gray tennis team continued their stellar season last week and remained undefeated with a perfect 7-0 record and a 2-0 mark in Skyline Conference action. The Mariners excelled on the court and saw little competition on April 2 as they posted a 9-0 sweep on the road at Montclair State University.

At the #1 singles spot, freshman Jacob Swanson (Carrollton, TX) won 6-3, 6-1. At #2 and #3, freshman Randall Reed (Brisbee, AL) and junior team captain Todd Stallings (Louisburg, NC) each had wins with scores of 6-3, 6-3 and 6-1, 6-2 respectively. Number four senior Mark Shanks (Bel Air, MD) and #6 freshman Aaron Lewis (Marble Falls, TX) each won three-set matches. Shanks won 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 while Lewis won 7-6, 2-6, and 6-4. At #5, freshman JR Guernsey (Achtabula, OH) posted a 6-1, 6-1 victory.

The Mariners also won all three doubles matches as Swanson and Reed, Stallings and sophomore Brantley Rushing (Alice, TX), and Guernsey and Lewis were doubles winners.

The tennis team continued to rip through the region with an 8-1 victory over Skyline Conference opponent Mt. St. Mary on April 4. With the victory, the Mariners picked up their first Conference win of the season. Kings Point swept the singles competition for the fourth consecutive match and took two of the three doubles spots to secure the win All six singles competitors won their matches in two straight sets with Swanson leading the way at the first singles spot, 6-0, 6-4. Junior Akira Fujio-White (Hilo, HI), playing at number two, cruised in 6-2, 6-3. Stallings handled his match quickly at the third spot, 6-1 and 6-1, while Rushing remained perfect in singles play on the year after winning his match 6-3, 6-1. Guernsey and Lewis capped off the singles competition in spectacular fashion by displaying the Blue and Gray's depth in posting 6-0, 6-0 victories at the fifth and sixth spots. Junior Robert Harris (Las Vegas, NV) and Mark Shanks won their doubles match, 8-5, in the second spot, while freshmen Jeff Jaskot (Killarney, FL) and Patrick Singleton (Leola, PA) ensured the Mariners sixth-consecutive win with an 8-1 victory at the third doubles spot.

On April 7, the roll continued with a 9-0 victory over visiting Skyline foe Mt St Vincent. The Blue and Gray are also a perfect 2-0 in the Skyline Conference. The Mariners swept singles competition for the fifth consecutive match and took all three doubles spots for the win at home. All six singles players took just two sets apiece to dispose of their opponents. The six Mariners teamed up to post a record of 72-2 in games played. Swanson set the pace at the first singles spot, 6-0, 6-0. #2 Todd Stallings, #3 Brantley Rushing , and #4 Dan Bergin all won 6-0, 6-0 as well. At #5 and #6 JR Guernsey and Aaron Lewis each dropped a game but walked away winners at 6-1, 6-0. In doubles play, the #1 team composed of Swanson and Rushing won 8-0. At #2, Stallings and Bergin paired up en route to an 8-1 victory. The final duo to play at #3 was made up of Guernsey and Lewis. They walked away 8-0 winners in the match.

The Mariners had an incredible weekend at the Bantam Invitational hosted by Trinity College in Hartford, CT. The team placed second behind Coast Guard with a total of 87 points. Host Trinity placed third with 79 points. Freshman Todd Hoyt (Bend, OR) won both the 200 and 400 meter events. In the 200, Hoyt overtook two opponents in the last 30 meters to gain the victory in 22.76. In the 400, he came off the corner to overtake two runners representing Coast Guard and Amherst in the final 100 to win easily in 50.00. Both of Hoyt's times qualify him for the ECAC Championships.

Sophomore Kris Houghton (Beaverton, OR) made his debut after being out at sea for the winter trimester and came back with a bang. Houghton finished second in the 1500 in 4:03.40 after running a scorching last lap to come from 6th place to his final position at second. His last lap was timed 59.5. The winner of the race was Mark Miller of Keene State who was the 2001 NCAA Division III Indoor Champion in the same event. Placing behind Houghton were also two NCAA qualifiers from the past winter, showing he is in top form this spring despite his time at sea. Houghton then came back to place fourth overall in the 800, easily winning his heat in 1:58.58.

Freshman Chris Kapfer (Tualatin, OR) made a stunning debut in the 5,000 meters, running a time of 15:17.66 to place third overall. Senior Captain John Nadder (Richmond, VA) ran to a fourth-place finish in the 110 high hurdles in 16.24. He barely missed qualifying for the ECACs (16.20) but ran his fastest time of the season. The Mariners 4x100 team placed fourth overall in 46.13 with freshman David McNeal (San Antonio, TX), sophomore Mike Brady (Fort Myers, FL), freshman Erik Corcoran (North Attleboro, MA) and senior Levi Nunley (Patton, PA). The Blue and Gray all-freshmen 4x400 team of Phil Noland (Eau Claire, WI), Ryan Ripley (Buffalo Grove, IL), Patrick Myers (Albuquerque, NM) and Alex Sichel (Westport, CT) placed fifth overall in a time of 3:33.12.

Sophomore Steve Hohenshelt (Brookfield, CT) won the shot put, launching it 47' 6". Nunley was second in both the long jump (21'1") and triple jump (41'3.25"). Throwers Tim McLaughlin (Roslyn, PA) and Mike Messenger (Howell, NJ) each earned a fourth-place finish. McLaughlin, a sophomore, was fourth in the discus, while Messenger, a senior, was fourth in the hammer.