United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Baseball

Entering the 2007 season, the major concern for the Coast Guard Academy baseball team was pitching. The Bears lost NEWMAC Pitcher of the Year Mike Jarbeau and Cory Anderson, who was drafted by the Washington Nationals.

It was feast or famine for the Coast Guard pitchers during the 2007 season as they staff allowed three or less runs 10 times, however the pitchers also allowed eight or more runs in 13 games as the Bears finished 11-18 overall and 4-8 in last place in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC).

The Bears did however advance to the NEWMAC tournament semifinals for the seventh time in eight seasons as the seventh-seeded Bears behind the pitching of junior Will Becker, knocked off second-seeded WPI 3-1 in the first round. Becker went the distance and allowed just five hits and one earned run.

Becker was sensational all season long on the mound as he posted a 5-1 record with a team-best 2.29 ERA to earn All-conference second team honors for the first time.

Junior Jacob Pitchford, an exchange cadet from Navy, was solid with a 2-4 record and a 4.01 ERA. Pitchford made his conference debut by beating Wheaton, which was ranked second nationally and has won the regular season championship in every season since the NEWMAC began in 1999. Pitchford allowed just four hits over 6 2/3 innings as the Bears won 2-1. He earned NEWMAC Pitcher of the Week honors that week for the second straight time. Pitchford won the honor the previous week as he beat Albion, allowing just one earned run in his collegiate debut in Fort Myers, Fla.

Sophomore Pete Schofield (2-2, 5.12) became a key part of the rotation. He spun a three-hit shutout in a 6-0 win over Clark to win NEWMAC Pitcher of the Week honors. Schofield was also brillant in a heartbreaking 5-4, 10 inning loss to Babson in the tournament.

Senior outfielder and tri-captain Chuck Arena closed out a brillant career as he became the Bears’ all-time hits leader with 169 career hits breaking the mark of 154 set by Rob Trevino (1999-2002). Arena led the team this season with a .328 batting average and five homers and he was second with 25 RBI’s as he earned first team All-conference honors for the second straight season. Arena was the NEWMAC Rookie of the Year in 2004 and a second-team selection in 2005.

Arena graduates with a school record 33-game hitting streak which was snapped in the second game of this season. He is ranked among the all-time Coast Guard leaders in several categories as he hit .353 for his career (5th all-time). He is also among the career leaders with 95 RBI’s (2nd all-time), 11 home runs (third all-time), 31 doubles (sixth all-time) in 122 career games.

Junior outfielder Adam Reckley was second on the team with a .326 average and a team best .426 on base percentage. Junior second baseman Brian Lisko was third on the team with a .310 batting average to go with his team-high 26 RBI’s.

Junior shortstop Christian George hit .284 with 13 RBI’s and a team-high eight stolen bases to earn second-team All-conference honors for the first time.

The Bears once again had a successful spring trip as they returned home with a 4-3 record, it was the fifth straight season the team return from the Florida swing with a winning record.