July 8, 2004

On the heels of one of the finest individual performances in Army history, second baseman Nate Stone became the first Black Knight in four decades to be named to one of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-America teams when he was recently selected to the 2004 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I All-America Third Team.

A native of Bellefonte, Pa. (Bellefonte H.S.), Stone enjoyed a "breakout" season for Army this spring. Despite playing his third different position in three years, the junior second-sacker blossomed into one of the East's premier run-producing threats. Stone batted .414 with 18 doubles, six home runs and a team-leading 53 runs batted in. He established new single season school records for base hits (75) and doubles (18).

In addition to topping the Patriot League in batting average (leading the nearest competitor by 35 percentage points), Stone headed the conference in base hits and ranked second in runs batted in (53) and on-base percentage (.483). He also listed among league leaders in doubles (3rd), total bases (3rd), runs scored (4th), slugging percentage (4th), stolen bases (T6th) and home runs (T7th). Stone recently completed his first season at second base after handling Army's shortstop duties a year ago. He started at third base as a freshman.

Stone becomes only the third Black Knight to be chosen to one of the ABCA's national All-America teams and the first since Barry DeBolt was cited in 1966. Ed Haydash was the only other Army player to earn national recognition by the ABCA, earning similar honors in 1963.

Army closed its most successful season in school history last month, finishing with a 37-15 overall record. The Black Knights captured their third Patriot League championship and earned the second NCAA Regional berth in school history.