The United States Merchant Marine Academy's baseball team had a tough week, losing three straight and dropping their season record to 6-12 and slipping below the .500 mark in the Knickerbocker Conference (5-6). The week began the same way it ended after the Mariners fell at home on Wednesday to Stevens Tech, 8-1.

Pitching was the difference in the game, as Ducks hurler Jason Edelman went the distance, surrendering only four hits and striking out two batters in his complete-game effort.

Senior captain Mike Albritton (Tampa, FL) took the loss for the Mariners, just days after being named Knickerbocker Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season. The routinely consistent and usually reliable right-hander experienced his worst outing of the season, giving up six earned runs and walking six batters in six and a third innings. In the seventh, the Ducks added their last two runs courtesy of a wild pitch and a balk. Even on a bad day, Albritton showed at times that he still has a command of the hill, evidenced by his nine strikeouts.

Junior infielder and leadoff hitter David Riley paced the Stevens Tech offense, going 2-2 at the plate, scoring two runs, and reaching base on four occasions. Senior catcher Kenny Graff (Dix Hills, NY) continued his strong season for the Blue and Gray, reaching base via a single, a double, and a walk in three plate appearances. The Kings Point slugger also swiped a base in the second inning.

The Mariners changed venues, but suffered the same fate in a doubleheader on the road in Hoboken, NJ. In the first game, Stevens Tech topped Kings Point, 2-0, and in the second game the Blue and Gray nine fell 2-1.

In round #1, the Ducks and Mariners were scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning. Stevens Tech hit three of their four singles in that frame, scoring twice. The Ducks then held Kings Point to one hit during the next three innings to hold on for the 2-0 win.

In the loss, Kings Point was held to two hits, both by senior captain Mike Albritton. Freshman Ben Earnest got the loss on the mound after throwing six innings, allowing one earned run on four hits, walking three and striking out seven.

Stevens Tech scored in the bottom of the first inning in the second game to take an early edge. The Blue and Gray tied the game, 1-1 in the top of the fifth. Junior Josh Domingo (Omaha, NE) led off the inning with a single. He advanced to second base on a ground out by Earnest. Senior captain Jeff Dahl (Fairfax Station, VA) brought Domingo home on a single to equal the score.

Stevens Tech again had a late rally, scoring once more in the bottom of the sixth as they tallied three hits. The Mariners were unable to score in the seventh even though they were able to get a runner at first with two outs.

Kings Point was held to three hits, tallied by Dahl, Domingo, and Earnest. Junior Bill Flowers (Valrico, FL) had the loss after going 5.2 innings. He allowed five hits and two earned runs. Flowers also walked five and struck out two in the loss.

The Kings Point lacrosse team kept their flawless Knickerbocker record alive after defeating Richard Stockton, 13-8, in Pomona, New Jersey. The Mariners improve to 6-5 overall and 5-0 in the Knickerbocker Conference with the win.

The Blue and Gray came out fast and furious to begin the game. Before the horn signaled the end of the first quarter, shots by freshman Tim Warburten (Canandaigua, NY), Phil Egge (Alexandria, VA), and a pair by sophomore Ross Cutler (Vienna, VA) had penetrated the net, giving Kings Point a 4-1 advantage. The Mariners duplicated their effort in the game's second frame, and held a commanding 8-2 lead at the half.

In the third quarter, the Ospreys battled back, scoring five unanswered goals and shredding the Mariners lead to one. Richard Stockton officially completed the comeback two minutes into the fourth quarter. However, the Blue and Gray dismissed the Ospreys outstanding rally, and a two-goal effort off the sticks of juniors Phil Egge and Frank Zingales (East Northport, NY) gave the Mariners a 10-8 lead and an advantage they would never relinquish. Sophomore Nick Watts (Safety Harbor, FL) added a pair of strikes and junior Gray Harrison (Dallas, TX) supplied one of his own to close out the scoring and put Kings Point into position to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championships.

On the season, the Mariners offense has been charged by sophomore Ross Cutler, who has scored 49 points and 23 assists, both of which are team-high's. Cutler is tied for the lead in goals with fellow sophomore Nick Watts. Both Watts and Cutler have put 26 balls beyond the opposing goalkeeper's reach.

The Mariners had a 3-2 week, defeating Staten Island in an exciting nine-inning game, falling twice to St. Joseph's and then rebounding to win two from SUNY Old Westbury. Kings Point is now 6-13 overall and 4-6 in Skyline play.

The Mariners pulled out a spectacular 8-7 win on Tuesday afternoon in Kings Point Park. The Blue and Gray downed Staten Island by an 8-7 final in nine innings. Kings Point got on the board first as freshman Ali Martins (Severna Park, MD) reached from her lead-off spot on an error. She stole second base and scored on a double by sophomore Mickey Stark (Fargo, ND). Martins added to the lead when she drove in sophomore Margaret Nicks (Issaquah, WA), who had reached base on a walk, in the third inning. The Dolphins of Staten Island got on the scoreboard, tying the game at 2-2, in the top of the fourth.

Kings Point responded in the bottom of the fourth with four hits. Stark began the inning with a single and moved to second on a Jena Jeffries' (West Columbia, SC) single. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Senior Lindsay Tullis (Portland, OR) smacked a double to score Stark but Jeffries was thrown out at home. After a strikeout, sophomore Melannie Lovercheck (Jackson, WY) scored Tullis on a double to increase the lead back up to 4-2 before the close of the fourth. Staten Island added two runs in the sixth after a scoreless fifth inning and the game was tied again, 4-4. In the top of the seventh, the Dolphins took their first lead on a sac fly, 5-4.

The Mariners came to the plate needing a run to tie and they got it. Freshman Christina Penning (Freeport, Bahamas) walked and then was driven in by Martins when she hit a thunderous triple to tie the game, 5-5. In the eighth, Staten Island added two more runs to put Kings Point back in the hole. Jeffries led off the inning with a triple, scoring the runner from second (tiebreaker rules), to cut the edge to one. Jeffries then scored on a hard-hit ground ball by freshman Jeanne Klaine (Cincinnati, OH) to even the score and the game moved into the ninth inning.

In the top of the final inning, the Blue and Gray defense buckled down and held the Dolphins scoreless. Freshman Lydia Lopez (Burke, VA) began the bottom of the ninth on second (tiebreaker rules). She moved to third on a perfect sacrifice bunt by Penning and then scored on a sac fly by Martins to win the game, 8-7.

Stark was 2-3 with two runs, a double, and a walk. Jeffries was 2-4 with a run, an RBI and a triple in the Mariners' win. Martins was 1-3 with a triple, a stolen base, and three RBI. She also drove in the winning run. Freshman pitcher Sandra Short (Richmond Hill, GA) threw all nine innings allowing four earned runs, four hits, and striking out six.

Later in the week, the Mariners dropped two games to the visiting St. Joseph's Golden Eagles. The Blue and Gray fell by 13-1 and 18-2 scores. Offensive highlights came from sophomore left fielder Melannie Lovercheck and senior second baseman Lindsay Tullis. Lovercheck was 2-2 in the first game while Tullis was 2-2 with a stolen base in the second game. Short got the loss in both games.

The Mariners posted two wins at Kings Point Park on Friday afternoon. Kings Point beat the Panthers of SUNY Old Westbury 18-2 and 9-1. In the first game, the Mariners scored early and often en route to an 18-2 five-inning victory. A trio of freshman led the team. Third baseman Jena Jeffries had a great performance at the plate, going 3-4 with two triples, four RBI, and four runs. Jeanne Klaine was 3-4 with a double, four RBI, and a run. Sandra Short was also 3-4 with an RBI at the plate. On the mound, Short went the distance. She allowed just three hits, walked four, and struck out six.

In the second game, Melannie Lovercheck was the offensive hero, going 3-3 at the plate. Designated hitter Lydia Lopez (Burke, VA), a freshman, was 2-3 with two runs and an RBI, while Klaine was 1-1 with a sac, a walk, a double, and two RBI. Short again was the winning pitcher. This game she threw six innings, allowed four hits, walked six and struck out six.

Kings Point tennis remained unstoppable last week, with a Skyline Conference win over Stevens Tech at home, 7-2. The triumphant Mariners are now 8-0 overall and 3-0 in the Skyline Conference following the victory.

Five of the six Mariners' singles players walked off the court with a win and two doubles teams were successful. Freshman Jacob Swanson (Carrolltan, TX) again led the team with his performance at #1 singles, where he posted a 6-3, 6-0 win. Junior Akira Fujio-White (Hilo, HI), the #2 singles player, endured a three-set standoff with Tim Pasquin and won 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. At the #3 spot, junior captain Todd Stallings (Louisburg, NC) fell 3-6, 2-6. The trio of freshman Randy Reed (Bishee, AZ), sophomore Brantley Rushing (Alice, TX), and freshman JR Guernsey (Achtabula, OH) won their respective matches at #4, #5, and #6 singles. Reed won 6-0, 6-4; Rushing was a winner by scores of 4-6, 6-3, and 6-1; and Guernesy posted a 6-3, 6-4 decision.

In doubles play, Kings Point got an 8-5 win from the tandem of Swanson and Reed. Junior Rob Harris (Las Vegas, NV) and freshman Jeff Jaskot (Killarney, FL) posted a thrilling 9-7 win in the final match of the day.

The United States Merchant Marine Academy's track and field team continued their spring season with a home invitational, fondly named after former Head Coach Bill Omeltchenko, who dedicated 43 years of service to the Kings Point running programs.

The 27-team Invitational was highlighted by freshman Todd Hoyt's (Bend, OR) record-breaking effort in the 400m run. Hoyt ran 49.02 to secure a victory in the event and shatter the Academy mark of 50.22 that was established by Dave Snelling during the 1995 season. Hoyt also returned to the track for the 200m dash and finished fourth in 22.18.

Other highlights on the day came in the 3000m, where sophomore Kris Houghton (Beaverton, OR) continued his dominance in the region by winning the race in 8:35.78. Freshman teammate Chris Kapfer (Tualatin, OR) took second in the race, crossing the line in 8:42.69.

The Mariners had a good showing on the track, but in the field they completely overmatched their competition. Sophomore Steve Hohenshelt (Brookfield, CT) won the men's shot put after a toss of 46'02", while senior Mike Messenger (Howell, NJ), sophomore Tim McLaughlin (Roslyn, PA), and Hohenshelt grabbed second, third, and fourth in the hammer throw.