There's plenty for Navy coach Paul Kostacopoulos to feel good about as him team prepares to open the season with a three-game series on the road at North Carolina A&T beginning Friday.
The Mids return all six players who earned all-Patriot League honors a year ago, including senior left-hander Luke Gillingham, a second team All-American. Gillingham went 8-1 and led the nation in WHIP (0.70) and was top five in ERA (1.19) and strikeouts per nine innings (11.99).
Navy finished 37-20 a year ago and won the Patriot League regular season title. However, the top-seeded Mids were beaten by third-seeded Lehigh in the best-of-three tournament championship.