Air Force Academy

Oct. 9, 2008

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - The Air Force baseball team wraps-up the 2008 fall practice slate with the Blue-White World Series, running Oct. 15-17 at Falcon Field. First pitch for all three games begins at 3:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to come out and catch an early glimpse of the 2009 squad.

The Falcon baseball team will hold a draft this weekend to select the blue and white teams. The team with two wins at the end of the three-game series will be crowned Blue-White Series Champions.

Air Force pitching coach Scott Marchand will coach the Blue team and assistant coach Chandler Rose will coach the White team. Head coach Mike Hutcheon will be tournament Commissioner.

"I am proud of what our players have accomplished throughout the fall," Marchand said. "We have seen some significant growth from our returning players, and we have been pleased with the ability of the freshmen to learn. We truly have some great athletes out there, and I am sure that this series will be extremely competitive. I expect my blue squad to show intensity and grit, and believe that we will be happy with the results."

"We have had a great fall and I look forward to ending it with this series," Rose said. "The fall has been extremely competitive and I expect the series to be the same. You can really see the improvements the team is making each day. The white team will be ready to go, and take this series."

"This fall has been very competitive from day one," Hutcheon said. "I foresee both of these teams fighting hard for each of their respective teams. I believe everyone involved will take that competitive spirit achieved this fall into this three-game series and continue it right into our winter workouts. We have made tremendous strides as a program and I feel very confident that everyone involved has very high expectations with this upcoming year."

Air Force is coming off an 18-33 season in 2008, an improvement of 10 wins from the year before. The Falcons led the nation with 0.62 triples per game in 2007 with Nathan Carter leading the nation with 10 triples as a freshman.

Air Force opens the regular season Feb. 20 against Navy at the 2009 Service Academies Spring Classic in Millington, Tenn.