Air Force freshman Paul Skenes earns Mountain West, All-American honors
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (BVM) — Paul Skenes had one of the best freshman seasons in Air Force Academy baseball history this spring and it’s earned him some deserved recognition. Last week, the Lake Forest, Calif. product was not only awarded as the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year, he was also named a first team All-American by Collegiate Baseball News (CBN), becoming the first Falcon to earn first teamer status since 2009.
Skenes, the only Mountain West player to be named to the CBN first team, was instrumental in helping Air Force to a 26-22 overall record, the program’s best in 28 years, and an 18-16 record in the Mountain West, the Falcons’ best conference mark in program history. The dual threat started all 48 games, including 28 at DH, 18 at catcher and two at first base while also making 18 relief appearances on the mound, all of which came in games he began in the starting lineup.
Skenese had a .410/486/.697 slash line with 77 hits, 11 home runs, 43 RBIs and 49 runs scored for the Falcons. His 21 multi-hit games — including a pair of five-hit performances — led the team. Skenes also closed his first season on a 35-game on-base streak. On the bump, Skenes recorded a 2.70 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP while striking out 30 and walking just nine in 26.2 innings pitched. His 11 saves — tied for the program record for most in a single season — ranked ninth in the nation and he was the only NCAA Division I player to post double-digit home runs and saves this year.
