June 27, 2006

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Junior relief specialist Milan Dinga added to his list of postseason accolades this week when he was named to the American Baseball Coaches Association Northeast Region Second Team.

The hard-throwing closer garnered second team all-region honors on the strength of a dominant season in which he established himself as one of the nation's top relievers.

After establishing a new single season school record for saves last season with eight, Dinga surpassed that total this spring as he finished the year with 10 saves. He also went 2-0 with a microscopic 0.48 ERA over 18.2 innings of work. Dinga, who holds both the Patriot League and Army career records for saves with 21, struck out 22 and walked only two this spring while limiting opponents to a meager .185 batting average. He allowed one earned run in his first outing of the season, then did not yield another run the remainder of the year. With 16 consecutive scoreless appearances to end the year, Dinga eclipsed the school standard of 14 consecutive scoreless outings he set last spring. He collected five saves in eight Patriot League pitching appearances, allowing just five hits across eight innings of work. He struck out 11 and walked only one in conference action.

The fire-balling right-hander has allowed just one earned run in last 31 appearances dating back to last season, sporting a flashy 0.28 ERA during that span. He has successfully converted 18 straight save opportunities over last two seasons, limiting opponents to a .180 batting average. Dinga was reached for just 12 hits this season and has permitted only one extra-base hit over the past two years.

Following a slow start, the Black Knights closed the season on a tear, winning 17 of their last 21 contests to finish 30-20-1 overall. Army battled from behind to defeat Stony Brook on Tuesday, putting the finishing touches on the most successful three-year stretch in school history. The Black Knights have posted an impressive 106-49-1 overall record (.683) in that time.