Walker Gorham

College:  West Point
High School:  E. A. Laney HS
Wilmington, NC

Baseball seniors helped turn around program 

Story and photos by Spc. Eric S. Bartelt
Senior Staff Writer

Shooting skyward were 911 white covers that marked a new era in the lives of the new lieutenants who once wore them. Nine of those covers belonged to players who made an indelible mark at the U.S. Military Academy and will now set their sights on leading Soldiers in the Global War on Terrorism.

Before those nine hit the sands of overseas deployments, they still have some unfinished business to attend to on the dirt of a Sunshine State baseball diamond.

Army baseball (38-12), in the midst of another record-breaking season, will face Florida State at 7 p.m. today in their NCAA Baseball Regional opener in Tallahassee, Fla.

Two of those nine graduated seniors, pitcher Justin Kashner and first baseman Walker Gorham, were a major part of 75 wins the last two seasons after the growing pains of their first two years.

Kashner, who has a career-high nine wins with a career-low 2.40 earned run average this year, is someone who brings all of himself to the field day in and day out.

“I come to the field and play hard every day,” said Kashner, who credits his father, Jeffrey, for giving him the tools he needed as a person and player to succeed. “I come with as much intensity as I can.”

During games, Army baseball coach Joe Sottolano yells out “Bulldog Mentality,” something that has defined Kashner’s willingness to dig down deep when the going gets tough.

“He brings a level of intensity that is contagious and makes people around him better,” Sottolano said. “We know when he steps out on the mound that he’s going to give his heart and soul, and he’s one of those guy’s as a teammate that you don’t want to let down because you know he’s going to give everything he has.”

The future artillery officer, who will also be an athletic intern until January 2006, recalls his fondest memory at the academy during last year’s NCAA Tournament appearance against host LSU.

“Playing at Alex Box Stadium in front of thousands of people, fans that supported us even though we weren’t their team,” Kashner explained. “That’s the best experience I’ve had in college.”

His goal is to help lead Army to its first win ever in the NCAA Tournament and says it will be a great moment after enduring many ups and downs over the past four years.

“I’m glad that we can help Army baseball become a better program,” Kashner said. “The growing pains were tough, but we’re reaping the benefits right now and that’s a good feeling.”

Gorham is enjoying the benefits reaped through hard work and a belief in his ability that has led to an unprecedented final four weeks of the season.

He leads Army with a .374 batting average and 10 home runs, which included a team-record three home runs in the Patriot League Championship clinching game against Lehigh University.

Although he will tell you his biggest assets are the men surrounding him and not his own power stroke.

“Hitting where I am in the lineup between (classmates) Schuyler (Williamson) and Nate (Stone), and having so much talent and depth around me has helped me,” Gorham said. “I think I’ve been blessed and a lot of that has to do with the success that Schuyler and Nate have had.

“Schuyler hasn’t received a lot of the pitches (I’ve received) and that has helped me. To also have an All-American hitting behind me -- it makes my job a lot easier,” Gorham added.

One of the major reasons Gorham came to West Point was because of his paternal grandfather, Frank Gorham Jr., who fought and received a Silver Star as an artillery observer at Riva Ridge in Italy that was pivotal in holding off the Germans during World War II.

“He was a big part of my decision to come here and his service and life was something I looked up to,” Gorham said. “When I seen him face-to-face and told him I signed a letter of intent to play baseball here that was one of the most rewarding times of my life.”

His grandfather died in 2002 during his plebe year, but there’s no doubt that he would be very proud of his grandson graduating from West Point.

“It’s sad for me that my dad is not here because that would have been the most special thing for him,” said Frank Gorham III, Walker’s father. “He loved and was proud of the Army. He served his country and to see his grandson come to West Point and graduate would have been the most special day in his life. I believe he’s looking down and smiling now.”

Walker credits West Point for making him self-aware of himself and others, and believes that being here highlights every person’s strengths and weaknesses.

“You don’t go through four years here without struggling at something and as a result you become more self-confident in knowing what you can do well and knowing when you need help from others,” Gorham said. “I think that is important as a leader because you need to understand your strengths and use your subordinates when you need to, to help you get the job done.”

The future armor officer believes adapting to your environment, whether it’s military, academic, or baseball related, helps breed a certain flexibility that helps any officer going into today’s Army.

“No one is going to be ready for what’s thrown at them (in this war), but the bottom line is if you have a great foundation and you are confident in what you do, then you can adapt to those challenges,” Gorham said. “The Corps values and leadership principles will hopefully carry over (into the Army), so when I get into those (tough) situations that I can overcome them and succeed.”

Sottolano has seen Gorham’s transformation and knows Walker, much like the other seniors on the team, is more than capable to be an Army officer.

“Walker has come into his own. He’s done a tremendous job, not only on the field, but as a leader off the field as well,” Sottolano said. “He’s very vocal, positive and energetic and that has really brought his game and leadership ability to another level.

“The maturation of these kids (all the seniors) is very important to us and to be here for four years to see them develop the way they have is a credit to the institution and to those guys and the decisions they’ve made,” Sottolano added.

This weekend may be the last weekend these players are together as a group for many years, but they do want to leave a lasting impression for all future classes to remember them by.

“Last year was neat to finish the season knowing we accomplished something that no one else had,” said Gorham, about the team’s 37-15 record a year ago, 11 wins (26 in 1997) better than the previous academy season win total. “This year we would love to win a tournament game and it’s something we’ve had our eyes on for a long time, so we plan on doing it.”

Source:  http://www.usma.edu/PublicAffairs/PV/050603/baseball.htm

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