Pennsbury’s Ruta embraces duties to star for West Point
It’s always tough when athletes have to manage time between academics and being a member of the baseball team. Then when you throw in a military commitment, it becomes quite a bit to manage.
It seems like the perfect fit for former Pennsbury High star, Sam Ruta, though.
Ruta had an amazing season at West Point where he led the Black Knights to a fourth straight Patriot League crown and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
When West Point’s season ended at the Hattiesburg Regional, it was a quick turnaround for Ruta from baseball to military training.
But, the sophomore has enjoyed and is enduring the rigors of athletics, academics and military life.
“Coming out of Pennsbury, West Point was very attractive to me because of the prestige of the coaching staff and the academy,’’ stated Ruta. “To play college baseball against elite competition and study at the nation’s preeminent leadership institution was an opportunity I could not turn down.’’
Studying Law and Legal Studies, he has been just as impressive on the diamond as in the classroom.
Ruta had a team-high .390 average, a team-high 26 extra base hits, a .626 slugging percentage and 36 RBI.
He was named the Most Valuable Player of the Patriot League Tournament, he was selected to the AllTournament team in Hattiesburg, he was an AllPatriot League First team honoree and an Rawlings All-Region performer.
“Winning MVP of the Patriot League Tournament was an honor and a great achievement for me,’’ recalled Ruta. “My teammates put me in great positions all tournament that allowed me to succeed. There is a lot of great competition in the league and I feel like winning this award gave me momentum going into the regional and ending up earning Hattiesburg All-Regional team.’’
There’s a saying in the military — “adjust and adapt’’ — and Ruta has made the adjustments needed and has adapted to it all on and off the field.
“West Point is not like a normal college,’’ said Ruta. “Managing time between academics, athletics, and the military aspect of West Point have made me into a better person.’’
He credits teammates Nick Manesis and Anthony
LoRicco for being role models for him and former teammate Anthony Giachin.
Giachin, a Livingston native, graduated last year and was a big inspiration for Ruta.
Ruta followed up his freshman season earning the Patriot League Rookie of Year honors with an even greater sophomore season.
“My goal is to get better every year and I am very
blessed to have had the year I did,’’ said Ruta. “I feel like not only myself, but my teammates and everyone that is a part of Army Baseball worked extremely hard this year to have great success and win our fourth Patriot League Championship in a row.’’
Todd Earley, who was named the Patriot League Pitcher of the Year, is credited by Ruta for helping him get through the day-to-day grind.
Two former Notre Dame players, Robbie Buecker and Steven Graver, are also playing for the Cadets. Buecker had a team-high 54.2 innings pitched and Graver was 3-0 on the season.
It was an amazing year for Ruta and West Point, and after some time in military training, he can sit back and enjoy a job well done.