The hits just keep on coming for the Air Force baseball program.On Friday afternoon, shortly before the Falcons lost their fifth straight game — to San Diego State, 14-9, in 10 innings at Falcon Field — the academy issued a release announcing that seven players had been suspended indefinitely from the team for violations of academy standards.Two of those players — senior pitcher Michael Ruvolo and sophomore outfielder Blair Kessler — were kicked off the team more than two weeks ago. The Gazette confirmed their removal from the roster with coach Mike Hutcheon on March 26.They were included in the release, however, because the incidents that led to their dismissals were related to the suspensions of the other five players: senior first baseman Addison Gentry and four freshmen — outfielder John Bramble, catcher Travis Lane and infielders Ethan Loosen and Caleb Spengler.Citing the Privacy Act of 1974, Air Force stated that no academy personnel would comment on the specifics of the suspensions.The disciplinary actions provided yet another distraction for Hutcheon’s  program, which again is struggling. The Falcons fell to 7-22, 1-5 in the Mountain West Conference. In seven seasons under Hutcheon, Air Force is 72-267 and 13-141 in the MWC.Upon his arrival prior to the 2004 season, Hutcheon was given instructions by athletic director Hans Mueh to clean house, and The Gazette identified 31 players from the 2004, 2005 and 2006 teams who either quit or were cut by Hutcheon.But the turnover has continued in recent years.In 2009 a pair of former starters — then-sophomore Vai Schierholtz and then-junior Daniel Walker — left  during the season, and after the season four more players were cut. Then in August, two juniors decided to stop playing.

Seventh-graders at Eagleview Middle School helped with the installation of fabric art on the fence of the tennis courts Friday afternoon in celebration of Arts Day. The art was inspired by the works of Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Each class worked on what the previous class left. This class wanted to frame Pikes Peak with the fabric. The Bemis School of Art co-hosted the event with the Academic Arts Academy classes. Photo by CAROL LAWRENCE, THE GAZETTE