Softball Yote Notes - Edition 1
LAST WEEK: at Priscilla Benham Classic,
COMING UP: at Northwest Nazarene (DH), Tuesday, 2 p.m.; at
YOTES FINALLY GET OUTSIDE: After battling the harsh 2008 winter in the
PLAYING ON SLOWPITCH FENCES: Last season, the Lady Yotes set a school record with 31 home runs on the season and showed tons of power over the weekend at the Benham Classic. The problem was – the Yotes were playing on a field built for men’s league softball, as fences were at 300 feet around the diamond, instead of the standard 200 feet for women’s fastpitch softball. According to head coach Al Mendiola, The C of I hit ten balls that would have been home runs on a normal field – but had just two inside the park longballs to show for it. The team did have three triples on the weekend – which is nearly half the total the Yotes recorded last season in 49 games.
ZILLNER SETS “K” RECORD: No. 1 starter Katie Zillner (
QUALITY TOURNEY BY ARMS: The young arms on the Coyote staff also impressed in
SMITH, BUTCHER PICK UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF: The two hottest bats from the end of the 2007 season began 2008 on the same streak – as Stacy Smith (Draper,
LOCAL OPENER AT NNU: Weather permitting, the Lady Yotes will open up their local season next Tuesday, meeting Northwest Nazarene for a doubleheader in
FIRST OF THREE TWINBILLS WITH D-I’S: The Lady Yotes head out on a quick road trip next Saturday, heading to Orem, Utah for a date with NCAA Division I independent, Utah Valley. The Wolverines (2-3) are much improved, notching early season wins over Rhode Island and Idaho State, while losing one-run games to Northern Colorado, Loyola Marymount, and Wisconsin. UVU is led offensively by Megan Woodworth (.438 1 HR 6 RBI), while their pitching staff is led by Alli Bramwell (2-1 2.67 ERA). The two teams have met nine previous times, with
PRESEASON RANKINGS: For the first time, the Lady Yotes were ranked in the NAIA Preseason Top-25 Coaches Poll, earning the No. 14 spot in the voting – the same spot The C of I ended the 2007 season. The squad was also the unanimous pick by the Cascade Conference coaches to win the league title in 2008.
RECAP OF BENHAM CLASSIC: Corban 2, C of I 1 – The Yotes managed just three hits in the loss to their CCC rivals. Stephanie Stover (Caldwell, Idaho / U. of Nevada) had a first inning RBI single, plating Nicole Antonoplos (Boise, Idaho / Idaho State U.), who led off the game with a double. However, it was the only run The C of I would score, as the Lady Yotes wasted a four-hit, nine strikeout performance by Katie ZIllner. Holy Names 4, C of I 3 – A two-out, two-run single by Elise Foster in the fifth inning gave the Hawks the upset win over the Yotes. The C of I got an RBI triple from Katy Luetke (Yreka, Calif. / Mendocino CC) and an RBI single from Kalie Kurdy (Boise, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS) in the second to take a 2-1 lead, but could not hold on. Two of the four runs allowed by the Yotes were unearned. C of I 6, Dominican 0 – Chelsey Nokleby and Donnae Carrell combined on a five-hit shutout as the Lady Yotes picked up their first win of 2008. Stacy Smith became the sixth Lady Yote to record four hits in a game, as she went 4-for-4 with three RBI, while both Antonoplos and Stover each had two hits. C of I 6, Northwest Christian 0 – Katie Zillner struck out 16 batters and took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in the victory over the Beacons. Kurdy had an inside the park home run leading off the third inning, while Stacy Smith and Haley Butcher had back-to-back RBI doubles in the fifth inning. C of I 7, George Fox 1 – Butcher had a two-run inside the park home run, with Dani Villyard (Kent, Wash. / Kentlake HS) going 3-for-3 with a double and three RBI in the victory.
ABOUT THE COACH: Al Mendiola is in his third year as head coach of The College of Idaho softball program and has a 58-39 all-time record. The native of
FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on the Coyote softball program, head to the official homepage of the Lady Yotes – www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/fastpitch.htm.