‘Yote Notes –
Feb. 19, 2003
|
|
Mike Safford Jr.
– Sports Info. Director
msafford@albertson.edu
GENERAL
ATHLETICS NEWS:
C.A.A. BOOSTER CLUB DINNER SET FOR
THIS MONTH: The
next Coyote Athletic Association booster dinner is set for Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. in
the Simplot Dining Hall. Playoff basketball, along with the upcoming
spring sports season will be the topic. To RSVP, contact Dave Hahn at
459-5835.
PLAYOFF TICKETS: Tickets for possible home playoff
basketball games are on sale now. Contact Dave Hahn at (208) 459-5835 for
more information. Tickets are $8 for reserved seats, $6 for general
admission seats, and $4 for students.
"A WEEKEND OF
CHAMPIONS": The
2003 Spring fundraiser, centered around a big weekend of baseball - more
information to follow...stay tuned.
ALPINE
SKIING:
COMING UP: At USCSA Western Region
Championships, Steamboat Springs, Colo., Feb. 21-23.
BUS RIDE TO COLORADO: Early
Wednesday morning, the Albertson ski teams will take their Northwest Conference
championships to Steamboat Springs, Colo. and the 2003 USCSA Western Region
Championships. The top six teams in both men's and women's alpine (taking
combined runs in the giant slalom and slalom) qualify for the national
championships next month.
WOMEN'S TENNIS:
COMING UP: Head
coach Cisco Limbago's team is tuning up for a big weekend in Lewiston, Idaho on
March 7-8. The season opening trip will pit the Coyotes against No. 8
Lewis-Clark State, No. 14 Westmont, No. 30 Southern Oregon, and the University
of Alberta. A preview of the team is to come in the next two weeks.
MEN’S BASKETBALL (18-12, 11-6 CCC): Improbable road wins leave Coyotes
one win away from home playoff date
LAST WEEK: Won
at No. 6 Oregon Tech, 80-69; won at Southern Oregon, 82-63.
COMING UP: at Eastern Oregon, Saturday, 8 p.m. (PST)
AMAZING WEEKEND IN THE
SOUTHLAND: The Albertson men’s basketball
team found solace in the long, two-laned blacktop trip through Central Oregon
to its destinations at Oregon Tech and Southern Oregon. Once there, it was all business, as the
Coyotes swept the weekend set, including their first regular-season win at OIT
since 1999 – extending a road winning streak to four-in-a-row, and running
their current flurry to eight wins in their last nine games.
DOESN’T HAPPEN OFTEN: The nearly 1,000 mile trek – which included 100
miles of driving late Saturday night in white-out conditions in the Oregon
Cascades, has been a nightmare for teams in the Cascade Conference. Since the 1998-99 season, only three CCC
teams have traveled to OIT and Southern Oregon and won games on back to back
nights (a 3-45 record). Of the three
sweeps, the Coyotes have recorded two of the upsets (the other during the
1999-2000 season), while Western Baptist completed a perfect road trip last
February.
MULTIPLE SCENARIOS FOR
PLAYOFFS: The playoff scenarios are very
simple, yet very complicated. The easy
– a ‘Yote win on Saturday against Eastern Oregon and Albertson is guaranteed a
first-round home playoff game. The
complicated – with a win, the Coyotes could finish in fourth-place, or as high
as first, which carries with it an automatic bid to the NAIA Division II
national tournament. Albertson is
currently one-half game behind both Concordia and Cascade (two teams the ‘Yotes
hold all tiebreak advantages over), and a one and one-half games behind
first-place Oregon Tech (whom the ‘Yotes hold a slim tiebreaker over). Cascade finishes the season with games at
Northwest and Evergreen, while Oregon Tech meets Concordia on Friday and
Western Baptist Saturday, and Concordia plays Southern Oregon on Saturday. The best case scenario – OIT loses its two
games, Concordia is upset by SOU, and Cascade drops one contest – an Albertson
win over Eastern would clinch the CCC Title.
SHAKING OFF THE DMC LUSTER: Over the last seven years, Cascade Conference
opponents have a 10-55 record (.153 win percentage) at Danny Miles Court in
Klamath Falls. However, the various
zone defenses that Mark Owen has run lately worked again, as Albertson
handed Oregon Tech, the No. 6 ranked team in the NAIA Division II, their worst
home CCC loss since 1997 with an 80-69 win on Friday night. The Owls scored the first five points of the
game, but a 22-6 run helped the ‘Yotes to a 39-27 halftime edge. The lead would grow to as many as 17 on the
night, with OIT never cutting the deficit to less than eight points. Two longtime Coyotes had nice nights – Justin
McCarthy (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS) scoring 11 points to go with
seven rebounds, and Jon Thomas (Nampa, Idaho / Gem State Academy) knocking
home eight points, on 2-of-3 shooting from outside the arc.
MORE KLAMATH FALLS FODDER: Since the 1984-85 season, Albertson has a 13-3
record against Oregon Tech at Danny Miles Court, including a 4-0 mark in
postseason play. On the contrary, OIT
has a 3-3 all-time playoff record against Albertson in Caldwell.
HARE NAMED CASCADE CONFERENCE
PLAYER-OF-THE-WEEK: It was a big weekend
for Eric Hare (San Miguel de Allende, Mexico / West Valley CC),
who shrugged off a plethora of injuries to earn Cascade Conference
Player-of-the-Week honors. The senior,
who is playing with a broken left index finger, a separated shoulder, a bum
ankle, and a possible knee injury – averaged 17 points and nine rebounds a game
in just 21 minutes per game off the bench.
The “Aztec Warrior” scored a season-high 20 points in the upset of OIT,
and recorded 14 points and 11 rebounds in the win over Southern Oregon.
HARPER COMES THROUGH IN THE
CLUTCH: Throughout the Cascade
Conference season – swing guard Andy Harper (Idaho Falls, Idaho /
Columbia Basin CC) has been nails for the Coyotes. The junior showed his stuff one more time on
Friday night, equaling a career-high with 29 points in the win over Oregon
Tech. Harper hit five three-pointers,
along with all eight of his foul shots.
One night later, he had an off shooting night – but still managed ten
points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
The former high school placekicker for the Idaho Falls football team has
recorded 15 consecutive double figure games, and averages 16 points a game in
Cascade Conference play.
SORT OF SEASON SWEEP OF
SOUTHERN: One year ago, it was Southern
Oregon that had the upper-hand on Albertson, winning three-of-four
meetings. This year, the ‘Yotes have
turned the tables – using an 82-63 victory Saturday night in Ashland to
complete the season sweep of the Raiders (one Albertson win was later forfeited
in November). Southern came out firing,
making their first four shots, jumping out to leads of 7-0, 10-3, and
15-8. However, dominating play from the
Albertson forwards – to the tune of 46 points and 39 rebounds, allowed the
Coyotes to run away from the Raiders in the second half. Leading 35-30 at the break, the ‘Yotes went
on an early 10-1 run and never saw the lead dip from double figures.
PERKES BOARDIN’ IT: The masked wonder was at it again, this time on
the glass. Leading scorer Tom Perkes
(Spokane, Wash. / Big Bend CC) scored a game-high 21 points against
Southern, but added a season-high 16 rebounds in the win. On the season, the junior leads the squad
with 225 rebounds, or a 7.5 board per game clip. He is also climbing up the Albertson single-season record list,
ranking among the top-seven in five different categories (points scored,
scoring average, free throws made, free throw attempts, and free throw
percentage), with at least two games remaining.
NEW LINE-UP SHAKES THINGS UP: Last weekend was a debut of a new starting line-up
that proved dividends. Andy Harper, Tom
Perkes, and Joe Green (Pocatello, Idaho / BYU-Idaho) remained in the
line-up for the 30th consecutive game, while Justin McCarthy and freshman Derek
Brown (Las Vegas, Nev. / Desert Pines HS) got the starting nod at
the other two spots. McCarthy averaged
8.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and three blocks, with Brown scoring five points,
with three rebounds and three assists per game.
EASTERN BOUND: All of the aforementioned playoff jargon,
including the home playoff dates, hinge on the ‘Yotes defeating Eastern
Oregon on Saturday night. The
Mountaineers (4-13, 8-16) are clinging to slim hopes of gaining the No. 8 berth
to the CCC Tournament – but have to stop Albertson to have any chance. Art Furman’s club is paced by a pair of
exciting players – Tyree Jones (17.2 ppg, 6.4 apg) and Larry Smith (19.9 ppg),
and play well in Quinn Coliseum (4-6 mark this season). Albertson shot the 56-percent from the floor
and got 55 points from its big men in a 104-80 win over Eastern last
month. It is the 109th meeting between
the teams (dating back to 1950) – the longest consecutive streak for the
Coyotes. Albertson holds a 74-34
all-time edge and has won the last five games in a row.
ON THE AIR: Listen to Saturday’s game with Eastern Oregon live on 1490 KCID-AM with Mike Safford Jr. calling the action. The pregame show begins at 8:50 p.m. Due to Winter Break on the Albertson campus, it is not sure if the game will be carried via the Albertson athletic website (www.collegeofidaho.edu/webcam/Athletics.asx) – check the web on Saturday for more information.
CORPORATE SPONSORS: The ‘Yotes would like to thank the 2002-03
corporate sponsors of Albertson basketball – Pioneer Title, Hewlett-Packard,
U.S. Bank, Caldwell Transportation, Curt & Hall Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep,
Jackson Oil, Nagel Beverage, Re-Max Realty, United Oil, Wendy’s, Intermountain
Community Bank, Chevrolet of Caldwell, S.S.I., Paul’s Market, Wells Fargo Bank,
Best Western Caldwell Inn, Idaho Lottery, and Hopkins Financial Service.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE
COYOTES: For game stories, statistics,
and information regarding the Albertson men’s basketball program, head to the
official site of Coyote basketball: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/mensbasketball.htm.
CASCADE CONFERENCE HOTLINE: For up-to-date scores from the Cascade Conference,
call the Cascade Conference Hotline at (208) 459-5135. Each night, scores and updated standings are
posted on the Conference Standings page within the Albertson men’s basketball
website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/mbasketball/stats/standings.htm.
BASEBALL
(3-2): ‘Yotes go 3-2 on California
trip, off to TransMedic Tourney and meeting with No. 1 LC-State
COMING UP: at TransMedic Tournament, Lewiston, Idaho – Friday vs.
Linfield, 4 p.m. (PST); Saturday vs. Eastern Oregon, 9:30 a.m., vs. Lewis-Clark
State, 4 p.m.; Sunday vs. TBA, 10 or 1 p.m.
COYOTES COMPLETE
CALIFORNIA TRIP, 3-2: Dodging the raindrops that
Northern California is noted for in February, the Albertson baseball team was
able to play five games during its Bay Area swing, going 3-2 against NCAA
competition. The Coyotes dropped the
first games of two doubleheaders with San Francisco State, before winning each
nightcap, along with a single tilt with CSU-Hayward.
WINTER BREAK TRIP A
CONTINUED SUCCESS: During each of the 17 seasons
of hardball since the sport was reinstated in 1987, the Coyotes have traveled
to California during Winter Break. This
season’s trip made continued a streak of 17 consecutive winning road swings to
the sunshine. Including this year,
Albertson boasts a 63-34-2 record during is treks south.
SURVIVING THE LACK OF
ARMS: Healthy arms was a big concern for head coach Shawn Humberger (3rd year,
88-40-1), as the ‘Yotes took just eight pitchers to California for five games
in four days. Of the eight, only two
had experience at the NAIA level – but the group combined for a 3.64 ERA in 41
innings of work.
CLUTCH HITTING?: Some strange numbers have come out of the first week of the
2003 season. Batters leading off an
inning for the ‘Yotes have reached base in 21-of-44 at bats through the first
five games (.477 percent). Conversely,
Albertson has had a tough time bringing those runners in. The Coyotes are just 10-for-50 with runners
in scoring position, and 0-for-6 with the bases loaded. The problems continue with two outs, as the
squad has just seven hits in 46 at bats.
IMPRESSIVE FRESHMEN: The Coyotes knew that part of their key to success in 2003
was the development of their freshmen recruits. Three of them shined in the California sun this past week. New second baseman Greg Stalling (Boise,
Idaho / Borah HS) made an immediate impact,
fielding 28 chances without an error.
He also went 5-for-13 at the plate, with four runs scored and three
stolen bases. Outfielder Jake McGrady (Boise,
Idaho / Borah HS) leads the team with a .818 slugging percentage, recording
six hits in 11 at bats – including three doubles. A pair of clutch McGrady hits salvaged Game 2 of the four-game
set with San Francisco State. Pitcher Lars Alsager (Nampa,
Idaho / Skyview HS) was thrown to the wolves and survived – to the tune of
four outings, five innings pitched, with no earned runs allowed. The 6-5 right-hander picked up a win over
SFSU, and a save against CSU-Hayward.
BURROW SAVES THE DAY: Preseason conditioning paid off for transfer Brad Burrow (Taylorsville,
Utah / College of Southern Idaho), as the righty pitched a team-high 12
innings over the weekend. Burrow picked
up a pair of victories – going seven strong innings as a starter against
CSU-Hayward, and four scoreless inning of relief against San Francisco
State. The junior also picked up a save
against SFSU on Sunday, pitching a scoreless eighth inning.
RECAPS: San Francisco
State 5, Albertson 2 – The Gators broke a 2-2 tie in
the seventh inning off Coyote starter Noah
Grubenhoff (Selah, Wash. / Columbia Basin CC) to come
away with the win. Todd Howell (Marysville,
Wash. / Skagit Valley CC) had an RBI double in the loss, as the ‘Yotes
managed just five hits.
Albertson 5, San
Francisco State 3 (9 innings) – Back-to-back doubles
by Todd Howell and Jake McGrady sent the game to extra innings in the seventh,
and won the game for the ‘Yotes in the ninth.
Brad Burrow gave up just two safeties in four innings of relief for the
win. Howell, McGrady, and Greg Stalling
each had two hits for the Coyotes.
San Francisco State 8,
Albertson 3: A five-run sixth inning erased
a 2-1 Coyote lead, giving the Gators a win in Game 3. Transfer Nick Snow (Everett, Wash. / Cal Poly-SLO) gapped an RBI
triple in the first to give Albertson the lead, but four hits, two wild
pitches, a hit batter, and an error led to the ‘Yote demise in the sixth. Jake McGrady and Dustin Garcia (Reno,
Nev. / Feather River CC) each went 2-for-4 in the losing effort.
Albertson 3, San
Francisco State 2 (8 innings): Senior Darren Uranga (Homedale,
Idaho / Homedale HS) went 2-for-3 and scored the winning run for the
Coyotes in extra innings. Uranga got
Albertson on the board in the third with a two-run single, and led off the
eighth with a base knock. Nick Snow
moved him to third with a single, and a Jack
Mitchell (Kennewick, Wash. / Columbia Basin CC) sacrifice
fly won it for the ‘Yotes. Matt Bergstrom (Hermiston,
Ore. / Hermiston HS) went the first 5.1 innings, giving up just two earned
runs.
Albertson 6, Cal State-Hayward
2: Dustin Garcia had three hits and clutch pitching from Brad Burrow and Lars
Alsager stopped the NCAA Division III Pioneers. Albertson left the bases loaded in the fifth, sixth, and ninth
innings in the game – stranding 13 total base runners.
OFF TO THE SITE OF THE COLLEGE
WORLD SERIES: The Winter Break exodus heads
north this weekend, as Albertson makes the first of three regular-season trips
to Lewiston, this time for the TransMedic Tournament. The Coyotes open up the four-team tournament on Friday against Linfield, one of
the favorites in the NCAA Division III Northwest Conference. The Wildcats (24-16 in 2002), who are led by
All-Conference catcher Greg Roberts and All-Conference utility player David
Moore, were picked to finish second in the nine-team league. It is the 31st meeting between the teams,
with Albertson holding a 18-12 all-time advantage – although the ‘Cats won last
season’s match-up, 8-5. Saturday, the
Coyotes meet Cascade Conference rival Eastern
Oregon, a team which ran into rain in its recent trip to
Arizona. The Mountaineers (1-3) hoped
to get six games in the sun, but ended up playing four games – none longer than
seven innings. Justin Dosher led
Eastern at the plate, going 6-for-15 with four RBI. EOU, who was picked last in the 2003 CCC coaches poll, has
defeated Albertson just 11 times in 91 previous meetings. The finale of pool play has Albertson
meeting Lewis-Clark State, the defending NAIA national champion. The No. 1 ranked Warriors (3-0) opened the
season last weekend, sweeping a home series against Central Washington –
outscoring the visitors, 23-5.
All-American second-baseman Micah Furtado has moved to the outfield, the
lone All-American left from last season’s squad. LC-State won 6-of-9 meetings with Albertson last season, including
a 5-0 win over the ‘Yotes at the 2002 College World Series. It will be the 91st meeting between the
teams, with LCSC holding a 68-21-1 advantage.
ON THE INTERNET/RADIO: Saturday’s game at Lewis-Clark State will be carried live
on the Internet, thanks to KOZE radio in Lewiston. Listen to the Albertson-LCSC game at http://www.koze-sports.com, with Brian
Danner and Mike Tatko calling the play-by-play. If Albertson advances to meet LC-State on Sunday, that game will
also be carried live on the Internet.
The Coyotes are currently in negotiation with KIOV 1450-AM to broadcast
a limited amount of regular-season games on the radio. Furthermore, all first-games of home
doubleheaders will be broadcast live via the internet at www.collegeofidaho.edu/webcam/Athletics.asx
with Mike Safford Jr. calling the action.
The first scheduled internet broadcast is slated for February 28 against
Whitworth at 4 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE
COYOTES: For game stories, statistics, and information
regarding the Albertson baseball program, head to the official site Coyote
baseball: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/baseball.htm.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (14-17, 8-9 CCC): Road woes continue for Lady ‘Yotes, end regular-season
Saturday at Eastern
LAST
WEEK: Lost at Oregon Tech, 60-41; lost at No. 22
Southern Oregon, 72-65.
COMING
UP: at Eastern Oregon, Saturday, 6 p.m. (PST)
LADY
‘YOTES ON THE ROAD FOR PLAYOFFS: Just
as they had to do last season, the Albertson women’s basketball team will have
to play its first-round game of the Cascade Conference post-season tournament
on the road. The Lady ‘Yotes currently
sit in seventh-place in the league standings, a game and a half out of both
fifth-place and eighth-place heading into the final weekend. Albertson holds playoff tiebreakers with
both Western Baptist and Concordia, the No. 5 & 6 teams, but loses a
tiebreaker with Warner Pacific, the No. 8 team.
PLAYOFF
SCENARIOS: With a win against
Eastern Oregon on Saturday, Albertson could finish no worse than seventh-place,
but could possibly move up as high as fifth.
A loss to Eastern, and the Lady ‘Yotes could still manage the No. 6 seed,
but also fall to No. 8. Both Western
Baptist and Concordia, ahead of Albertson in the standings, have a tough slate,
hosting Oregon Tech and Southern Oregon.
It is likely that both Willamette Valley teams could lose, bringing them
back to Albertson in the standings – where the Lady ‘Yotes can win
tiebreakers. On the opposite end,
Warner Pacific has the easy road – at Northwest and Evergreen, the cellar
dwellers in the ten-team loop.
Postseason play begins Feb. 25.
GOICOECHEA
REACHES THE 1,000 POINT MARK: Thoughout
all of the negatives that have surrounded the Lady ‘Yotes over the past few
weeks, a big positive surfaced at the end of the Southern Oregon game on
Saturday night. Heidi Goicoechea (Burley, Idaho / Burley HS) curled home a baseline jumper at the final horn,
becoming the fifth Lady ‘Yote basketball player to score over 1,000 points in
her career. The junior, who had 13
points against both Southern and Oregon Tech, has now scored 1,001 points in a
Coyote uniform. She ranks just 11
points behind Linsi Sloan for fourth-place in school history, and with a good
playoff run, could reach the No. 3 spot – with her entire senior season left.
THEY
BATTLED HARD, BUT LOST THE WAR: McNeal
Pavilion has been a pit for Cascade Conference opponents over the past season
and a half – winning 15 consecutive CCC games at home, dating back to last
season. The latest Raider win was hard
fought 72-65 victory over the Lady ‘Yotes – clinching the CCC title and one of
two automatic berths to the NAIA Division II national tournament. Albertson played some inspired basketball –
jumping out to leads of 9-2, and 14-7 – but a 14-0 Southern run put the Coyotes
behind the eight-ball. The Lady ‘Yotes
trailed by as many as 14 in the second half, but cut the edge to 69-63 inside
the final two minutes, before the Raiders made free throws to seal the deal.
FRESHMAN
STEPPED IT UP: In the loss at Southern
Oregon, Dani Cotterell (Nampa, Idaho / Nampa HS) shook off a poor shooting night at Oregon Tech to
score a game-high 20 points, including 4-of-6 from outside the arc. For the season, the freshman has made 58
three’s, good enough for fifth on the single-season list, along with a
team-high .345 percent shooting clip from long range, also the fifth-best in
Lady ‘Yote history.
A DROUGHT FOR THE AGES: At strange times this season, a big lid has been
placed over the Albertson basket – not allowing shots to fall. The first such time was against Fort Lewis
in November (no two-point field goals in the first half), the latest was on Friday
in the Lady ‘Yotes first-ever game at Oregon Tech. During a 12-minute stretch of the second half, Albertson had 18
consecutive shots go in and out (hence the lid analogy), as OIT ran away with a
60-41 victory. The Coyotes established
a new school record with just 12 second half points (old mark of 15 on two
occasions), and scored the fourth fewest amount of points in school history
(Albertson has scored 40-or-less points on three occasions).
WHAT
COULD HAVE BEEN: Before the big scoring
lapse against OIT, Albertson was right in the thick of the battle with the No.
2 team in the CCC. Albertson trailed
just 32-29 at halftime, and opened the second half with Heidi Goicoechea
bombing in a three to tie the score. The
Lady ‘Yotes would trail 39-36 with just under 16 minutes left, but would not tally
another field goal until the three minute mark. Kristen
Bailey (Fountain Green, Utah /
Snow CC) had the hot hand for the
Coyotes, scoring 17 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. A plus, however, was the fact that Albertson outrebounded the No.
2 board team in the NAIA Division II, 46-44.
CONFERENCE
LEADERS: As a team, the Lady
‘Yotes lead the Cascade in blocked shots (174), along with ranking second in
rebounds per game (42.7), three-point percentage (.313), and rebound margin
(+4.3), and third in free throw percentage (.703). The team ranks fourth in the scoring categories – scoring offense
(67.3), scoring defense (66.3), and scoring margin (+1.0). Individually, Kristen Bailey ranks among the
top-ten in five different categories – No. 1 in both blocked shots (128) and
defensive rebounds (242), No. 2 in rebound average (10.6), No. 5 in field goal
percentage (.477), and seventh in scoring average (13.8 ppg). Heidi Goicoechea leads the loop in free
throw percentage (.863), ranks fourth in three-pointers made (61), and tenth in
scoring average (13.3 ppg). Also among
the leaders are Krystal
Thacker (Elko, Nev. / BYU-Idaho) – No. 3 in
free throw percentage (.826), Lindsey
Karren (Brigham City, Utah / Salt Lake CC) –
No. 8 in rebound average (7.5 rpg) and Dani Cotterell – who ranks No. 8 in three-point
percentage (.344) and No. 6 in three’s made (58).
RETURN
MATCH-UP WITH EASTERN: The hardwood at
Quinn Coliseum was a magical place for the Albertson women’s basketball team
last season – as the Lady ‘Yotes upset a nationally ranked Eastern Oregon club in the Cascade Conference tournament. This year, the Mountaineers (10-7, 12-12)
are looking to complete a season sweep of the Coyotes, and keep their
aspirations of a home playoff date alive.
Eastern, who was just swept on the “Southern Swing” last weekend after
winning six straight, is led by guard Jamie Jo Cant (13.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and
post Heather Epeldi (9.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg).
The Mountaineers are just 4-13 all-time against Albertson, but have won
the past three regular-season meetings, including a 56-52 win in Caldwell last
month.
RADIO AND INTERNET BROADCAST INFORMATION: Saturday’s game vs. Eastern Oregon is scheduled to be broadcast live on KCID 1490-AM with Mike Safford Jr. calling the action, beginning at 6:55 p.m. (MST) Due to Winter Break on the Albertson campus, it is unsure if the game will be carried on the Internet at www.collegeofidaho.edu/webcam/Athletics.asx. However, in-game stats can be followed via the Eastern Oregon website at www.eou.edu/athletics.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE LADY
‘YOTES: For game stories, statistics,
and information regarding the Albertson women’s basketball program, head to the
official site of Lady ‘Yote basketball: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmensbasketball.htm.
SOFTBALL: Lady
‘Yotes head off to St. George, Utah to open season at Icebreaker Classic
COMING UP: at Icebreaker Classic, St. George, Utah – Thursday vs. Northwest
Nazarene, 3 p.m; exhibition games vs. Utah Valley State, Dixie State, and Weber
State on Friday and Saturday.
ALBERTSON SET TO START SECOND SEASON: The second year of fastpitch softball
is set to begin at Albertson College this Thursday, as the Coyotes head south
to the Icebreaker Classic in St. George, Utah.
In last season’s inaugural run, Kelly Gibbons team posted a 12-36 record,
finishing in a tie for fourth-place in the Cascade Conference. The team loses just four players from the
2002 squad and is poised to make some noise this season.
MORE ON LAST YEAR: A rough early-season schedule paid dividends by
the end of the year – but it also showed up in the win-loss column. In the end, however, a pair of 3-0 losses to
eventual national runner-up Point Loma Nazarene, along with scoring the most
runs by an NAIA opponent against regional powerhouse Simon Fraser proved things
were moving in the right direction. The
downfall for the Lady ‘Yotes last year came defensively, as nearly one-third of
the runs scored by opponents were unearned and the team recorded 121
errors.
IN THE CIRCLE: Pitching was a question mark for Albertson last
season, as No. 1 starter Nicole Glenn (Nyssa, Ore. / BYU-Idaho) logged
211 innings, by far the most in the Cascade Conference. The senior, who gave up just one run in 17
innings of work in the final twinbill of the 2002 season, returns with a fire
inside to improve on her 11-25 season record and her 4.25 ERA. Glenn will be helped by freshman recruit Laura
Milne (Woodburn, Ore. / Blanchet School), whose above-average
velocity and deceptive drop-ball will give the Lady ‘Yotes a nice one-two
punch. Two others will see time in the
circle for the Coyotes. Kerri
Russell (Melba, Idaho / Melba HS) returns after a season-ending
injury destroyed her 2002 season in California. Also back is Lindzi Wasko (Lakenheath, England /
Lakenheath American HS), who threw 41.2 innings as a freshman last year.
BEHIND THE DISH: The Lady ‘Yotes have good depth at the backstop in
2003. Honorable mention All-Conference
selection Tiffany Mathews (Las Vegas, Nev. / Eldorado HS) hit
.280 last season with 11 RBI – while picking off seven runners and throwing out
25-percent of would-be base stealers.
Backing up Mathews is true freshman Tiffany Kerns (Boise,
Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS), who put up big power numbers during her prep
career.
AROUND THE HORN: One of the bright surprises this season may be in
the infield. After struggling with
depth around the horn last year, the Lady ‘Yotes have a group of eight players
that are vying for four starting spots.
Returning first baseman Kira Leaton (Boise, Idaho / Centennial
HS) looks to hold down her job after leading the Coyotes with a .299
batting average, 15 RBI, and eight doubles last season. Other returners – Andrea Nicolosi (Mountain
Home, Idaho / Mountain Home HS) at second base and Heather Keepers (Apache
Junction, Ariz. / Apache Junction HS) at third are being pushed by a
talented group of newcomers.
Multi-sport athletes – Angie Gribble (Boise, Idaho / Bishop
Kelly HS) and Alyssa Latham (Walla Walla, Wash. / Walla Walla CC)
will figure in the Lady ‘Yotes plans.
Gribble was an All-State infielder last year, while Latham hit .407 in
junior college, earning All-NWAACC honors.
Two other freshmen – Lisa Stout (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell
HS) and Nicole Stevenson (Eagle, Idaho / Eagle HS), along
with returners Melissa Finlayson (Boise, Idaho / Capital HS) and Nicole
Rollins (Heyburn, Idaho / Burley HS) add to the Albertson depth.
IN THE PASTURE: Two regulars return to patrol the outfield, with
two talented freshmen playing into the mix.
Speedy All-Conference outfielder Victoria DeLaRosa (Caldwell,
Idaho / Vallivue HS) looks for more of the same during her sophomore
campaign. DeLaRosa led the Cascade
Conference with 29 stolen bases, and ranked in the NAIA Top-20 in stolen base
percentage. She led the Lady ‘Yotes in
hits and runs, along with slapping her way to a .286 batting average. Also back in the pasture is sophomore Heather
McClure (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS), who played in 46 games as a
freshman. Battling for time are
freshmen Katie Theisen (Meridian, Idaho / Centennial HS) and Katie
Traughber (Boise, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS). Theisen earned All-State honors as a senior
in high school, while Traughber was a two-time All-Conference selection. Also throw Mathews into the outfield mix if
Kerns is behind the plate.
THE CASCADE CONFERENCE: Cascade Conference play should be very balanced
this season. Southern Oregon, last
season’s runner-up, was voted to dethrone Oregon Tech in the preseason coaches’
poll. Southern, ranked No. 18 in the
NAIA poll, returns an entire infield that earned All-Conference honors, along
with pitcher Brandi Brown. OIT, ranked
No. 26 in the nation, must replace a trio of All-Americans – but will once
again have the deepest pitching staff in the league. The coaches’ picked Albertson third in the CCC poll, followed by
Eastern Oregon and Concordia. Eastern
must replace its top hitter and pitcher, while Concordia loses two-time
All-Region outfielder Katie Holts.
THE SCHEDULE: A shorter preseason schedule, peppered with
multiple exhibition games against club or junior college opponents, should get
Albertson prepared for the 20-game Cascade Conference season. The Lady ‘Yotes open the 2003 season in St.
George, Utah at the Icebreaker Classic, hosted by Dixie State College. Albertson meets Northwest Nazarene in the
opener – the only intercollegiate programs in the 13-team tournament. A week later, the team travels north to the
Central Washington Invitational, where NCAA Division II, III, and NAIA clubs
await. Home-and-home series’ with NNU,
Walla Walla, and NAIA preseason No. 3 Simon Fraser round out the non-conference
docket.
THIS WEEKEND: Albertson will make the 700-mile drive to the
desert surrounding St. George for the Icebreaker Classic this weekend. Dixie State is one of seven junior colleges
that will be participating in the tournament, along with Albertson, Northwest
Nazarene, and four NCAA Division I club teams. For the Coyotes, only games against NNU will count in the overall
standings – but the competition should prepare the squad for the upcoming
season. Both Utah Valley State
and Dixie State were among the top teams in the Scenic West Athletic
Conference last year. Following the
Lady ‘Yotes pool-play games, they will participate in a double-elimination
tournament that ends on Saturday.
INTERNET
BROADCASTS: Nearly all Albertson
home softball games will be broadcast live on the Internet, via the Albertson
athletic website. Sports information
director Mike Safford Jr. will handle the play-by-play for the second
consecutive season. The first scheduled
internet broadcast will be the first game of the Walla Walla doubleheader on
March 23. Listen to the games online at
http://www.collegeofidaho.edu/webcam/Athletics.asx,
with the first pitch slated for 11 a.m.
OFFICIAL
WEBSITE: Updated information and
statistics on the 2003 softball team can be found at the Albertson softball
official website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/softball/index.htm
-
ALBERTSON -