‘Yote Notes –
Jan. 29, 2004
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Mike Safford Jr.
– Sports Info. Director
msafford@albertson.edu
GENERAL ATHLETIC NEWS:
NEXT C.A.A. DINNER: The next Coyote Athletic
Association booster dinner will be at 6:30 p.m., this Feb. 16, in the Simplot
Dining Hall. Cost is $8.00 at the door and RSVP's are being taken by Dave
Hahn at 459-5835.
CHEERLEADER RAFFLE: This weekend, look for the Coyote
cheerleaders passing around the Coyote mascot head for donations - for a new
mascot costume.
SKIING: Coyote
men and women alone atop Northwest Conference standings
SKI TEAMS SIT ATOP THE NORTHWEST CONFERENCE: The 2004 Albertson College ski team opened up defense of their Northwest Conference championships by winning Sunday's slalom team events at Willamette Pass. After a second-place finish to British Columbia on both the men's and women's side on Saturday, the Coyotes received individual first-place finishes by sophomores Justin Rackley (Lake Oswego, Ore.) and Cassie Marcial (Whitefish, Mont.) on Sunday. The 'Yotes claimed No. 1, 7, and 8 on the women's side for the team win, and a No. 1, 6, and 7 finish on the men's side.
STANDINGS: In men's competition, Albertson and British Columbia are tied atop the standings, followed by Gonzaga and University of Idaho, while Albertson and UBC are tied in the women's standings, followed by Puget Sound and the University of Oregon.
COMMENTS FROM THE COACH: "It was great to see the team really grow up this weekend," said Ron Bonneau. "Our sophomore class really came through for us - making the strides that competitors should make from their first to second years."
THIS WEEKEND: Albertson travels to Anthony Lakes in Eastern Oregon for the second Northwest Conference qualifier. Sunday's event will be on a slalom course, while Monday's will be the first giant slalom event of the season.
SNOW REPORT: The inversion in the Treasure Valley means no new snow to report in the hills - however, it also means no melt off either. At Bogus Basin, the hill reports a 50 inch base, with 59 inches at the top. At Brundage Mountain, site of the 2005 USCSA National Championships, they report a 52 inch base, with 72 inches at the top. Both report great groomed runs.
MEN’S BASKETBALL (17-5, 10-1 CCC): Back
at No. 3 in NAIA, Coyotes come off perfect road trip to host Cascade and Warner
Pacific
LAST WEEK: won at Evergreen, 80-72; won at Northwest, 80-65;
won at Western Baptist, 83-73.
COMING UP: vs. Cascade, Friday, 7:30 p.m.; vs. Warner
Pacific, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
RADIO: All 29 regular-season contests will be broadcast
live on radio during the 2003-04 season with Mike Safford Jr. calling the
action for the third-consecutive year.
Join him this weekend as the Coyotes begin a three-game homestand with
games vs. Cascade and Warner Pacific.
Catch all of play-by-play on the “Home of the Coyotes”, 1490 KCID-AM.
INTERNET BROADCASTS: This weekend’s games will be simulcast on the
Albertson Athletic Website (www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/mbasketball/profiles/0203/radio.htm).
COYOTE RETURN TO THE NO. 3
SPOT IN POLL: Wins over the weekend over
Evergreen and Northwest helped Albertson return to the No. 3 spot in the NAIA
Division II national poll. The Coyotes
were helped by losses from Siena Heights (now No. 4), and St. Vincent (now No.
13), and sit just below No. 1 Jamestown and No. 2 St. Ambrose. Oregon Tech made a return to the poll after
a three-week hiatus, coming in at No. 17.
Both Southern Oregon and Western Baptist received votes in the poll.
ROAD WINS PILING UP IN A BIG
WAY: It is shocking to see how well
the Albertson men’s basketball team has played on the road over the past
year. The Coyotes are a perfect 13-0
away from the J.A. Albertson Activities Center against NAIA competition this
season – including wins against six teams ranked in the NAIA Division I or II
Top-25. Dating back to this time last
season, the ‘Yotes have won 21-of-23 games on the road, with a total of ten of
the 21 wins against nationally-ranked foes.
ONE WIN TO CLINCH PLAYOFF
SPOT: Albertson needs just one more
win to sew up a spot in the eight-team Cascade Conference postseason
tournament, beginning at the end of February.
The top four teams in the loop will receive a first-round home game.
HARPER HAS BIG TRIP: After having a tough homestand two weeks ago,
guard Andy Harper (Idaho Falls, Idaho / Columbia Basin CC) broke
out of his funk in a big way on the long road trip. The senior averaged 20 points and six rebounds a night during the
western swing, including a season-high 28 points at Evergreen and a career-high
nine rebounds at Western Baptist.
Harper, who leads the league and ranks No. 11 in the NAIA in free throw
percentage (.900), saw his consecutive free throw streak end at 28 on Tuesday
night. He also raised his career point
total to 849, giving him an outside shot at 1,000 points if the ‘Yotes go deep
into the postseason.
PERKES CONTINUES TO MOVE UP
ALL-TIME LADDER: All-American Tom
Perkes (Spokane, Wash. / Big Bend CC) had another solid trip,
averaging 14 points and nine rebounds in the three games. The senior recorded double-doubles on
back-to-back nights, and has scored in double-figures in every game this season
against NAIA competition. Perkes also
moved into ninth-place on the all-time scoring list with 1,064 points. Next on his radar is Neal Robertson, who
scored 1,069 points in his ‘Yote career.
Already in the career top-ten in five different categories, Perkes will
move into the rebound top-ten this weekend.
TRAILING WASN’T AN OPTION ON THIS TRIP: Being
behind was not an option for the ‘Yotes on the recent road trip. Albertson trailed for two possessions
against Evergreen, then for two more possessions against Northwest College, and
never trailed against Western Baptist.
They say playing on the road is supposed to be difficult?
WESTERN CAN’T FIGURE OUT ‘YOTES:
Three nights after having a nine-game
winning streak snapped by Oregon Tech, Western Baptist was victimized by the “Coyote
Express.” Albertson opened up a quick
8-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game, ballooning the lead to 25-9 at
the ten-minute mark of the half. The ‘Yotes
led by as many as 23 in the game and staved off a 21-4 run late by Western to
get the win. E.J. Costello (Pleasanton,
Calif. / Chabot CC) had his best game in weeks, canning five three-balls en
route to a season-high 28 points. Andy
Harper contributed 21 points and nine rebounds, as Albertson outboarded the top
rebounding team in the loop, 38-32. Tom
Perkes had ten boards and Justin McCarthy (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS) ripped
down eight. More importantly, the
Coyotes held Western to just 40-percent shooting for the night.
BALANCE ATTACK KEEPS NORTHWEST
IN CHECK: Playing in front of a raucous
Homecoming crowd, the Coyotes sent the 300 or so fans in Kirkland, Wash. away
empty-handed, as Albertson defeated Northwest, 80-65. A 17-4 first half run gave the ‘Yotes a double-digit lead they
would hang onto for most of the night.
Andy Harper led four players in double figures with 19 points, with Joe
Green (Pocatello, Idaho / BYU-Idaho) scoring 13 points and dishing
out a team-high six assists.
A TALE OF TWO GAMES: Remembering back to December, the ‘Yotes nearly
were upset by Northwest in Caldwell.
What was the difference this time?
First and foremost, defense was the key. In the first meeting, the Eagles shot 55-percent from the floor,
with leading scorer Andrew Gard going for a game-high 23 points. This time around, Northwest shot only
40-percent, and Gard was held to eight points – all in the first half. A key also was rebounding – as Northwest
held a 39-26 edge on the glass in Idaho, while the ‘Yotes, thanks to an 11
rebound night from Steve Humphreys (Reno, Nev. / Lassen CC), led
on the boards 37-35, Saturday night.
ALBERTSON TAKES THE “GOOEY”
OUT OF GEODUCK: For the fourth-straight
time, Evergreen was no match for the Coyotes, as Albertson persevered through a
tough zone defense to top the Geoducks, 80-72.
The ‘Yotes hoisted a season-high 33 three-point efforts, as early foul
trouble by Tom Perkes hurt the inside attack.
Andy Harper stepped up, scoring 28 points and nailing 6-of-6 from the
foul line in the win.
NATIONAL STATISTICS: As a team, the Coyotes rank No. 4 in the NAIA
Division II in free throw percentage (.766), while ranking No. 14 in turnover
margin (+3.14). Besides Andy Harper’s
outstanding foul shooting, Joe Green ranks among the nation’s elite in both
steals per game (No. 10 at 2.96) and assist-to-turnover ratio (No. 14 at 3.19).
NEVER AN EASY NIGHT IN THE
CASCADE CONFERENCE: Many would look to the
start of the three-game homestand as the easy games Albertson will have all
season – considering this weekend’s opponents have a combined four CCC
wins. However, head coach Mark Owen
knows it isn’t the case. Friday night, Cascade
looks to redeem themselves after blowing a seven-point lead late in the first
meeting with Albertson this season. The
Thunderbirds (6-16, 2-8 CCC) led 60-53 inside the final three minutes of the
game in early January, but watched a Coyote trap defense for five quick
turnovers – and Andy Harper stick the dagger with a running jumper with seven
seconds left. Cascade is led by junior
forward Jared Alsup (20.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg), who has scored 30-or-more points on
three occasions this season. Albertson
has won the last nine meetings with the T-Birds and holds a commanding 33-2
all-time edge. Saturday, a slumping Warner
Pacific club looks to rebound in Caldwell.
The Knights (6-17, 2-8) have lost nine of their last ten games,
including 7-of-8 since a pair of big men (Jeff Eishen and Matt Frank) taller
than 6-8 joined the club. Joe Hoover
(15.9 ppg) has been the go-to player all season for Warner, but it has been
Eishen (17.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg) that has excelled as of late. In the season’s first meeting, WPC erased an
early 24-point Albertson lead, but watched the Coyotes pull out a 68-63
win. It is the 33rd meeting between the
teams, with Albertson holding a 23-9 advantage.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE
COYOTES: For game stories, statistics,
and information regarding the Albertson men’s basketball program, head to the
official site Coyote Basketball: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/mensbasketball.htm.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (7-11, 5-6 CCC): Lady
‘Yotes struggle on latest road trip, begin three-game homestand this weekend
LAST WEEK: lost at Evergreen, 57-55; lost at Northwest,
94-84; lost at Western Baptist, 60-48.
COMING UP: vs. Cascade, Friday, 5:30 p.m.; vs. Warner
Pacific, Saturday, 5:30 p.m.
INTERNET BROADCASTS: Eleven Albertson women’s basketball games will be
broadcast live via the Albertson athletic website this winter. Join Jordan Komoto and Jake McClean for all
of the play-by-play this weekend at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wbasketball/2003RADIO.htm - the internet home of Lady ‘Yote
Basketball.
ROAD TRIP TAKES COYOTES OUT OF
TITLE RACE: After an inspired homestand,
including an upset of then nationally ranked Oregon Tech, the Albertson women’s
basketball team was rejuvenated, heading into last week’s key three-game road
trip. Unfortunately, the momentum ended
abruptly, as the Lady ‘Yotes dropped all three games, all but taking the squad
out of the race for the Cascade Conference title and automatic bid to the NAIA
Tournament. With seven games remaining,
the Coyotes sit five full games out of first-place.
STILL FIGHTING FOR A HOME
PLAYOFF GAME: With the losses, Albertson
dropped to 5-6 in league play, tied with Evergreen and Western Baptist for
fifth-place. The top-four teams in the
loop host first-round playoff games at the end of February, so a strong finish
is key. The Lady ‘Yotes are two and a
half games behind Warner Pacific for the No. 4 slot. On the other hand, Albertson could clinch a playoff berth this
weekend with a pair of wins and losses by Cascade and Concordia.
GOICOECHEA HAS BIG WEEK, NEARS
MILESTONE: One player that had a good
week for the Coyotes was Heidi Goicoechea (Burley, Idaho / Burley HS),
who moved within striking distance of the all-time scoring crown. In the three road games, the senior averaged
nearly 19 points a game – pushing her career total to 1,258 points. Goicoechea needs just six points to surpass
Alyson Pincock for No. 2 on the list, and just 36 points to pass Michelle
Taylor for No. 1. She also needs just
two three-pointers to take over first-place in that category from Cecilie
Bates, and four treys to become the first Albertson women’s player to can 200
treys.
EVERGREEN ENDS WOES VS.
ALBERTSON: In the first 12 meetings
between Evergreen and Albertson, the Lady ‘Yotes went 12-0 and had a 26-point
margin of victory. Last Friday, things
remained status quo for a half, before the Coyotes succumbed to turnovers and a
57-55 loss. Albertson rode the back of
a 23-4 first half run to grab a 31-12 lead at the six minute mark of the first
half and led by 12 at intermission.
However, 14 second half turnovers led to 18 Evergreen points, as the
Geoducks rallied for the win. Michelle
Dyreng (Fruit Heights, Utah / Snow CC) led the way with 15 points
and nine rebounds.
TRACK MEET ENDS IN LOSS: Albertson and Northwest College seemingly met for
an impromptu indoor track meet in Kirkland, Wash. on Saturday night. The two teams raced up and down the hardwood
for 40 minutes, ending in a Northwest 94-84 victory. The Lady ‘Yotes had a six-point second half lead, but count not
counter the speed of the Eagles. For
the first time this season, all five starters scored in double figures, let by
the 25 points of Heidi Goicoechea.
Despite shooting 49-percent for the game, Albertson was done in by 28
turnovers.
MOST COMBINED POINTS IN A
GAME?: The game between Albertson and
Northwest featured some of the highest scoring action in school history. The 84 points scored by the Coyotes was a season-high,
however, the Eagles totals were nearly historic. Only the 97 points scored by Carroll College in 1995 (first game
in NAIA history for Albertson) had a Lady ‘Yote opponent scored more points in
a game – and it was just the sixth time that Albertson has given up 90-or-more
points in a game. The combined total of
178 points was the third-highest in school history, just behind the 193 points
in a Lady ‘Yote 99-94 win over Concordia in 1997 and the 179 points in a 93-86
loss to Southern Oregon in 1995.
SIX DAYS ON THE ROAD: The final day of the six-day, three-game road trip
was not kind to the Lady ‘Yotes, as Western Baptist salvaged a 60-48 win in the
C.E. Jeffers Center. Albertson went
nearly eight minutes without a score during the first half of the game, however
used a late surge to cut the Warriors lead to 31-25. The Coyotes cut the edge to three in the second half, but could
not get over the hump. Kasey Hooter (Nampa,
Idaho / Walla Walla CC) had her second consecutive 14 point game for the
Lady ‘Yotes, while Heidi Goicoechea led the way with 17 points and three
steals. The loss ended a four-game
winning streak against Western.
NATIONAL NUMBERS: The Albertson women rank heavily in the NAIA
Division II national statistics, as a team and as individuals. As a team, the Lady ‘Yotes rank No. 12 in
rebound margin (+6.78), No. 16 in defensive rebounds (28.0), No. 18 in total
rebounds (42.0), and No. 21 in blocked shots per game (3.44). Individually, three players rank in the
national Top-20 – Kasey Hooter ranks third in field goal percentage (.653) and
16th in defensive rebounds per game (6.56), Dani Cotterell (Nampa,
Idaho / Nampa HS) ranks No. 18 in three-pointers per game (2.72), and
Michelle Dyreng ranks No. 16 in blocked shots per game (1.94).
CONFERENCE LEADERS: As a team, the Coyotes lead the Cascade Conference
in total rebounds, least opponents rebounds, rebound margin, and blocked shots
– but rank eighth in the league in turnovers.
Individually, Kasey Hooter leads the loop in field goal percentage and
is fourth in rebounds per game, with Heidi Goicoechea ranking seventh in free
throw percentage (.783), eighth in scoring average (13.0), and ninth in assists
per game (3.2). Michelle Dyreng leads
all CCC players in blocked shots per game (1.94), while point-guard Krystal
Thacker (Elko, Nev. / BYU-Idaho) is sixth in the loop in assists per
game (3.9).
FIVE OF THE FINAL SEVEN AT
HOME: So far this season, the
Albertson women have boasted a 3-1 record at home in Cascade Conference
play. Hopefully that will continue to
be the case, as five of the final seven games of the regular season will be in
the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The Lady ‘Yotes have a pair of games in town this weekend, including Friday’s
match-up with Cascade. The Thunderbirds
(1-18, 1-9 CCC) ended a 17-game losing streak with a 63-49 win over Concordia
two weeks ago – and has improved dramatically during conference play. Lisa Freeman (11.5 ppg) and Tawanna Dial
(9.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg) are a solid tandem, but combined for just seven points in an
Albertson 73-55 win in Portland earlier in the month. Albertson holds a 5-2 series advantage. Saturday, Albertson meets Warner Pacific, a team that
defeated the Coyotes, 72-65, four weeks ago.
The Knights (13-9, 7-3) sit in fourth-place in the CCC, thanks in part
to solid play from guards Angie Sun (12.3 ppg) and Joy Best (12.0 ppg). The duo scored a combined 36 points in the
win over Albertson, Warner’s third win in nine meetings with the Coyotes.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE LADY ‘YOTES: For up-to-date statistics, stories, and
information about the Albertson women’s basketball team, head to the official
website for the Lady ‘Yotes – www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmensbasketball.htm. For updated scores and standings from the
Cascade Conference women’s basketball season, head to www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wbasketball/stats/standings.htm.
BASEBALL: Season
Preview
LOOKING BACK: INJURIES – that one word summarized the 2003
baseball season for the Albertson College Coyotes. A team decimated by injuries (five pitchers and three position
players were lost to season ending injuries) put the perennial national power
in a different role – having to fight just to make the regional tournament,
where the ‘Yotes placed third. “You
could combine my previous 15 years of association with Albertson baseball and
not come up with as many injuries as we had during 2003,” stated head coach
Shawn Humberger. However, the new year
brings a new opportunity, as the coaching staff looks to have the Coyotes
regain the luster that took the squad to four NAIA College World Series’ in the
previous five years. Lost for the
season included two projected starters in Matt Zachary and James
Porter, as well as three relievers in Sam Hackett, Andrew Hall,
and the left-handed Jake McGrady.
Without that group of arms, the Coyotes bullpen was depleted, hurting
their chances in the tough NAIA Region I.
Although No. 1 starter Taylor Blair (Tommy John surgery) will
miss the 2004 season, the Yotes staff looks to be solid as it returns four of
the five pitchers that sat out last season, as well as eight men who saw action
during last years 29-23 campaign.
PITCHERS: Anchoring the rotation is the reigning Cascade
Conference Pitcher-of-the-Year, Matt Bergstrom. The righty was outstanding as a sophomore,
recording a 5-3 mark and a team-best 3.26 ERA.
Also returning are starters Mike Moser (5-5, 5.99 ERA), who
pitched very well this summer in the Pacific International League, and Brad
Burrow (7-6 with 6 saves, 3.72 ERA), who logged a team high 87 innings last
season. Zachary and Porter are also
expected to be in the rotation. The
bullpen will be led by last years No. 5 starter, Noah Grubenhoff (4-4,
5.24 ERA), who along with Hall and Hackett, are experienced arms with a bevy of
off-speed pitches. Sophomores Clayton
Hubbard (29 strikeouts in 27 innings) and Lars Alsager (three saves)
logged a combined 38 appearances as rookies in 2003 and will be counted on
again in ’04. Albertson also has a pair
of lefties in the mix in new comers Carson Taysom and Colin Smith.
CATCHING AND INFIELD: Replacing three NAIA All-Americans will not be an
easy task – shortstop Darren Uranga, first baseman Todd Howell, and
centerfielder Dustin Garcia all graduated.
But the Coyotes return seven position players that saw extensive action
in 2003 (five of which were freshman), and have added three junior college
transfers, along with three more freshman – all of which performed extremely
well during fall workouts. Injuries
forced the Coyote coaching staff to convert freshman shortstop Nate Freese
into a backstop during the 2003 campaign.
Following a season of on the job training, Freese appears poised to lead
the Coyote defense this spring.
Freshman Pat Burke and Brett Miller give Albertson great
depth behind the plate. When not
catching, all three will probably find their way into the line-up with their
offensive skills. Leading the infield corps will be All-American Greg
Stalling. The sophomore lead the
team in hitting (.363 average) as a frosh, also drawing a team high 31 walks,
while stealing 18 bags. Stalling, who
played second base last season, will also play some third in 2004. Junior college transfer Bryan Lohrman,
will show off his glove work at the shortstop slot, while returning letterman, Billy
Arko (.281, eight RBI in region play), will move from third to second. Fourth-year senior, Josh Orr (.288,
26 RBI), will battle at first base along with returning outfielder McGrady
(.276, 14 RBI). Freshman Andrew
Cauffman will be used as a utility player and should battle for at bats as
an infielder and outfielder.
OUTFIELD: There are many different combinations that could
roam the outfield for Albertson this season – in the midst of those options are
Miller, Burke, McGrady and Cauffman.
You can also throw in returners Derek Rose (who has shown
outstanding improvement from last year) and Sage Kendall, along with the
left-handed bat of junior college transfer Josh Przybos (who swung the
bat extremely well during fall workouts).
“If they are swinging the bat, we’ll find them a spot in the line-up,”
quoted Humberger. Sophomore transfer Brandon
Freese (brother of Nate), should get most of the at-bats from the DH slot
and will be looked upon to provide power in the middle of the order.
NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE: The non-conference schedule continues to be one of
the toughest in the entire Northwest.
Albertson will play six games against NCAA Division I competition, along
with eight games against NCAA Division II teams. The ‘Yotes will also play a tournament with and a four-game
series against defending national champ, Lewis-Clark State.
REGIONAL PLAY: Regional play has a different flavor this season –
as the six teams will play a double round-robin format with three-game
series. Albertson has begun a nice
rivalry with British Columbia, the defending regional champ – who is coached by
a former Coyote, Terry McKaig. UBC lost
two players to the Major League Draft, but will begin 2004 ranked in the NAIA
Top-25. Concordia will need to replace
two-time Cascade Conference Player-of-the-Year Chris Baird, but return a very
good pitching staff led by pro prospect Michael Devaney. Oregon Tech missed out on the playoffs by a
game last year, but has an experienced core of third-year players, while
Western Baptist looks to continue a steady improvement, with Eastern Oregon
hoping to do better than a five win campaign in 2003.
SYNOPSIS: With
an experienced and hopefully healthy pitching staff, the Coyotes look forward
to a great season. If the new group of
players can mesh with the returners, Albertson looks to be in the hunt for
another run at the NAIA College World Series.
Get ready – the national pastime is ready to roll in Caldwell.
- ALBERTSON -