‘Yote Notes – Mar. 10, 2004

Mike Safford Jr. – Sports Info. Director

msafford@albertson.edu

SKIING: Coyotes return from USCSA Championships with big smiles

WOMEN RECORD BEST FINISH IN DECADE: Albertson saved their best slalom race for the latest outing of the 2004 season – and reaped the benefits. Thanks to three top-20 performances, including a sixth-place finish from All-American Cassie Marcial, the Lady ‘Yotes placed second in the event, among the 19 top ski teams in the nation. It was the highest finish for Albertson in nearly a decade and upped the combined standings to fourth (Albertson finished eighth in the giant slalom).

MEN IMPROVE IN SLALOM: Things improved as well for the men’s team in the slalom, as the Coyotes traversed the World Cup course to the tune of a sixth-place finish, allowing the team to end the championship in eighth-place overall. Led by senior Sam Elias – the Coyotes continue to ski with the nation’s best.

SKI SCHOOL CONTINUES TO DOMINATE: Sierra Nevada College, known primarily for skiing, swept the USCSA championships for the second straight year.

WOMEN’S TENNIS: Albertson drops three at Lewis-Clark State Invitational

LAST WEEK: At Lewis-Clark State Invitational –

Lost to Alberta, 7-2; lost to Idaho, 9-0; lost to Lewis-Clark State, 9-0.

COYOTES STRUGGLE IN LEWISTON: The Albertson women’s tennis team opened up the 2004 spring season with a trio of matches in Lewiston – and came home empty handed. The ‘Yotes won just four of 46 sets over the weekend in losses to regional foes Alberta and Lewis-Clark State, along with a drubbing by the University of Idaho.

GETTING WINS: Albertson won a pair of matches in the loss to Alberta, as senior Whitney Gibbon took home a straight-set victory at No. 4 singles, with Anna Moylan getting a three-set win at No. 2 singles.

COMING UP: The ‘Yotes head west this weekend for a pair of matches in Portland against Pacific and George Fox.

BASEBALL (10-9): Yotes set for crucial NAIA Region I series vs. British Columbia after 4-2 week

LAST WEEK: Won series vs. Oregon Tech, 3-1 (W 11-10, W 3-1, L 12-3, W 17-2); split series with Northwest Nazarene (L 13-12, W 8-2)

COMING UP: vs. British Columbia (DH), Saturday, Noon; vs. British Columbia (DH), Sunday, 11 a.m.

ON THE WEB: The series vs. British Columbia will be broadcast via the internet by the University of British Columbia radio network. To access the games, head to www.gothunderbirds.ca - a nominal fee may apply.

‘YOTES PILE UP THE RUNS, BUT ONLY FOUR WINS: In six games over the last week, runs came pretty easy for the Albertson baseball team, as the Coyotes averaged nearly eight runs per game (including three separate games with nine or more runs). Unfortunately, the ‘Yotes had a 5.75 ERA over the same stretch, including a trio of games where their opponent scored ten or more runs. Nonetheless, Albertson went 4-2 on the week and starts the second week of March above .500.

POWER SHORTAGE ENDED: Gone are the days of the mid to late 1990s when Albertson cracked home runs at the rate of the national debt. During the 2004 season, it took the ‘Yotes into their 17th game of the season before a player went yard – a towering Greg Stalling (Boise, Idaho / Borah HS) three-run homer at Simplot Stadium against Oregon Tech, which was just the second extra-base hit this season for Albertson that was not a double. Josh Przybos (Boise, Idaho / Cochise CC) got into the act on Tuesday against Northwest Nazarene, with a drive to right at Elmore Vail Field.

BERGSTROM REGAINS FORM: Something that has to please head coach Shawn Humberger is the solid week from All-Conference hurler, Matt Bergstrom (Hermiston, Ore. / Hermiston HS). The big right-hander had struggled in his first three starts of 2004, so the ‘Yotes head man moved the junior to the pen for the weekend set against OIT and it paid off. Bergstrom got the final four outs to pick up the win in a 11-10 decision in Game 1 Saturday, then pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save in Game 2’s 3-1 win. He came back on Tuesday against Northwest Nazarene, scattering just three hits in six innings, fanning six men in the Coyotes 8-2 victory. He now leads the Albertson staff with 20 strikeouts this season.

ZACHARY SOLID IN WIN: Albertson got a nice lift on Saturday afternoon from redshirt junior, Matt Zachary (Bellevue, Idaho / Treasure Valley CC), who stymied the Oregon Tech bats for eight innings in a 3-1 Coyote win. Zachary threw 114 pitches – only 58 for strikes, yet walked only three and struck out five. His biggest strength was keeping the ball down, as the Owls managed just three safeties against the right-hander. The victory evened his season record at 1-1 and dropped his ERA to 3.09.

TOP HITTERS FOR THE WEEK: Hits were plentiful for the Coyotes over the week, as Albertson compiled a .365 batting average – getting their team average over the .300 mark for the first time in nearly three seasons. Breaking out of an early-season slump was infielder Greg Stalling, who went 8-for-16 in the six games, with seven RBI (giving him a team high 15 runs batted in). Also getting into the act was catcher Pat Burke (Sisters, Ore. / Sisters HS) and shortstop Bryan Lohrman (Salem, Ore. / Chemeketa CC), who each hit 10-for-23 on the weekend – Burke driving in five runs, with Lohrman knocking in seven, to go along with three stolen bases. Josh Przybos did damage when he got on base, hitting 6-for-15 with five RBI, but scored a team-high eight runs.

FREESE (SQUARED) IS SUCCESS (TWICE) IN COYOTE LINEUP: Blink twice and you may see double – as a pair of brothers are regulars in the Coyote starting lineup. Second-year player, Nate Freese (Vancouver, Wash. / Skyview HS) leads the team in doubles with seven – while hitting .348 with 13 RBI. His older brother, transfer Brandon Freese (Vancouver, Wash. / Chemeketa CC), has been the ‘Yotes primary designated hitter, hitting .302 with five doubles and nine RBI in his rookie campaign.

RECAP OF THE WEEK: Albertson 9, Oregon Tech 7 – The Coyotes fell behind OIT 5-1, thanks to a 15 hit Owl attack. However, Albertson rallied, scoring five in the fifth to take the lead, then breaking a 7-7 tie in the eighth – thanks to a dropped fly ball in center field that led to a two-run inning. Bryan Lohrman went 2-for-3 with two RBI in the win. Albertson 3, Oregon Tech 1 – A quick ball game dominated by the right arm of Matt Zachary, who tossed a three-hitter, allowing just one run. The Coyotes scored single runs in the fourth, fifth, and seventh inning, the final tally coming on a Lohrman RBI double that scored Derek Rose (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS) from second. Oregon Tech 12, Albertson 3 – The Owls broke a 2-2 tie with a six-run fourth inning to earn a key NAIA Region I win. Nate Freese went 3-for-4 with a double for the ‘Yotes. Albertson 17, Oregon Tech 2 – The ‘Yotes scored their most runs in a game since 2002 in the seven inning rout. A nine-run first inning did the trick, as OIT starter Brannon Baldares lasted just one-third of a frame. Eleven different players recorded hits, including a pair of first inning doubles by Rose, three hits from Lohrman, and a two-run double by Eric Smitchger (Boise, Idaho / Blue Mountain CC). It was the highest scoring game for the ‘Yotes since a 17-10 win over Embry-Riddle at the 2002 College World Series. Northwest Nazarene 13, Albertson 12 – A wild game that saw the Coyote bullpen struggle in the late innings. NNU jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the early going, only to see the ‘Yotes jump ahead 12-10 in the seventh, thanks to RBI singles from Brandon Freese, Greg Stalling, and Josh Przybos. The lead would not hold, as the Crusaders used five singles to plate three runs in the eighth for the win. Albertson 8, Northwest Nazarene 2 – Matt Bergstrom allowed just three hits in six innings of work to earn the ‘Yotes the midweek split with NNU. Nate Freese went 3-for-5, while Pat Burke knocked in two runs with a pair of singles.

HERE COME THE CANUCKS: Defending NAIA Region I champion British Columbia makes their lone trek across the international border to the Treasure Valley this weekend for a four-game series, including three key regional matchups. The Thunderbirds (9-9) have had a difficult early-season schedule, including games against five NCAA Division I opponents, with UBC going 3-2 in those games. Former ‘Yote, Terry McKaig, has turned the UBC program into a powerhouse – including having three players drafted in the 2003 first-year player draft. All-Region outfielder Chris Ames returns to anchor the club, along with reliever Dan Osachoff. The two teams split four regular season games in 2003, with UBC winning a 3-2 in the regional tournament.

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. Up to date regional scores and standings can also be found online at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/baseball/stats/standings.htm.

SOFTBALL (1-6): Weekend in Richland a disaster for Lady ‘Yotes, as squad goes 0-6

LAST WEEK: at Royal Inn Invitational, Richland, Wash. – lost to No. 20 Southern Oregon, 3-0; lost to Utah Valley State, 8-7; lost to Northwest Nazarene, 5-4; lost to No. 1 Simon Fraser 8-0 and 14-0; lost to Eastern Oregon, 5-0.

COMING UP: at Treasure Valley CC (exhibition), Tuesday, 2 p.m.

ROAD TRIP A BUST: All the experience against junior college teams and a season-opening victory over Northwest Nazarene did not help the Albertson softball team, as the Lady ‘Yotes went winless in six games at the Central Washington Invitational – including four losses to NAIA Region I foes. After hitting over .350 in their first five “games” of the season, the Coyotes were shutout of four games – managing just 11 runs in the 38 innings played.

WHERE DID THE BATS GO? The bats resembled matchsticks this weekend, as the Lady ‘Yotes hit a combined .151 as a team and striking out 38 times. To be considered, however, is the fact that three of the games were played against nationally ranked NAIA opponents and an NCAA Division I team. The lone bright spot was at the top of the order, where true freshman Anna Schroeder (Eagle, Idaho / Eagle HS), who slapped her way to a 7-for-16 weekend, along with three RBI.

A DAY OF CLOSE CALLS: Things could have been a lot better for the Coyotes if breaks went their way on the opening day of the tournament. Albertson opened with a 3-0 loss to No. 20 ranked Southern Oregon, despite sophomore hurler Kerri Russell (Melba, Idaho / Melba HS) tossing a three-hitter. Four errors behind Russell allowed all three SOU runs to score – with the Raiders limiting the Coyotes to just two hits. The most gutwrenching loss was to follow, an 8-7 decision to Utah Valley State – the first NCAA Division I team the ‘Yotes have met in three years of softball. Valley jumped out to a 6-1 lead, only to see Albertson claw back with a Kira Leaton (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS) three-run homer, then have Katie Theisen (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS) spank a solo shot to get the squad a 7-6 lead. Albertson would be one-out away from the win, but a two-run single in the seventh saw the victory escape from their grasp. With that loss on their mind, the Coyotes fell behind 5-0 to Northwest Nazarene – and could not recover in a 5-4 loss.

CANADIAN NATIONAL TEAM DOES NUMBER ON COYOTES: If you blinked while in Richland, you could have seen the Simon Fraser team playing in different uniforms. Clan head coach Mike Renney is also the coach of the Canadian National Team, which is preparing for the upcoming Olympics in Athens, Greece. Six members of the Clan are part of the national squad – along with five other former SFU players. The collegiate team, ranked No. 1 in the NAIA and the defending national champions, took care of business against Albertson, sweeping the Coyotes, 8-0 and 14-0, allowing just a total of two hits in ten innings of work. The national team – playing NCAA Division II competition, dominated their opponents as well.

A WEEK OF REST: Albertson will not have an official game this week, although the team will play an exhibition doubleheader at Treasure Valley CC. The Coyotes will return to action next week, with a twinbill at Northwest Nazarene on March 16, then their home opener on March 20 – night action against Walla Walla College.

INTERNET BROADCASTS: The first scheduled internet broadcasts of Coyote softball will be the March 20th doubleheader with Walla Walla College. Games can be accessed at http://www.collegeofidaho.edu/webcam/Athletics.asx. Archives of games broadcast this year can be found on the softball website.

MORE INFORMATION: Updated information and statistics on the 2004 softball team can be found on Albertson softball official website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/fastpitch.htm. Up-to-date NAIA Region I standings can be found online at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/softball/stats/standings.htm.

- ALBERTSON -