‘Yote Notes – Feb. 22, 2005

Mike Safford Jr. – Sports Info. Director

msafford@collegeofidaho.edu

 

 

 

 

 

PLAYOFF BASKETBALL TICKETS: Tickets on sale Wednesday from 9 a.m. until tip-off

MEN’S TICKET INFORMATION: The Albertson College men’s basketball team will host a first-round Cascade Conference playoff game vs. Evergreen State on Wednesday, Feb. 23.  Tickets, which went on sale on Sunday, will still be available on Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center, or by phone at 459-5681.

ALPINE SKIING: Coyotes gunning for a Western Region Championship

REGIONAL AT BRUNDAGE: The Albertson College men’s and women’s alpine and snowboard teams will compete this weekend in the USCSA Western Region Championship at Brundage Mountain.  The Coyotes are one of four teams favored in the event – which will send four teams to the USCSA National Championships.  Both Cassie Marcial and Molly Bullard are among the women competitors capable of winning individual crowns, while Matt Sylvester looks to continue a solid season on the men’s side.

INDOOR TRACK: Flueckiger to run at NAIA Indoor Championships

COMING UP: at NAIA Indoor National Championships, Johnson City, Tenn., March 3-5.

FLUECKIGER QUALIFIES IN TWO MORE EVENTS: Albertson College distance runner David Flueckiger made it 4-for-4 in attempts to qualify for the NAIA Indoor Championships, recording automatic qualifiers in both the 1,000-meters and mile races this weekend at the University of Idaho.  The junior took home the title in the mile on Friday night, besting five NCAA Division I runners, with his time of 4:15.09 the fifth-fastest time in the NAIA this year.  He placed second in the 1,000 on Saturday, with his 2:30.18 time the sixth-fastest in the NAIA.  The Switzerland native had already qualified in the 800-meters and the 3,000-meter race.

EDWARDS CLOSE: Shannon Edwards nearly joined Flueckiger in the national picture, missing out on a provisional qualifier in the 3,000-meters by less than two seconds.  The junior placed third in 10:51.35, beating six NCAA Division I runners.

COACHES RUN: Head coach Patrick McCurry and assistant Tim Riley also ran a race unattached on Saturday, with McCurry placing second and Riley third in the 5,000-meters.

MEN’S BASKETBALL (20-8): No. 21 Coyotes to host Evergreen State Wednesday in CCC Tournament first-round game

 

LAST WEEK: at Concordia (W 82-74), at No. 22 Western Baptist (L 89-78)

 

COMING UP: Cascade Conference postseason tournament – host Evergreen, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.; (with win) either at Oregon Tech or home vs. Concordia, Saturday, TBA

 

RADIO AND INTERNET BROADCASTS: All Albertson men’s basketball playoff games will be carried live on 1490 KCID-AM with Mike Safford Jr. calling the play-by-play, along with a simulcast via the Albertson Athletic Website.

 

COYOTES END YEAR WHERE THEY BEGAN, AT NO. 21: The NAIA voting committee must have known something about the Albertson College men’s basketball team.  After voting the Coyotes No. 21 in the preseason poll, the ‘Yotes finished up the 2004-05 right where they began, at No. 21 in the last poll of the season.  Albertson still has two roads to earn a trip to the NAIA Tournament – winning their third-consecutive Cascade Conference postseason tournament, or being one of six at-large teams to be selected to the tournament (this is very unlikely, with just one possible scenario to allow the ‘Yotes in as an at-large).  Oregon Tech jumped to No. 6 in the final poll, while Southern Oregon fell to No. 11 and Western Baptist jumped to No. 16.

 

20-WIN SEASONS: With the win at Concordia on Friday, Albertson clinched their eighth consecutive 20-win season and the 17th 20-win season since 1982.

 

PLAYOFF PREVIEW: The eight-team Cascade Conference postseason tournament will begin on Wednesday night in the gymnasiums of the four highest seeds in the standings.  The straight-seeded brackets will have the winner of the No. 1 vs. No. 8 seed game (Oregon Tech vs. Concordia) meet the winner of the No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed game (Albertson vs. Evergreen) in one semifinal on Saturday night, with the winner of the No. 3 vs. No. 6 seed game (Western Baptist vs. Northwest) meeting the winner of the No. 2 vs. No. 7 seed game (Southern Oregon vs. Warner Pacific ).  The winners of the semifinals will meet next Tuesday to determine the second berth to the NAIA Tournament from the CCC (defending NAIA champion Oregon Tech secured the first with the regular-season championship).

 

COYOTES IN THE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT: Albertson has thrived in the Cascade Conference tourney under head coach Mark Owen, having won six consecutive league playoff games and compiling a 9-1 record.  In their previous ten CCC tournament appearances, the ‘Yotes have a combined 16-6 record, including titles in 1996, 2001, 2003, and 2004.

 

PREVIOUS CHAMPIONS:      1994   Northwest Nazarene  1995   Northwest Nazarene

1996   Albertson                1997   Western Baptist        1998   Western Baptist

1999   Southern Oregon      2000   Oregon Tech            2001   Albertson

2002   Western Baptist        2003   Albertson                2004   Albertson

 

ABOUT EVERGREEN: The Geoducks (14-17) made a late-season push to climb into the No. 5 slot in the Cascade Conference postseason tournament. Evergreen has won four games in a row and 5-of-6 – including victories over No. 10 ranked Oregon Tech and No. 22 ranked Western Baptist.  The Clams have advanced to the playoffs in each of their eight seasons of basketball, including the 2001-02 season in which they won the CCC regular-season title and advanced to the second-round of the NAIA Division II national tournament.  The 2004-05 squad is led by the one-two punch of forward Walter Tucker (12.7 ppg) and center Barson Collins (10.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg) – but the club ranks last in the league with a 65.6 scoring average.

 

2004-05 COYOTES VS. GEODUCKS: Albertson swept the regular season series from the Geoducks.  The ‘Yotes were forced to overtime before prevailing 69-62 in Olympia on Dec. 18.  Rich Fried (Middleton, Idaho / Boise State) and E.J. Costello (Pleasanton, Calif. / Chabot CC) each had 17 points in the win for the Coyotes, while Barson Collins had 18 points in the loss.  Albertson defeated Evergreen 77-59 on Jan. 21 in Caldwell, as Costello scored 25 points and Derek Brown (Las Vegas, Nev. / Desert Pines HS) 11.  Collins added 20 more for Evergreen.  The Coyotes have won six-straight against the Geoducks and hold an 11-3 all-time series lead.

 

HUMPHREYS HAS BANNER WEEKEND: As his three-year career with the Coyotes hits the homestretch, post Steve Humphreys (Reno, Nev. / Lassen CC) had his best weekend of his collegiate career.  The senior had 12 points and eight rebounds in the win at Concordia, followed by a career-high 32 points in the loss at Western Baptist.  Humphreys hit 18-of-30 shots for the week and blocked three shots – bringing his career total to 87 – No. 3 on the all-time list.

 

ROAD SHOOTING FINALLY HITS ROADBLOCK: Things had been going so well for the Coyotes on the road – reality had to set in sometime.  After shooting lights-out for nearly nine consecutive halves on the road, a poor second half shooting performance at Western Baptist hurt the club.  In the nine previous halves of basketball on the road (games at Cascade, Warner Pacific, Eastern Oregon, Concordia, and the first half at Western) the ‘Yotes hit 135-of-243 field goal attempts (.555 percent), while converting 47-of-95 three-point attempts (.496 percent).  In the second half on Saturday night, Albertson made just 9-of-36 shots and 3-of-14 three-point attempts.

 

RASMUSSEN RALLIES ‘YOTES AT CONCORDIA: Zach Rasmussen (Boise, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS) scored 14 points in a 29-4 second half run as the Albertson rallied for a 82-74 win over Concordia on Friday night.  The Coyotes trailed by five at the break and 44-37 in the second half, but enter Rasmussen, who hit four treys and a lay-up in a six minute stretch, as Albertson turned the deficit to a 66-48 lead with 7:56 left and cruised to the win.  E.J. Costello had 21 points, with Rich Fried adding 14 points and seven rebounds. 

 

TANK HIT EMPTY AT WESTERN: Eric Fiegi scored 39 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, including four in a 15-2 run to close the game, as Western Baptist topped Albertson College, 89-78, in the C.E. Jeffers Center on Saturday night.  With the win, the No. 22 Warriors claimed the third-seed in the Cascade Conference tournament.  The 'Yotes led the majority of the game and held a 76-74 lead with four minutes left, but Ben Morris hit a corner trey, followed by a Fiegi duece and two Ben Sisler free throws to extend the edge to 81-76.  After Steve Humphreys converted a lay-up for Albertson, Fiegi splashed home a runner and the Warriors hit six straight free throws to earn the win.  Humphreys had 32 points for Albertson, while E.J. Costello scored 24.

 

GREEN’S RECORDS: The legacy of point-guard Joe Green (Pocatello, Idaho / BYU-Idaho) will be one for the ages when his playing career ends in the next month or so.  The senior has rewritten the Albertson record books for steals in a career (now at 295), is second all-time with 473 assists – while ranking No. 1 in the NAIA in assist-to-turnover ratio, No. 3 in three-point percentage, and is No. 3 in steals per game.  What is more amazing is that Green has started all 98 games in his career – having played in 3,564 of the 3,975 minutes of those games, equaling 89-percent, or an averaged of nearly 36 minutes per game.

 

CASCADE CONFERENCE LEADERS: Scoring Average – Eric Fiegi (WBC) 28.0, Shea Washington (SOU) 20.5, Jeff Dunn (WBC) 19.8, Joshua Garrett (CC) 17.7, Donny Woods (WPC) 17.2.  Rebound Average – Washington 9.8, Feigi 9.2, Chad Fairbanks (EOU) 8.9, Woods 7.1, Jeff Williams (SOU) 6.9.  Field Goal Percentage – Stephen Ishmael (NU) .697, Fiegi .609, Richard Fried (ACI) .591, Washington .570, Bobby Lester (CU) .569.  Assist Average – Joe Green (ACI) 5.8, Garrett 5.7, Woods 5.3, Michael Lay (CU) 4.6, Matt Larson (WBC) 4.5.  

 

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 (17-14): Lady ‘Yotes open CCC Tournament at home Tuesday vs. Evergreen State

 

LAST WEEK: at Concordia (W 61-49), at Western Baptist (W 68-57)

 

COMING UP: Cascade Conference postseason tournament – Tuesday vs. Evergreen, 7 p.m.; (with win) Friday at Oregon Tech or home vs. Northwest, TBA.

 

RADIO AND INTERNET BROADCASTS: All Albertson College women’s basketball home playoff games will be broadcast live on the internet via the Albertson Athletic Website with Jordan Komoto and Jake McClean calling the action.  All playoff road games will be broadcast live on 1490 KCID-AM with Mike Safford Jr. calling the play-by-play, along with a simulcast via the internet.

 

LONGEST WIN STREAK SINCE?: With a weekend road sweep at Concordia and Western Baptist, the Albertson women’s basketball team extended its winning streak to four games heading into this week’s Cascade Conference postseason tournament.  The four-game streak is the longest for the team since winning five games in-a-row from Dec. 17, 2002 to January 4, 2003 – which is the longest win streak under head coach Reagan Rossi.

 

PLAYOFF PREVIEW: The eight-team Cascade Conference postseason tournament will begin on Tuesday night in the gymnasiums of the four highest seeds in the standings.  The straight-seeded brackets will have the winner of the No. 1 vs. No. 8 seed game (Oregon Tech vs. Northwest) meet the winner of the No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed game (Albertson vs. Evergreen) in one semifinal on Friday night, with the winner of the No. 3 vs. No. 6 seed game (Western Baptist vs. Concordia) meeting the winner of the No. 2 vs. No. 7 seed game (Eastern Oregon vs. Warner Pacific ).  The winners of the semifinals will meet next Monday to determine the second berth to the NAIA Tournament from the CCC (Oregon Tech secured the first with the regular-season championship).

 

ABOUT EVERGREEN: The Geoducks (15-13) will be making their second consecutive Cascade Conference postseason tournament appearance and their fourth playoff game in the eight-year history over their women’s basketball program.  The 2004-05 Evergreen squad is by far their best ever – recording the first winning season in program history.  Sophomore Jenny Olson (12.2 ppg) and freshman Kamrica Ary-Turner (10.9 ppg) lead a balanced scoring attack, which shoots .403 percent from the field.

 

2004-05 LADY ‘YOTES VS. GEODUCKS: Albertson knocked off the Geoducks in Olympia, 60-45, on Dec. 18.  The Lady ‘Yotes held Evergreen to just 30-percent shooting in the contest, with Kim Strunk (Twin Falls, Idaho / Twin Falls HS) leading the way with 15 points.  Evergreen returned the favor, topping Albertson 52-47 in Caldwell on Jan. 21.  Kamrica Ary-Turner had 14 points for the Geoducks, who held the Coyotes to just 29-percent shooting.  Kasey Hooter (Nampa, Idaho / Walla Walla CC) tied a Cascade Conference record with 24 rebounds in the loss.  It is the 16th meeting between the teams, dating back to 1999, with Albertson holding a 13-2 edge.

 

A STAPLE IN THE PLAYOFFS: With their spot in the playoff secured three weeks ago, the Coyotes have clinched their sixth consecutive postseason berth.  Albertson has now advanced to the CCC Tournament in nine of the ten seasons since women’s basketball was reinstated at the college in 1995.  The Coyotes have advanced to three NAIA Division II tournaments (1998 – first round, 2000 – quarterfinals, 2001 – championship game), but have never won a Cascade Conference postseason tournament (advanced to the finals in both 2000 and 2002).

 

HOME COURT IN PLAYOFFS?: The Lady ‘Yotes will host a playoff game in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center for the first time since 2001 – the first home playoff encounter for head coach Reagan Rossi.  It is only the fourth women’s basketball home playoff game in school history, with Albertson holding a 2-1 record in those postseason home games.

 

Feb. 24, 1998 – ACI 65, W. Baptist 61; Feb. 22, 2000 – ACI 80, Northwest 72; Feb. 23, 2001 – W. Baptist 73, ACI 68

 

SNECK HAS SOLID TRIP: A key to the success of the Lady ‘Yotes over the weekend was the play of wing Valissa Sneck (Kalispell, Mont. / Sheridan CC), who was a nominee for Cascade Conference Player of the Week honors.  The junior had her best back-to-back games of the season, making 14-of-20 shots from the floor, averaging 17 points in the two wins.  She also upped her single-season school-record steals mark to 88, and moved into seventh-place on the single-season assist list with 113.

 

LADY ‘YOTES TOP CONCORDIA: Kasey Hooter tied a school record as the Albertson women's basketball team clinched a Cascade Conference home playoff game with a 61-49 win at Concordia University on Friday night.  Hooter became the fourth player in school history to record eight steals in a contest – all coming in the first half, leading the way with 12 points and 12 boards.  The Lady 'Yotes used a 15-4 run in the opening half to pull away, and were never threatened.  Valissa Sneck led the way with 14 points, with Kim Strunk adding 12 points and eight boards.  It was the Coyotes sixth-straight win over the Cavs.

 

WESTERN UPSET IN SALEM:  Valissa Sneck scored a game-high 20 points as the Albertson women's basketball team ran its win streak to four with a 68-57 victory Saturday over Western Baptist in the C.E. Jeffers Center.  Leading 39-37 at the 15-minute mark of the second half, Albertson used a 16-4 run to get a comfortable lead - one that remained larger than 11 points the rest of the way.  Sneck hit 8-of-13 shots from the floor, to go along with seven assists.  Desirae Boudreaux (Provo, Utah / Western Wyoming CC) scored 14 points and had nine rebounds off the bench for the 'Yotes.

 

HOOTER BREAKS REBOUND MARK: Kasey Hooter moved into first-place on the single-season rebound list with her first board Saturday against Western Baptist.  With 21 rebounds on the weekend, the senior now has 385 boards on the season – nine more than the former school record.  Her 12.4 rebounds per game average is tops in the Cascade Conference and is No. 2 in the NAIA Division II – she is also ranks fifth in the nation in defensive rebounds per game and fifth in offensive rebounds per game.  Other parts of her game continue to excel – as Hooter leads the CCC in field goal percentage, while ranking No. 4 in the CCC in blocks per game (1.1) and No. 9 in scoring average.  Her 35 blocks this season are the fourth-most in a season for the Lady ‘Yotes, while the 43 career blocks are the fourth-most in school history.  Hooter has made 251-of-457 career shots, a .549 field goal percentage – tops in school history, while her 572 career rebounds are No. 7 all-time.

 

OTHER RECORDS IN JEOPARDY: Four players this season have cracked the single-season top-ten, including the aforementioned Kasey Hooter and Valissa Sneck.  Point-guard Angie Gribble (Boise, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS) is third on the single-season assist list with 146, while ranking ninth in three-pointers made and eighth in three-pointers attempted.  Gribble also has 80 steals this season, No. 2 all-time.  Kim Strunk is also on the list, having made 124-of-153 free throws this season – third on the single-season list for made freebies and fourth for free throw attempts.

 

CONFERENCE LEADERS: Scoring Average – Nikki McElligott (OIT) 17.1, Christie Weaver (EOU) 16.5, Katie Atkins (CU) 15.8, Jaime Jo Cant (EOU) 15.6, Angie Sun (WPC) 14.7.  Rebounding Average – Kasey Hooter (ACI) 12.4, McElligott 11.6, Atkins 8.3, Brianne Carras (WBC) 7.2, Andra Peterson (EOU) 7.2.  Field Goal Percentage – Hooter .526, Heidi Horobioski (EOU) .486, Carras .483, McElligott .473, Kelly Clarke (NU) .460.  Assists Average – Vanessa Shelton (EOU) 5.6, Angie Gribble (ACI) 4.7, Cassie Snyder (NU) 4.9, , Shara Brazzle (CC) 4.3,Tosha Wilson (WB) 4.3.

 
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 (1-0): Rain washes away entire California Trip, Coyotes look for sunny weather in Lewiston

 

LAST WEEK: Games vs. Westmont, Bethany, Azusa Pacific, and Concordia-Irvine canceled due to rain

 

COMING UP: at Guardian Heating and Plumbing Tournament, Lewiston – Friday vs. No. 2 Lewis-Clark State, 4 p.m. (PST); Saturday vs. British Columbia, 9 a.m. (PST), vs. Eastern Oregon, 6 p.m. (PST); Sunday vs. Oregon Tech, 1 p.m. (PST)

 

ON THE AIR: A total of 21 Albertson College baseball games will be broadcast live on Sporting News Radio 1450 KIOV-AM with Mike Safford Jr. calling the action.  The next broadcast is set for March 5th with the Coyotes meeting Oregon Tech.  The games can also be heard on the internet at www.kiov.com.  However, Friday’s game with Lewis-Clark State will be broadcast in Lewiston on 950 KOZE-AM (on the internet at www.koze-sports.com), with Brian Danner and Mike Tatko calling the play-by-play.

 

RAIN WASHES AWAY CALIFORNIA TRIP: The 2005 Albertson baseball team fundraised throughout the Fall for a Winter Break trip to Southern California to play six games in six days.  After traveling to Los Angeles on Wednesday, the Coyotes did not find baseball, just a deluge of rain that washed out their entire set of games.  According to the players – Russ Carr Field in Santa Barbara looked more like a trophy bass pond than a baseball diamond.

 

TRYING TO GET HOME SAFELY: The biggest problem the ‘Yotes had after they saw their games rained out was trying to get back to the Treasure Valley early – since their plane tickets were marked for Tuesday the 22nd.  Half of the team was able to squeeze onto a pair of planes on Saturday afternoon, while the remainder of the club returned home on Sunday morning.

 

HAVE HAD TROUBLE BEFORE IN CALI: Three times before the Coyotes have had trouble getting games in California.  In 1993, the ‘Yotes had a three-game series canceled due to rain against Vanguard, while in 2000, the squad lost games due to weather against Cal Baptist, Concordia-Irvine, Biola, Westmont, and The Masters.  Three years ago, Albertson had a doubleheader rained out in Los Angeles against Sonoma State.

 

HOPE THE “BANANA BELT” LIVES UP TO REPUTATION: Instead of heading South, the ‘Yotes will head North to the “Banana Belt” of Idaho – for the Guardian Heating and Plumbing Tournament in Lewiston.  Last weekend, Harris Field hosted a four-team event, which saw eight games played in 50-degree whether – compared to the rain of California.

 

ABOUT THE TEAMS:  Albertson opens up tournament play with the No. 2 ranked team in the NAIA, host Lewis-Clark State.  The Warriors (3-1) beat Concordia and stopped Linfield twice to win last weekend’s tourney, but dropped a 3-2 decision to Eastern Oregon.  Slugger Brandon Morris was in a zone in the tournament, going 6-for-14 with three homers and seven RBI in the four games.  The ‘Yotes most likely will face hard-throwing right-hander Carlos Fisher (0-0 3.00 ERA) in the opener.  Last year, LC-State swept all five games between the teams and holds an 87-25-1 edge in the all-time series, dating back to 1967. Friday, the Coyotes will play a day-night doubleheader, opening up with regional rival British Columbia.  The T-Birds (2-5-1) were able to beat the rain in California, getting eight of their nine scheduled contests in before the weather arrived.  UBC’s manager and former Coyote, Terry McKaig, saw his team go 1-3 against NCAA Division I teams on the trip.  Shortstop Tyler Hughes hit only .264 on the California trip, but drove in a team-high seven runs.  All-Region pitcher Brad Ashman compiled an 0-1 record with a 1.64 ERA in three appearances, walking only three and fanning 13.  The T-Birds won the 2004 season series, 7-3, including a 11-4 win to knock the Coyotes out of the NAIA Region I Tournament.  It will be the 41st meeting between the teams, with Albertson holding a 22-18 edge.  Rounding out Saturday’s action will see the ‘Yotes take on Eastern Oregon.  The Mountaineers (1-3) were gave up 33 runs in the four-games, but topped LC-State for only the second time since 1976.  Landon Johnson went 6-for-11 at the plate, with two RBI, while Nathan Beachy got the win vs. LC-State, allowing just five hits in seven innings of work.  The Coyotes took 5-of-7 from Eastern last season and holds a commanding 97-26-1 all-time edge, dating back to 1964.  Rounding out the weekend is a Sunday game against Oregon Tech.  The Owls (1-1) were also scheduled to head to California, but bagged the trip to head to Salem, Ore., where they split a doubleheader with Willamette.  OIT returns CCC Player of the Year Ryan Wilson (.358 13 HR 47 RBI) and are hoping to return to the NAIA regional for the second-straight year.  Albertson won six of the nine meetings last season between the teams and holds a 29-6 all-time advantage.

 

COYOTES ROTATION: According to head coach Shawn Humberger, the Coyotes have not decided on a pitching rotation for the four-game tournament this weekend.

 

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 (2-0): Solid pitching leads to sweep of NNU, Lady ‘Yotes to open home season on Sunday

 

LAST WEEK: at Northwest Nazarene (W 4-0, W 2-0)

 

COMING UP: at Whitworth Triangular, Spokane – Friday vs. Whitworth, 1 p.m. (PST), vs. Eastern Oregon, 3 p.m. (PST); Saturday vs. Eastern Oregon, 11 a.m. (PST), vs. Whitworth, 3 p.m.; home opener vs. Utah Valley State (DH), Sunday, 11 a.m.

 

INTERNET BROADCASTS: The first scheduled live internet broadcast of Coyote softball will be Sunday’s doubleheader with Utah Valley State (dependent on the availability of SID Mike Safford – due to basketball playoff games).  Games can be accessed at http://www.collegeofidaho.edu/webcam/Athletics.asx.

 

COYOTES DOMINATE NNU: Albertson College continued their mastery of Northwest Nazarene on the softball diamond last Wednesday, as the Lady ‘Yotes limited the Crusaders to just four hits in 4-0 and 2-0 shutouts.  The victories for the Canyon County NAIA crew run their record to 16-4 against their NCAA sisters, since both teams began fastpitch in 2002.  The Coyotes took advantage of seven NNU errors to plate four unearned runs in the twinbill.

 

BACK TO BACK SHUTOUTS: For only the third time in school history, the Lady ‘Yotes recorded back-to-back shutouts.  The first was a doubleheader sweep of Walla Walla during the 2003 season, while Albertson registered three consecutive shutouts last season – blanking NNU, then sweeping a doubleheader from Walla Walla. 

 

WELCOME BACK TO WASKO: Last season was one to forget for Lindzi Wasko (Lakenheath, England / Lakenheath American HS), who struggled to a 3-12 record and an 8.55 ERA.  What a difference a year makes, as the senior gave up just three hits, walked two, and struck out five in her third career shutout.  Wasko has had success against NNU, recording a 5-1 record with a 1.84 ERA in seven career appearances against the Crusaders.

 

FRESHMAN NEAR PERFECT: A lot was riding on the right arm of freshman Ashley Bowman (Parma, Idaho / Parma HS), as the highly-touted high school recruit made her Albertson debut.  The youngster did not disappoint – nearly throwing a no-hitter in the 2-0 victory in the nightcap.  Bowman did not allow a hit until two outs into the sixth inning and settled on the second one-hitter in program history.  She did allow five walks, but struck out ten Crusader batters – the third time that a Lady ‘Yote has fanned ten or more (current assistant coach Nicole Glenn struck out ten Walla Walla batters in 2003 and 13 Northwest Christian batters in 2002) in a single game.

 

BATS CONNECT IN NAMPA: The Lady ‘Yotes got off to a good start with the aluminum on Wednesday, as ten of the 12 batters that had a plate appearance recorded a hit.  Leading the way was All-Conference second-baseman Anna Schroeder (Eagle, Idaho / Eagle HS), who went 4-for-8, including a double to lead-off the season.  Also hitting well was senior leftfielder Heather McClure (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS), who tied a school record with two doubles in Game 1 of the twinbill.  McClure also drove in three runs in the contest.

 

FRESHMEN IMPRESS: Besides Ashley Bowman, three other true freshmen made their collegiate debut at NNU, and all three were impressive.  Nicole Becvar (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS) got the start in Game 1 as the designated player, ripping a pair of singles in three at bats, to go along with a sacrifice bunt.  Game 2 saw the debut of Jen Ward (Nampa, Idaho / Skyview HS), who went 2-for-3 with both runs scored in the game, along with Christine Fancher (Scappoose, Ore. / Scappoose HS), who went 1-for-3 in the game.

 

STEALING FRENZY: The Lady ‘Yotes went back to the basics against NNU, utilizing their team speed to success.  Albertson was 4-for-4 in sacrifice bunt attempts and swiped 7-of-8 bases (the only caught stealing coming on an attempted steal of home off a wild pitch).  Junior Katie Theisen (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS) tied a school record in the second game by stealing three bases – giving her 27 for her career.

 

SPOKANE SERIES: Albertson hopes that the recent rash of good weather continues this weekend in Spokane, where they will compete in the Whitworth Triangular at Marks Field.  The Coyotes will meet Whitworth, the host school, for games on Friday and Saturday.  The Pirates (29-8 in 2004) are coming off their best season in school history, and sixth-year head coach Teresa Hansen is very optimistic that 2005 will be the same.  Whitworth returns their two top pitchers, All-Stars Jo Sonnett (14-5, 0.95 ERA) and Alana Klaus (15-3 1.30 ERA), along with All-Northwest Conference performers Andraya Robertson (.406 3 HR 21 RBI) and Patti Stranger (.297, 14 RBI, 29 SB).  The Coyotes and Bucs have met one time previously, an Albertson 7-4 win on Feb. 28, 2003.  Albertson will play two other games in Spokane, both against rival Eastern Oregon.  The Mountaineers (25-18 in 2004) return their top two-way player from last season in Shannon Rasmussen (.367, 14 RBI, 15-8 2.32 ERA), an All-Cascade Conference selection.  Eastern also has two other All-CCC returners in slugger Beth Hull (.388 3 HR 29 RBI) and infielder Nicole Landstrom (.276, 18 RBI).  The Mounties swept all six games with the Lady ‘Yotes last season and hold a commanding 15-1 all-time edge.

 

HOME OPENER ON SUNDAY: After a long bus ride home on Saturday night, the Lady ‘Yotes turn around for their 2005 home opener on Sunday against NCAA Division I Utah Valley State.  The Wolverines (0-9) are in their second-year removed from junior college status and have hit a combined .216 to start the year, while giving up an average of six runs per game.  Valley is led by Rachel Hartgrove (.379, 2 RBI) at the plate and Jackie Roberts (0-4 5.08 ERA) on the mound.  The two teams met last season at the Central Washington Invitational, with UVSC winning 7-6.

 

ABOUT THE COACH: Albertson softball head coach Kelly Gibbons-McDonald is in her fourth season with the Coyotes.  Building the Lady ‘Yote program from scratch, the University of Idaho graduate saw her team post a winning record in just their sophomore season.  During her ten years at the collegiate level, she has compiled a 242-218-1 all-time record.  While at Washburn University in Kansas, she led the squad to NAIA Women’s College World Series berths in both 1988 and 1989, winning four district titles, and helping the college move in 1991 from the NAIA to the NCAA Division II.  Gibbons earned District 10 Coach of the Year honors in 1988, 1989, and 1990.  She also served as the Washburn head volleyball coach from 1987-97.  Since moving to the Treasure Valley, the Idaho Falls native coached two seasons at Nyssa (Ore.) High, along with one year at Bishop Kelly High in Boise – with all three teams advancing to their respective state tournaments. 

 

MORE INFORMATION: Updated information and statistics on the 2005 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 -