‘Yote Notes –
Feb. 8, 2005
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Mike Safford Jr.
– Sports Info. Director
msafford@collegeofidaho.edu
ATHLETICS
NEWS:
EIGHTH ANNUAL HALL OF FAME
INDUCTIONS, SATURDAY: Arguably the best basketball team in the College of Idaho (and
Albertson College) history will highlight the eighth Albertson College Athletic
Hall of Fame inductions, sponsored by Wendy’s.
The 1954-55 men’s basketball team will become the second team to receive
Hall of Fame status from the college.
The squad, coached by the late Sam Vokes, went 23-4 and lost to Montana
State in the NAIA District 5 championship game. The Coyotes became the first Northwest Conference team to have an
undefeated regular season (15-0) – a feat that has been accomplished only once
since. They currently hold the school
record with an 18-game win streak, while their four losses were to teams now in
the NCAA Division I. R.C. Owens, an
Albertson and NAIA Hall of Famer, will be one of nearly a dozen players from
the team returning for the ceremonies – which include an induction luncheon at
12:30 p.m. and a basketball doubleheader against defending NAIA champion,
Oregon Tech. It is uncertain whether
NBA Hall of Famer, Elgin Baylor – the leading scorer and freshman on the squad,
will be in attendance. Two others will
be inducted into the Hall of Fame – soccer standout, Kevin Kramer, and
multi-sport standout, Paul Hayman.
Kramer was a four-time All-NAIA District 2 defender from 1988-91 – the
top defender in school history, according to longtime coach John Calpin. Hayman has been an institution on campus
since he was a Northwest Conference All-Star in football, basketball, baseball,
and track during the mid 1930s. To RSVP
for the Hall of Fame luncheon, which costs $15.00, contact Dave Hahn at
459-5835.
TAILGATE PARTIES: The Albertson College alumni
office will be hosting a tailgate party on Saturday night, from 5:30-7 p.m. -
in Blatchley Hall, prior to the Oregon Tech game. To RSVP, contact Mary
Bitner at 459-5300.
SOFTBALL CASINO NIGHT: The second-annual Albertson
College fundraiser will be held on Friday, February 18, tentatively at the
Nampa Civic Center. For more information and tickets on the event - which
will be a Casino Night theme, which drew 250 people last year, contact head
coach Kelly McDonald at 459-5113.
SOFTBALL: Date
changed for NNU game, fundraiser set for Feb. 18
SEASON OPENER MOVED: The date of the 2005 softball
season opener is now set for February 16, when the Lady ‘Yotes head to Nampa to
meet Northwest Nazarene. Game time for
the doubleheader is 1:30 p.m.
COYOTES PICKED SIXTH: Albertson College was picked sixth
in the preseason Cascade Conference softball poll. Two-time defending champion, Southern Oregon, was the unanimous
selection, followed by Oregon Tech, Eastern Oregon, Concordia, Western Baptist,
and the Coyotes.
INDOOR
TRACK: Flueckiger earns another NAIA qualifying time in Nampa
LAST WEEK: at United Heritage Invitational,
Nampa.
FLUECKIGER QUALIFIES
FOR NATIONALS IN 800: Junior David Flueckiger finished in
tenth-place in a deep 800-meter field at the United Heritage Indoor Meet, but
met the automatic NAIA Championship qualifying mark. The native of Switzerland completed the race in
1:55.95 - less than a second faster than the NAIA provisional time. He
qualified last weekend in the 3,000-meter event.
OTHER
MEN’S RACERS: Three other Coyote men competed in the mile race, with Tyler
Hopper finishing sixth, Jacob Haas seventh, and Jesse Chlebeck
ninth. All three runners were over ten seconds behind the NAIA
provisional time.
WOMEN’S
RESULTS: On the women's side, Shannon Edwards and Genny
Gerke finished 13th and 14th respectively in the women's mile.
ALPINE
SKIING: Races moved to Brundage Mountain, three-day event set
BULLARD
DOES IT AGAIN: After weekend races at Mission Ridge, Wash. were
canceled, the Albertson College alpine ski team wanted to race. So the skiers drove to Missoula, Montana’s
Ski Bowl and competed unofficially in the University of Montana races – and the
women once again dominated. Molly
Bullard took home the slalom titles on both Saturday and Sunday – extending
her streak to four consecutive individual titles. Right behind her was Cassie Marcial, who took second in
the deep field.
SYLVESTER
SOLID: In the men’s races, Matt Sylvester continued to be
the most consistent of the Coyote skiers, registering a second and a
fifth-place finish
NORTHWEST
CONFERENCE STANDINGS: With British Columbia not participating in the
second qualifier, both the Albertson men and women took over the top spot in
the Northwest Conference Ski Standings.
The men’s side has the Coyotes, University of Idaho, and University of
Puget Sound in the top three, on the women’s side, it is the Lady ‘Yotes,
University of Oregon, and University of Puget Sound in the top-three.
RACES
MOVED TO BRUNDAGE: With the lack of snow and no resorts in the Cascade
Mountains from Washington to Oregon open at the present time, the Northwest
Conference has combined the third and fourth qualifiers into one weekend at
Brundage Mountain in McCall. Saturday
and Sunday, giant slalom races will be run, while four slalom races will be run
on Monday – to determine the conference champion and teams which will move on
to the Western Regional Championships.
MEN’S BASKETBALL (19-5, 11-3
CCC): Cascade
Conference title hopes and 17-game home streak on the line this weekend vs.
Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech
LAST WEEK: at Eastern Oregon (W 83-76)
COMING UP: vs. No. 8 Southern Oregon, Friday, 7:30 p.m.; vs.
No. 22 Oregon Tech, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
RADIO BROADCASTS: All 29 Albertson men’s basketball games will be
broadcast live on 1490 KCID-AM with Mike Safford Jr. calling the action, along
with a simulcast via the Albertson Athletic Website. Tune in at 7:15 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night for the pregame
show, 7:30 p.m. for the tip-off as Albertson meets Southern Oregon and Oregon
Tech. Saturday’s game will also be
broadcast live in the Klamath Basin on 1150 KAGO-AM with Bobby Thompson calling
in the play-by-play.
CONFERENCE TITLE HOPES ON THE
LINE FRIDAY: A lot is at stake Friday night
in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center as the No. 10 ranked Coyotes meet No. 8
ranked Southern Oregon. The Raiders
(15-8, 11-3 CCC) hold a one-half game lead on Albertson in the Cascade
Conference standings heading into the final two weeks of the season – along
with a key head-to-head 84-73 win in Ashland last month. A win by Southern would nearly eliminate the
‘Yotes from a second-straight CCC crown, whereas a win by Albertson would put
the Coyotes in the drivers seat.
SOUTHERN’S RECENT STREAK OVER
ALBERTSON: The one team that has had the
Coyotes number recently has been Southern Oregon, as the Raiders have won three
consecutive games over the Purple and Gold – including a 78-57 blowout win in
Caldwell last year. Southern has won
seven of the last ten meetings between the teams, including three wins in
2001-02 and two last season. This
Raider crew has erased a 1-4 start by winning seven of their last eight games,
including a 62-58 win over Warner Pacific on Saturday night. All-American Shea Washington (20.7 ppg, 10.3
rpg), who had 21 points and 16 rebounds against the ‘Yotes in January, is one
of three possible candidates for Player of the Year honors. Senior shooter Brad Coen (11.0 ppg, .405
3FG%) and post Jeff Williams (10.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg) are having outstanding seasons
as well. It is the 46th
meeting between the teams, with Albertson holding a 32-13 edge.
CALDWELL APPRECIATION NIGHT: Friday night is also the second-annual “Caldwell
Appreciation Night” – as Albertson College honors its hometown. City government officials and city employees
will be guests of the Coyotes – with Mayor Garrett Nancolas singing the
national anthem. The evening signifies
the relationship between Caldwell and Albertson College for 115 years.
TICKET OUTLETS: Tickets for Friday’s game can be purchased at
Pennywise Drug on Cleveland Boulevard in Caldwell, Paul’s Market on 10th
Avenue in Caldwell, along with any service club member in the city.
DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMPS TO
TOWN: It doesn’t get easier for the
Coyotes on Saturday, as the defending NAIA Division II champions, Oregon
Tech, heads to town. The Owls
(21-8, 11-4) have overcome the loss of All-Conference nominee Michael Nunes
(12.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg) – who broke his hand against Northwest two weeks ago, to
get a key weekend sweep of Cascade and Warner Pacific. Head coach Dan Miles, who was named last
week as 2004’s top coach in Oregon, has potent weapons in super-sophomore
Levell Hesia (15.8 ppg) and senior post Alex Carlson (12.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg). After Albertson took all three meetings from
OIT last season, the Owls got redemption in January, topping the ‘Yotes 82-63
in Klamath Falls. It is the 58th
meeting between the only two NAIA men’s basketball champions in the Cascade
Conference, with Albertson holding a 36-21 edge.
SENIOR NIGHT: Saturday is also senior night, as six players will
suit up for their final regular-season home game. First-year player Rich Fried (Middleton, Idaho / Boise
State), second-year players E.J. Costello (Pleasanton, Calif. /
Chabot CC) and Lance Hansen (Blackfoot, Idaho / Casper CC),
third-year players Steve Humphreys (Reno, Nev. / Lassen CC) and Joe
Green (Pocatello, Idaho / BYU-Idaho), and the lone fourth-year
player, Zach Rasmussen (Boise, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS) will be
honored in a pregame ceremony.
1954-55 TEAM TO BE INDUCTED
INTO HALL OF FAME: Saturday is also the 8th
Albertson College Athletic Hall of Fame Induction, sponsored by Wendy’s, with
the 1954-55 men’s basketball team as one of the honorees. The squad went 23-4, including an unbeaten
15-0 record in the Northwest Conference – one of only two schools to complete
that feat from 1927 to today. Of the 16
members of the team, it is expected that ten-to-12 of them will be in
attendance at the afternoon induction ceremony (12:30 p.m. Saturday in the
Simplot Dining Hall – RSVP at 459-5835), along with a special introduction at
halftime of the Oregon Tech game.
HOME HAS BEEN NICE TO THE
‘YOTES: A home court advantage has
been key to the success of the Coyotes over nearly the last quarter
century. From the days at O’Connor Fieldhouse
to the spacious Activities Center – wins by opponents have come few and far
between – including a perfect 9-0 start to the 2004-05 season and current
17-game win streak. Since the on-campus
gymnasium was opened in the Fall of 1991, the ‘Yotes have compiled a 160-30
mark at home, a gaudy .842 win percentage – with an 90-16 mark in Cascade
Conference play (.849 win percentage).
Under Mark Owen, the Coyotes are 53-10 at home (.841 percent) and
have won 37-of-43 CCC games. Only once in
the last 23 years have the ‘Yotes lost more than three games at home.
MORE ON THE HOME COOKIN’: Dating back to the 1982-83 season, Albertson has
an almost unfathomable 277-39 record at home (.877 win percentage) – including
a 56-game home win streak from March 5, 1983 to Dec. 19, 1987 – the
second-longest home win streak in NAIA history.
COYOTES WIN AT EASTERN: E.J. Costello and Josh Owen (Caldwell,
Idaho / Vallivue HS) hit a combined 7-of-10 three-pointers, as the
Albertson men's basketball team kept pace atop the Cascade Conference with a
83-76 win at Eastern Oregon. Costello
had 14 of his game-high 20 points in the first half, as the Coyotes built a
43-37 halftime lead. However, Eastern would open the second half on a 7-0
run to take their only lead of the game at 44-43 on a Reagan Gilbertson
trey. Costello would answer with one of his four three's and the 'Yotes
would not trail again. Tied 50-50,
Albertson would run off eight straight points, including Owen and Joe Green
treys, building a 58-50 edge. Eastern, who had won three of their last
five at Quinn Coliseum against Albertson, was led by the 22 points and 14
rebounds of Chad Fairbanks. The Mountaineers held a 55-29 rebound edge,
but could not capitalize on the 33 offensive boards.
HUMPHREYS HOLDS BLOCK PARTY: To go along with 17 points, Steve Humphreys
recorded a career-high seven blocked shots in the game. The senior’s efforts were the most blocks in
a game this season in the Cascade Conference, and the most by a Coyote since
his cousin, B.J. Humphreys, swatted seven shots against Cascade during the
1999-2000 season. He now has 80 career
blocks, third-most on the all-time list.
FRESHMAN PLAYS BIG: It was a big statement game on Friday for Josh
Owen, who scored a career-high 17 points in the victory over Eastern. More importantly, the freshman hit 8-of-8
free throws on the night, including two consecutive 1-and-1 chances down the
stretch. Owen leads the team in foul
shooting at nearly 90-percent, having made 16-in-a-row and 30-of-31.
GREEN LEADS NAIA: Senior Joe Green continues to lead the NAIA
Division II in three statistical categories – more than any other player in the
nation. The point-guard leads the land
in three-point percentage (.557), steals per game (3.96), and assist-to-turnover
ratio (3.57). He has now recorded 284
steals in his career, most by any Coyote – while his 95 steals this season is
second only to his school record 107 from last season. Green has also recorded 444 career assists –
second on the all-time list, and his 145 three-pointers made are eighth
all-time.
CASCADE CONFERENCE LEADERS: Scoring Average – Eric Fiegi (WB) 27.7, Shea
Washington (SOU) 20.7, Jeff Dunn (WB) 20.3, Joshua Garrett (CC) 17.3, Donny
Woods (WPC) 17.1. Rebound Average –
Washington 10.3, Fiegi 9.2, Chad Fairbanks (EOU) 9.0, Jeff Williams (SOU) 6.8,
Woods 6.8. Field Goal Percentage –
Stephen Ishmael (NU) .724, Fiegi .600, Richard Fried (ACI) .595, Washington
.555, Derek Brown (Las Vegas, Nev. / Desert Pines HS) (ACI)
.552. Assists Average – Garrett 5.9,
Joe Green (ACI) 5.5, Donny Woods (WP) 5.3, Michael Lay (CU) 4.4, Matt Larson
(WB) 4.4.
PLAYOFF TICKET INFORMATION: Information regarding tickets for any Cascade
Conference playoff games in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center will be
released in the next issue of ‘Yote Notes.
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 (13-14, 7-7
CCC): Lady
‘Yotes clinch playoff berth, final two regular-season home games this weekend
LAST WEEK: at Eastern Oregon (L 66-56).
COMING UP: vs. Southern Oregon, Friday, 5:30 p.m.; vs. No.
25 Oregon Tech, Saturday, 5:30 p.m.
RADIO AND INTERNET BROADCASTS: Ten Albertson women’s basketball games will be broadcast
live on 1490 KCID-AM with Mike Safford Jr. calling the action, along with a
total of 22 games simulcast via the Albertson Athletic Website, with students
Jordan Komoto and Jake McClean calling the play-by-play. Both weekend games will be internet-only
broadcasts, beginning at 5:25 p.m.
Saturday’s game will also be broadcast in the Klamath Basin on 1150
KAGO-AM with Bobby Thompson calling the action, with a simulcast on the
internet via http://sports2.oit.edu/kago.ram.
LADY ‘YOTES CLINCH PLAYOFF
SPOT: Despite dropping a 66-56
decision at Eastern Oregon on Friday night, the Albertson women’s basketball
team became one of five Cascade Conference clubs to clinch a berth into the CCC
postseason tournament. Beginning
February 22, the eight-team tournament will have the top four seeds host
first-round playoff games, with the semifinals set for Feb. 25, and the
championship to be played on Feb. 28.
The regular-season champion, along with the tournament champion, will
receive automatic bids to the NAIA Division II national tournament in Sioux
City, Iowa.
A STAPLE IN THE PLAYOFFS: By virtue of losses by Northwest, Warner Pacific,
and Southern Oregon, the Lady ‘Yotes can 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).
SECOND HALF STRETCH LIFTS
EASTERN: Jaime Jo Cant scored a
game-high 24 points as the Eastern Oregon women's basketball team won their
seventh-straight game over Albertson College with Friday night 66-56 win in
Quinn Coliseum. Leading 41-37 with just
over 12 minutes left, Eastern went on a 18-2 run to blow open a close
game. After Albertson scored the first
bucket of the game, the Mountaineers answered with a 13-2 run - an never
trailed again. Heidi Horobioski had 11
points and eight rebounds and former Lady ‘Yote Andra Peterson had ten points
and nine boards, as the Mounties won their 14th game in 15 outings. Albertson, who dropped into fifth-place in
the league standings, got 14 points from Kim Strunk (Twin Falls,
Idaho / Twin Falls HS) and a career-high 13 points from Whitney Martin
(Rupert, Idaho / Boise State). Kasey Hooter (Nampa,
Idaho / Walla Walla CC) had her CCC leading 16th double-double with ten
points and 11 rebounds.
THANKS FANS: The Lady ‘Yotes would like to thank the two rooter
buses, along with the countless fans who drove to La Grande on Friday for the
doubleheader. It truly made the
atmosphere more electric – said head coach Reagan Rossi.
HOOTER CONTINUES TO CLIMB THE
CHARTS: Kasey Hooter has put up
gargantuan numbers this season – notching 341 rebounds in the 27 games this
season – already No. 3 on the single-season chart – with four regular-season
games remaining (and at least one playoff game). Her 12.6 rebounds per game average is tops in the Cascade
Conference and is No. 1 in the NAIA Division II – she is also ranks seventh 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 ranks No. 20 in the NAIA in field goal percentage, while
ranking No. 5 in the CCC in blocks per game (1.1) and No. 7 in scoring
average. Her 32 blocks this season are
the fifth-most in a season for the Lady ‘Yotes, while the 40 career blocks are
tied for the fifth-most in school history.
Hooter has made 233-of-416 career shots, a .560 field goal percentage –
tops in school history, while her 528 career rebounds are No. 8 all-time.
OTHER RECORDS IN JEOPARDY: Four players this season have cracked the
single-season top-ten, including the aforementioned Kasey Hooter. Point-guard Angie Gribble (Boise,
Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS) is fourth on the single-season assist list with
125, while ranking 11th in both three-pointers made and
attempted. Gribble has 73 steals this
season, the most by any other Lady ‘Yote in one year, but is leading teammate Valissa
Sneck (Kalispell, Mont. / Sheridan CC) by just one – as Sneck tied
the former record of 72 with three steals at Eastern Oregon. Kim Strunk is also on the list, having made
115-of-142 free throws this season – third on the single-season list for made
freebies and sixth for free throw attempts.
WHAT HAPPENED TO SOUTHERN OREGON?: Once one of the prouder programs in the
Cascade Conference, Southern Oregon has definitely fallen from its stoop
atop the league. A year after posting
their first losing season in 14 years, the Raiders (4-22, 3-12 CCC) have
already established a school record for losses in a season, and are on the
verge of missing the postseason for the first time since 1989. Defense has been the issue, giving up 76
points per game, while converting only 23-percent of their three-point
attempts. Andi Peterson (14.5 ppg, 5.2
rpg) leads the Southern attack, while Chelsey Brock (12.9 ppg) and Courtney
Bothum (11.8 ppg) each average in double-figures. Albertson took the earlier meeting in Ashland, 71-50, with Kim
Strunk scoring 18 points.
A SWEEP OF THE RAIDERS: If the Lady ‘Yotes can get a victory on Friday
night, it would be only the second time in ten seasons that Albertson would
have swept the season series from Southern Oregon. Whereas the Coyotes are just 2-10 in McNeal Pavilion, Albertson
holds a 7-3 record in Caldwell, with Southern having lost five of their last
six trips East. It is the 23rd
meeting between the teams, with the Raiders holding a 13-9 advantage.
TRYING TO TOPPLE THE TECHSTERS: The hottest team in the Cascade
Conference comes to town on Saturday, as Oregon Tech, ranked No. 25 in
last week’s NAIA poll, comes calling on the Coyotes. The Owls (19-6, 14-1) have won 15 games in a row – including a
90-29 romp over Cascade on Saturday night.
OIT does it with defense, limiting opponents to just 54 points a game
(fifth in the NAIA) – with opponents making just .334 percent of their field
goal attempts (third in the NAIA).
Reigning CCC Player of the Year Nikki McElligott (12.7 ppg, 11.4 rpg) is
having a banner senior season, while Samantha Gilbert (12.8 ppg) is deadly from
outside the arc. Tech defeated
Albertson 65-52 in Klamath Falls last month, and holds the all-time series
lead, 5-1. However, Albertson rallied
from a 16-point second half deficit to upset the Owls, 57-55, last season in
Caldwell.
CONFERENCE LEADERS: Scoring Average –
Christie Weaver (EOU) 17.1, Nikki McElligott (OIT) 16.7, Katie Atkins (CU)
16.2, Jaime Jo Cant (EOU) 15.2, Andi Peterson (SOU) 14.5. Rebounding Average – Kasey Hooter (ACI)
12.6, McElligott 11.4, Atkins 8.3, Lisa Berger-Freeman (CC) 7.1, Kaeley Triller
(NU) 6.8. Field Goal Percentage –
Hooter .538, Kelly Clarke (NU) .487, Brianne Carras (WB) .485, McElligott .477,
Heidi Horobioski (EOU) .475. Assists
Average – Vanessa Shelton (EOU) 5.6, Cassie Snyder (NU) 4.9, Angie Gribble
(ACI) 4.6, 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: Coyotes to open season Tuesday vs. Northwest
Nazarene
COMING UP: vs. Northwest Nazarene, Feb. 8, 1 p.m.
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 first broadcast
is set for Tuesday afternoon with the Coyotes meeting Northwest Nazarene. The pregame show is set for 12:50 p.m., with
first-pitch set for 1 p.m.
COYOTE OPTIMISTIC FOR 2005 SEASON: With the deepest
pitching staff since the 2002 NAIA World Series club, the 2005 Albertson
College baseball team is excited about its chances this season. The ‘Yotes also return six of their eight
position player starters from a team – with all six returning with a batting
average greater than .300.
CASCADE CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL: Defending NAIA Region I
champion, Concordia, was tabbed the favorite in the 2005 Cascade Conference
preseason coaches poll. The Cavaliers
earned three of the five first-place votes, while Albertson College – the No. 2
team in the poll, received the other two first-place votes. Oregon Tech, Eastern Oregon, and Western
Baptist rounded out the poll.
ABOUT THE CRUSADERS: The folks in Nampa are
excited about the upcoming Northwest Nazarene baseball season. The Crusaders (15-34 in 2004) return the
Great Northwest Athletic Conference’s leading home run hitter in first-baseman
Kevin McCarthy (.352 15 HR 38 RBI) and hope to improve on a league-low .944 fielding
percentage. NNU returns starting
pitchers Roger Evenson (1-6 6.23 ERA) and Gabe Stotz (3-8 7.59 ERA), along with
three other position players.
HISTORY OF THE RIVALRY: Albertson took 2-of-3
games with the Crusaders last season, including a 12-6 victory in the only game
at Simplot Stadium. Under head coach Shawn Humberger, the Coyotes are 14-5
against NNU, including a 6-1 record at home.
It is the 147th meeting between the teams since 1964, with
Albertson holding a 111-35 advantage.
STARTING PITCHING VS. NNU?: Although the starting
pitcher is unavailable for Northwest Nazarene, the Coyotes are scheduled to use
a predetermined rotation for the game.
A combination of Matt Bergstrom (Hermiston, Ore. /
Hermiston HS), Taylor Blair (Sacramento, Calif. /
American River CC), and Charlie Strandlund (Victoria, B.C. /
College of Southern Idaho) will throw the majority of the innings in the game. Each have thrown sets of 60 live pitches
during training sessions over the past couple of weeks. Bergstrom was the 2003 Cascade Conference
Pitcher of the Year – going 7-7 with a 4.62 ERA last year. Blair, an All-CCC pitcher in 2002 and 2003,
returns after missing the 2004 with an elbow injury. The senior has a career 11-4 record with a 2.82 ERA. Strandlund will make his ‘Yote debut, a year
after posting a 5-1 record with a 0.73 ERA and six saves in 22 appearances with
the Golden Eagles.
OFF TO CALIFORNIA: The Coyotes will have a
week off following Tuesday’s game to prepare for their first road trip of the
season – a six-day, six-game trip to Southern California.
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.
- ALBERTSON -