‘Yote Notes –
Mar. 23, 2005
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Mike Safford Jr.
– Sports Info. Director
msafford@collegeofidaho.edu
FUNDRAISER: All-You-Can-Eat Steak
to support Women’s Basketball
LADY ‘YOTES TO HOST FUNDRAISER
ON MARCH 30: The Albertson College women’s
basketball team is hosting an All-You-Can-Eat Steak luncheon at the Nampa
Outback Steakhouse on Wednesday, March 30 to support the 2005-06 basketball
season. The Lady ‘Yotes, who fell just
three points shy of an NAIA Division II national tournament berth, will return
all but two players from this years 19-15 team. The luncheon, which runs from 11:30-2 p.m., costs $15 – with all proceeds
going directly to the women’s basketball team, thanks to Outback. For tickets, contact head coach Reagan Rossi
at 459-5855.
ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS: Skiing
and Men’s Basketball push total to 18 Coyote Taco Bell Academic All-Americans
SKI TEAMS PLACE SEVEN ON
ACADEMIC LIST: Four women’s and three
men’s skiers were named to the USCSA Academic All-America team following the national
championships two weeks ago in McCall. Kaylie
Aaker, Molly Bullard, Chelsea Shultz, and Lauren White
were honored for the Lady ‘Yotes, while Kevin Makinson, William Moss,
and Justin Rackley earned the honor for the Coyotes.
MEN’S BASKETBALL HAS THREE
RECIPIENTS: Following a trip to the NAIA
national tournament, the Albertson men’s basketball team was honored as well
for their academics, as three members of the club earned Daktronics/NAIA
All-America Scholar-Athlete honors. Juniors
Dan McFaul and Matt Barclay, along with senior Lance Hansen
were among those honored by the NAIA following the conclusion of the Men’s
Division I tournament in Kansas City.
THANKS TO TACO BELL: Thanks to a generous gift from Treasure Valley
Taco Bell’s, intercollegiate teams at Albertson College will reap the rewards
of having high scholastic achievements from their student-athletes. So far this season, 18 Coyotes have earned
Academic All-America honors (4 men’s soccer, 4 women’s skiing, 3 men’s skiing,
3 men’s basketball, 3 women’s basketball, 1 volleyball) during the 2004-05
season.
BASEBALL (12-6, 6-2 REGION I): Rain
hampers weekend in Canada, ‘Yotes to face Western Baptist in three-game set at
Simplot
LAST WEEK: at British Columbia (L 14-7),
Game 2 of series suspended after five innings (UBC leads 5-4), Games 3-4 rained
out
COMING UP: vs. Western Baptist, Friday,
11 a.m.; vs. Western Baptist (DH), Saturday, 11 a.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. Friday’s single game
vs. Western Baptist, along with Saturday’s first game of the scheduled
doubleheader will be heard live via radio. The games can also be heard on
the internet at www.kiov.com.
SCHEDULE CHANGES FOR WESTERN SERIES: The
weekend series between Albertson College and Western Baptist has seen some
schedule changes due to the unexpected death of Albertson College First Lady,
Jeannie Hoover. The Coyotes and
Warriors will play a single-game on Friday (instead of the scheduled twinbill)
at 11 a.m., so players, coaches, and fans can attend a 3 p.m. memorial service
on campus. Saturday, the two teams will
play a doubleheader, beginning at 11 a.m.
COYOTES TO PLAY AT MEMORIAL STADIUM: For
the fourth consecutive season, the Albertson College baseball team will play
games on a professional diamond. On
April 23 and 24, the Coyotes will take on Lewis-Clark State at Memorial
Stadium, the home of the 2004 Northwest League champion Boise Hawks.
REGIONAL RANKINGS: The
first NAIA Region I coaches poll was released on Tuesday, with the Coyotes
ranking third out of the seven teams.
Lewis-Clark State, ranked No. 3 in the preseason national poll was
first, followed by British Columbia, and the ‘Yotes. Concordia, which was ranked No. 20 in the preseason poll, was
fourth, followed by Oregon Tech and Eastern Oregon. It was the first time that Albertson had been ranked in the
top-three regionally during the regular-season since 2003.
RAIN HAMPERS TRIP NORTH: Three
years ago, the Coyote baseball team traveled to British Columbia for a
tournament from March 21-24 – which was subsequently played in the Seattle area
due to rain. Last weekend, that would
have been a better option. After UBC
was able to squeeze a 14-7 victory over the Coyotes in constant drizzle at Nat
Bailey Stadium, the two teams were unable to complete another full contest due
to the weather. Game 2 of Saturday’s
doubleheader was suspended after five innings with the T-Birds leading 5-4,
with Sunday’s twinbill washed out.
MAKING THE GAMES UP: The
suspended game, along with the final game of the series from Canada, will be
made up on Friday, April 29, at Simplot Stadium. The two teams will then play a doubleheader on Saturday, April
30, and a single game on Sunday, May 1.
All games will count in the NAIA Region I standings.
RAIN OUTS GALORE: The
Coyotes have been very unlucky when it comes to the weather this season, as
rain has played havoc with the baseball schedule. Albertson lost six games earlier this season in California due to
rain – then made a 1,200-mile bus ride to play a game and a half.
T-BIRDS USE BIG INNING FOR WIN: One
big inning was all British Columbia needed on Saturday to take a 14-7 win in a
rain-soaked Game 1 of their scheduled four-game series with the ‘Yotes. With UBC leading 2-1 heading into the fourth,
the T-Birds took advantage of a key error to open the floodgates. After a leadoff
single, a routine double-play ball was bobbled and then tossed into the first
base dugout, putting runners at second and third with no outs. After a two-run double, the ‘Yotes were able
to get two outs, but UBC strung together three consecutive two-out hits,
opening a 9-1 lead they would not relinquish.
Charlie Strandlund (Victoria, B.C. / College of Southern
Idaho) did go 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI in the loss.
HUMBERGER ON UBC TRIP: “The
double play ball was huge,” said head coach Shawn Humberger. “That was a turning point in the game – to go
from two outs and nobody on, to a seven-run inning is a big swing. It was a hitters day in the weather
conditions – and for once, the ball was carrying. However, UBC’s centerfielder Tyler Willson made three outstanding
plays, tracking balls down deep in the gap – which could have been big momentum
boosts for us.”
HOME SWEET HOME: With two wins against both Northwest Nazarene and
Eastern Oregon, along with a four-game sweep of Oregon Tech – the Coyotes and
Simplot Stadium have worked well together in 2005. The 8-0 record out of the gate for Albertson equals their
third-best start to a season at home.
The 2002 club opened up 8-0 at Simplot Stadium, while the 1997 team
began 9-0. The top mark belongs to the
National Championship team of 1998, which won its first ten games in
C-Town. Of those three clubs, two of
them advanced to the NAIA College World Series.
WESTERN BAPTIST LIMPING INTO
TOWN: Albertson hopes that Caldwell
will continue to be the cure, as the Coyotes open their final home series for a
month on Friday, hosting Western Baptist. The Warriors (5-12, 1-3 CCC) have lost seven games in a row under
first-year head coach Larry Casian.
Western has struggled this year on the mound, as opponents are hitting
.389 against Warrior pitching, while maintaining a 9.64 ERA. Brian Nelson (.364 1 HR 8 RBI) is the top
hitter for Western, while John Zumwalt (2-3 6.08 ERA), a former All-CCC player,
is the top thrower. WB has never won
multiple games against Albertson in a season, and trails the all-time series,
53-6.
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 (9-10, 0-0 CCC): Bowman named Pitcher of the Week, Coyotes travel to Portland for CCC Preseason Tourney
LAST WEEK: vs. Walla Walla (W 12-0, W 7-0)
COMING UP: at Cascade Conference Preseason Tournament, Portland, Ore. – Friday vs. Western Baptist, 10 a.m. (PST), vs. Concordia, Noon (PST), vs. Oregon Tech, 2 p.m. (PST); Saturday vs. Eastern Oregon, 9 a.m. (PST), vs. Southern Oregon, 11 a.m. (PST)
COYOTES WEATHER STORM TO SWEEP WALLA WALLA: If the Albertson softball team would have played Walla Walla College during the day on Saturday, the twinbill would have been rained out. However, with a 7:45 p.m. start-time scheduled, the Lady ‘Yotes were able to weather out a deluge in time to sweep the visitors, 12-0 and 7-0, at Symms Field. Albertson used a seven-run first inning of the mercy-rule ended first game, then pieced together seven runs in the night-cap. All but one everyday starter for the Coyotes recorded a hit in the doubleheader.
TEN OR MORE RUNS A RARITY: The 12 runs scored by Albertson in Game 1 was just the sixth time in 145 games that the Coyotes have scored ten or more runs in a contest – and the third-highest run total in a game in school history. The Lady ‘Yotes scored 14 runs in a win over Walla Walla during the 2003 season and scored 13 runs in a win over Northwest Nazarene last year.
BOWMAN NEARLY PERFECT: For those in attendance on Saturday night, the fans saw why Ashley Bowman (Parma, Idaho / Parma HS) was a highly sought-after recruit. The freshman struck out the first ten batters she faced – ending up with 12 strikeouts in her four inning stint, earning the save in the 7-0 win over Walla Walla. For her efforts, Bowman was named Cascade Conference Pitcher of the Week for the third-time already this season. She has struck out 47 batters this season, already the third-highest total in school history, while her 7.53 strikeouts per seven innings and her 3.35 strikeout to walk ratio are on pace to break school records.
THEISEN GOES DEEP: Despite a wind howling in from left field and a newly installed 8-foot high permanent fence at 210 feet, junior Katie Theisen (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS) became just the third Albertson softball player to hit a home run at Symms Field in the four-year history of the program. Theisen cracked a 2-0 pitch deep over the left-center wall that nearly left the complex for her school record leading fourth home run of her career. Melissa Finlayson was the first to hit a homer in Caldwell in 2002, while Kira Leaton (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS) went yard in 2003.
T.K. TRACKING THE BALL: A big boost to the Coyotes this season has been the bat of junior Tiffany Kerns (Boise, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS). The catcher-designated player has shook off two sub-par seasons with the stick to have a great start to the 2005 season. Kerns, who hit .205 as a freshman, and .138 as a sophomore, is currently hitting .350, with three doubles and ten RBI. She went 3-for-5 in the twinbill with Walla Walla, scoring three runs, while driving in a pair.
BASES LOADED BLUES?: One downer so far this season for the fastpitch team has been their ineffectiveness in hitting with the bases loaded. Through 19 games, the Coyotes have mustered just seven hits in 36 plate appearances with the sacks juiced (a .194 average). At the same time, however, the Lady ‘Yotes are hitting .288 with runners in scoring position, and have advanced runners with less than two outs nearly 50-percent of the time.
COYOTES HEAD TO PRESEASON TOURNAMENT: For the third time in four years, the Cascade Conference will open up the fastpitch softball season with a round-robin tournament, with all six teams in the loop participating. Each team will play a single game against one another, with all results counting in the CCC standings. For the first time, the tournament will be staged at the Delta Park complex in Portland – with two fields being utilized a one time.
HISTORY OF TOURNEY: The inaugural Cascade Conference Preseason Tournament took place in Ashland, Ore. on April 6-7, 2002. That weekend – which saw some games moved from University Field on the Southern Oregon campus because of the threat of darkness – had Oregon Tech, Southern Oregon, Concordia, Eastern Oregon, and Albertson play ten games in a two-day period. After skipping the tournament in 2003, the event was held on March 26-27 of last year at Symms Field – with six teams playing a total of 15 games on the Albertson campus. The Lady ‘Yotes, however, have struggled in the event, going 0-9 in tournament play.
April 6-7, 2002 at Ashland OR March 26-27, 2004 at Caldwell, ID
Oregon Tech 4-0 Southern Oregon 5-0Eastern Oregon 3-1 Oregon Tech 3-2Southern Oregon 2-2 Western Baptist 3-2Concordia 1-3 Concordia 2-3Albertson 0-4 Eastern Oregon 2-3 Albertson 0-5
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 249-228-1
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.
TRACK AND FIELD: Coyotes perform well at Dusty Lane Invitational
LAST WEEK: at Dusty Lane Invitational,
Spokane.
COMING UP: at Willamette Invitational,
Salem – April 1-2.
FLUECKIGER WINS 1500: In the
season opening outdoor meet of the 2005 season (and first outdoor meet that the
Coyotes have competed in as a team since 1978), junior David Flueckiger,
who earned All-America status during the indoor season, braved harsh weather
conditions to win the 1,500-meter race.
Flueckiger’s time of 4:10.29 was well off an NAIA provisional mark, but
the event was held in 38-degree weather, a stiff breeze blowing, and snow on
portions of the track.
HOPPER TRIES TO DOUBLE: Freshman
Tyler Hopper tried to complete a double on Saturday and placed in the
Top-10 in both races. Hopper finished sixth
in the 1,500 in 4:24.80, then placed eighth in the 800-meters in a time of
2:05.36.
MEN’S TEAM RESULTS: Team Results: Spokane CC 174, Eastern
Washington 71, Whitworth 63, Eastern Oregon 60, Northwest Nazarene 58, Treasure
Valley CC 47, Washington State 23, Gonzaga 23, Central Washington 19, Albertson
14.
BALL, EDWARDS DO WELL: Six different Coyote runners competed on
the women’s side. Freshman Katie
Ball had a great opening day, placing third in the 800-meters (2:29.89),
less than two seconds out of first-place.
Junior Shannon Edwards also had a top-five performance, placing
fourth in the 1,500-meters in 5:17.02.
WOMEN’S TEAM RESULTS: Whitworth
102, Northwest Nazarene 92, Eastern Washington 86, Spokane CC 61, Central
Washington 41, Gonzaga 36, Eastern Oregon 33, Albertson 11, Treasure Valley CC
7.
WOMEN’S TENNIS (2-1): Coyotes head North for
three matches
LAST WEEK: Idle
COMING UP: at Lewis-Clark State, Thursday,
4 p.m. (PST); at Whitworth, Friday, 10 a.m. (PST); at Spokane CC, Friday, 2
p.m. (PST)
LADY ‘YOTES MOVE TO NO. 3 IN REGION: With
their head-to-head victory over regional foe Southern Oregon, the Albertson
women’s tennis team climbed to No. 3 in the latest NAIA Region I rankings. Leading the way is No. 9 ranked Lewis-Clark
State, second is No. 26 ranked Albertson, followed by the Coyotes.
HEADED NORTH FOR A TRIO OF MATCHES: The
Coyotes will complete a whirlwind of matches this weekend, heading up the US-95
corridor. Albertson will take on Lewis-Clark
State on Thursday night – a dual that will be consisted of pro-sets. The Warriors (9-6) just completed a Southern
California swing that saw them knock off a pair of nationally ranked
opponents. The ‘Yotes will continue
North to Spokane for a Friday dual with Whitworth. The Pirates (5-4) started the 2005 season
with three consecutive losses, but have won five of their last six starts. The trip rounds out Friday afternoon with an
exhibition dual against Spokane Community College.
LOOKING AT THE LADDER: No. 1 singles – Kyla Westerburg,
No. 2 Anna Moylan, No. 3 Katie Webster, No. 4 Kathy Taylor, 5. Mariah
Armstrong, 6. Karin Hayashida. No. 1
doubles – Katie Blevins-Webster, No. 2 Westerburg-Moylan, No. 3 Taylor-Armstrong.
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