‘Yote Notes – Mar. 30, 2005

Mike Safford Jr. – Sports Info. Director

msafford@collegeofidaho.edu

GOLF: Coyotes rained out vs. NNU, to play triangular in Ontario this weekend

RAIN PLAYS TRICKS ON COYOTES: Tuesday's spring opener for the Albertson golf team was cancelled after nine holes due to a thunderstorm, which dropped hail on Ridgecrest G.C. The Coyotes were paced on the men's side by freshman Paul Giardina and senior Drey Campbell, who carded 42's.

TRIANGULAR SATURDAY: The team will try again to get a full 18 holes in on Saturday, meeting Treasure Valley CC and Walla Walla CC in a triangular at Ontario Golf Club.

TRACK & FIELD: Haas to compete in “Jewish Olympics”, Coyotes head to Willamette Invitational

HAAS TO COMPETE ON INTERNATIONAL STAGE: Coyote distance runner Jacob Haas will be one of nearly 7,000 athletes from 40 countries competing in the Maccabiah Games in Israel, this July. Often called the Jewish Olympics, the Maccabiah Games are the third-largest international sporting event – after the Olympics and World University Games. The junior, who grew up as a member of Portland’s Congregation Neveh Shalom, will compete in the 5,000-meter race.

COYOTES OFF TO WILLAMETTE INVITE: Albertson will join rivals Eastern Oregon, Evergreen, and Warner Pacific, along with Central Washington, George Fox, Pacific, and Willamette at the two-day Willamette Invitational in Salem, Ore.

HEAT SHEETS: Eight men and five women will compete this weekend for the ‘Yotes, led by David Flueckiger, who will try to qualify for nationals in the 5,000-meters on Friday. Albertson will have male runners in the 400, 800, 1,500, and 5,000-meters, along with the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The women will compete in the 800, 1,500, and 5,000-meter races.

WOMEN’S TENNIS (3-3): Coyotes go 1-2 on trip, match with TVCC rained out, rescheduled for April 8

COYOTES PLAY WELL IN TRIO OF MATCHES: Head coach Cisco Limbago was very pleased with the efforts of the Lady ‘Yotes in three matches last week. Albertson dropped a 9-0 decision to regional power, Lewis-Clark State – a match played with pro-sets. Friday, Albertson dropped a tough 6-3 morning match with Whitworth – in which the ‘Yotes were leading a pair of matches late, but let them slip away. Rounding out the trip, Albertson blasted Spokane CC, 8-1 – sweeping the entire singles ladder.

INDIVIDUALLY: The top end of the Coyotes ladder continues to produce, as No. 1 singles player Kyla Westerberg (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) and No. 2 Anna Moylan (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS) have played outstanding. Westerberg is 4-2 at the top of the Coyote rotation, while Moylan is 5-1 at No. 2, to go along with a 4-2 mark at No. 2 doubles. As a team, the ‘Yotes have won 309 of 577 games in singles play, and 102 of 194 games in doubles competition.

BASEBALL (14-7, 8-3 Region I): Coyotes complete first-half of home slate 10-1, head to Portland to start 13-game road trip

LAST WEEK: vs. Western Baptist (W 7-4, W 11-3, L 14-10)

COMING UP: at Concordia (DH), Saturday, Noon (PST); at Concordia, Sunday, 1 p.m. (PDT)

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 scheduled radio broadcast is the four-game series with Lewis-Clark State in late April. 

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 last 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.

COYOTES EARN VOTES IN NATIONAL POLL: With a 14-7 start to the 2005 season, the Albertson baseball team had its best start in three seasons – and earned the ‘Yotes votes in the first NAIA National Poll of the season. The Coyotes received 18 votes in the initial balloting, good enough for No. 31 in the nation. Defending national champion Cumberland (Tenn.) was No. 1, followed by Lewis-Clark State, Embry-Riddle (Fla.), Bellevue (Neb.), and Houston Baptist. British Columbia was the first team on the list of others’ receiving votes.

COYOTES TIE HOME RECORD: With wins in the first two games of the Western Baptist series, the Coyotes tied a school record by starting the 2005 season with ten consecutive wins at home. The club joins the 1998 national championship team as the only two Albertson squads to win ten-straight games to start the season at Simplot Stadium.

STRANDLUND EN FUEGO: A hitting tear is putting it mildly the pace transfer Charlie Strandlund (Victoria, B.C. / College of So. Idaho) has put up with the bat over the last three weeks. The junior, who was named Cascade Conference Player of the Week this week for the second time this season, is hitting .564 (22-for-39) with ten runs scored, ten doubles, and 16 RBI in his last nine games. Strandlund has a .949 slugging percentage and a .595 on base percentage during the same period. He leads the CCC in batting average, doubles, RBI’s, total bases, and is tied for the lead in hits.

STRANDLUND EN FUEGO, PART TWO: Not only has Charlie Strandlund been nails at the plate, he has been as dominant on the mound. The Canada native has not allowed an earned run in his last three starts, covering 19.2 innings of work. During that time, Strandlund has walked just three batters and struck out 18. For the season, the right-hander leads the CCC with a 5-0 record and ranks second with a 1.39 ERA.

STALLING ON TELEVISION: On Monday, KBCI-TV did a feature on Greg Stalling (Boise, Idaho / Borah HS) that focused on a pair of solid points. A key to the feature was that the junior was a two-time NAIA All-American and team captain, and the fact that he does not miss games. Stalling had played in 124 consecutive games to start his college career – before sitting out a non-conference tilt against Oregon Tech on March 6. He has now played in 135 of 136 possible games, starting 133.

MORE ON STALLING: After a slow start to the season, Greg Stalling has heated up over the last nine games – helping the Coyotes to the second-place standing in the NAIA Region I. Hitting an even .500 (19-for-38) during that span, Stalling has also scored 15 runs and recorded ten RBI – ranking second in the CCC in runs scored, third in batting average and total bases, fifth in walks, and tied for first in hits. He also cracked the career top-ten in three categories last week – No. 7 in hits (179), No. 9 in runs (132), and No. 9 in at bats (480).

FREESE HAS BIG WEEKEND: Honorable mention All-CCC selection Nate Freese (Vancouver, Wash. / Skyview HS) had his best weekend of the 2005 season against Western Baptist, going 5-for-11 with two doubles, his second home run of the season, and six RBI. The junior had a monster game in Saturday’s opener – going 3-for-3 with a solo homer, a two-run single, and an RBI double.

ZUBY PUTS UP ZEROS: After a 17-day layoff on the mound, Joey Zubizarreta (Boise, Idaho / Cochise CC) made back-to-back relief appearances for the Coyotes. The redshirt freshman pitched a pair of scoreless two inning outings, allowing just two hits over the four inning stretch. In his four appearances against NAIA opponents, the lefty has a 1-0 mark with a 0.75 ERA in 12 innings of work – allowing just nine hits, walking three, and striking out five.

TRYING TO BREAK THE HEX AT CONCORDIA: The toughest place for Albertson College to play over the last few years as been Cavalier Field on the campus of Concordia University. The Coyotes, who travel to Portland this week to begin a 13-game road trip with a three-game series against the Cavaliers (13-9, 4-5 Region I), have dropped their last seven games against Concordia in their on-campus facility, dating back to May 6, 2001. The ballpark, with a very-very short porch in left and just 345 to the left-center power-alley, has been kind to the Cavs, who have a 32-16 home mark over the past three seasons. The 2005 Concordia bunch is led by All-America catcher Adam Hackstedt (.329 3 HR 19 RBI) and infielder Josh Brandt (.348 3 HR 19 RBI), along with pitchers Charlie Moore (3-3 2.83 ERA) and Drew Litzer (1-0 3.45 ERA, 3 saves). The Cavaliers had a six-game win streak snapped last weekend, as Oregon Tech took the final two games of a three-game set in Klamath Falls. Concordia began the season ranked No. 20 in the preseason NAIA poll, after advancing to the NAIA World Series for the first time in school history in 2004. The two teams have met 65 times since 1987, with Albertson holding a 50-15 edge.

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 (12-11, 3-1 CCC): Coyotes sit in first-place in CCC standings after 3-1 record in preseason tournament
 
LAST WEEK: at Cascade Conference Preseason Tournament, Portland, Ore. – vs. Western Baptist (L 10-0), vs. Concordia (W 6-5), vs. Oregon Tech (W 5-4), vs. Southern Oregon (W 3-2).
 
COMING UP: at Northwest Nazarene (DH), Thursday, 2 p.m.; vs. Southern Oregon (DH), Friday, 1 p.m.; vs. Oregon Tech (DH), Saturday, 11 a.m.
 
COYOTES SIT IN FIRST-PLACE: After struggling through a 10-33 season in 2004, the Albertson College softball team was in search of respect this season – as the freshmen who helped start the program in 2002 are now seniors. Things have come full circle, as the Coyotes went 3-1 at the Cascade Conference Preseason Tournament, moving the club into a tie for first-place in the league. The Coyotes also now sit at 12-11, above the .500 mark for the first time since Feb. 26, 2004.
 
FIRST WIN AT CCC TOURNAMENT: Heading into their third CCC Preseason Tourney, the Lady ‘Yotes were still searching for that elusive win in the round-robin event. Albertson went 0-4 in 2002 and 0-5 in 2004, and dropped a 10-0 contest to Western Baptist in Friday’s opener. However, the Coyotes got a complete-game from junior Kerri Russell (Melba, Idaho / Melba HS), and an unearned run in the fifth inning proved to be the difference in a 6-5 victory over Concordia. Katie Theisen (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS) had a solo homer and an RBI single in the game, with Kira Leaton (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS) going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
 
BREAKING THROUGH VS. OIT, SOUTHERN: A single win by the Lady ‘Yotes turned into a steamroller on Friday, as Albertson continued their winning ways against both Oregon Tech and Southern Oregon – teams the Coyotes have struggled against in the past. Against OIT, the ‘Yotes jumped out to a 4-0 – getting a two-run single from Katie Theisen in the first, along with an Anna Schroeder (Eagle, Idaho / Eagle HS) RBI single and an unearned run in the second. Tech would tie the score in the fourth, but Albertson would win it on a Tiffany Mathews (Las Vegas, Nev. / Eldorado HS) single in the seventh, scoring Heather Kirtley (Eagle, Idaho / Eagle HS) from third. Under the lights in Portland, the ‘Yotes upset No. 26 ranked Southern. Tied 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth, Angie Gribble (Boise, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS) delivered an RBI single through the left side – providing the winning run.  
 
KIRTLEY, THEISEN HAVE BIG DAYS: Two Coyotes continued their torrid month of March, as both Heather Kirtley and Katie Theisen had big days on Friday. Kirtley went 7-for-13 with five runs scored and three stolen bases in the four games, while Theisen went 6-for-13 with a homer and four RBI. For the month, Kirtley is hitting .465 (20-for-43), while Theisen is hitting at a .429 clip (18-for-42) with 16 RBI.
 
BOWMAN SHAKES OFF TOUGH OUTING: After having her toughest outing of her young college career, freshman pitcher Ashley Bowman (Parma, Idaho / Parma HS) rebounded to pick up a pair of wins for the ‘Yotes. The righty gave up six earned runs in an inning and two-thirds against Western Baptist, but was solid vs. OIT and Southern. Bowman went the final three innings against Tech, allowing just one hit, one walk, while fanning three. She went the distance against SOU, with a second inning two-run homer the only blemish. Bowman gave up six hits, walked one, and struck out five, improving her record to 4-3 on the season.
 
GAME RESCHEDULED: Games scheduled last Saturday between travel partners at the CCC Preseason Tournament were rained out. Each of the three pairs of teams (Albertson-Eastern Oregon, Concordia-Western Baptist, and Oregon Tech-Southern Oregon) will make up the game on April 6. Currently, the game is tentatively set for 3 p.m. at Symms Field.
 
CONFERENCE STATS: As a team, the Lady ‘Yotes lead the Cascade Conference in stolen bases and stolen base attempts. Albertson is No. 3 in team batting average, No. 5 in fielding percentage, and No. 6 in earned run average (despite being near the school-record of 3.42). Individually, Heather Kirtley leads the league in hits and stolen bases, while ranking third in runs scored and fourth in batting average. Katie Theisen is second in the CCC in stolen bases and third in RBI, while Kira Leaton leads the league in doubles.
 
TWO MORE WITH THE CRUSADERS: Albertson opened up the season against rival Northwest Nazarene in mid-February and now meets the NCAA Division II club for the second of three doubleheaders this season Thursday in Nampa. The Crusaders (5-25) have continued to struggle in their fourth year of softball – managing just a .196 batting average and a 4.65 team ERA. NNU, however, has defeated a pair of teams that the ‘Yotes have lost to this season (victories against Utah Valley State and Biola). Adrian Herman (.364 2 RBI, 3-13  3.79 ERA) continues to be the top player and pitcher for the Crusaders, while Teri Setbacken (.253 14 RBI) has been the top run producer. Albertson outhit NNU 18-4 in the two shutout victories in February, running their lead in the all-time series to 16-4.
 
RAIDERS AND OWLS SEEKING REVENGE: The Cascade Conference schedule begins in earnest this weekend, as Albertson hosts Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech in loop doubleheaders. The Raiders (13-11, 2-2 CCC) dropped out of the NAIA poll for the first time in three seasons last week – then split two games at the league preseason tourney. The question head coach Larry Binney has is what Southern team will show up – the Raider team that pounded out 18 runs and 25 hits in wins over Western Baptist and Concordia, or the team that recorded just ten hits and committed four errors in losses to Eastern Oregon and Albertson. Southern has the top team ERA in the league, thanks to the one-two punch of Julianne Cree (5-4 0.99 ERA) and Miranda Gillespie (5-4 1.82 ERA), but is hitting just .242 as a team – led by All-CCC shortstop Kara Ray (.306 7 RBI). Southern swept all five games from the ‘Yotes last season and holds a 12-4 edge in the all-time series. Saturday, the Hustlin’ Owls (9-6-1, 2-2) head to Caldwell with a new head coach in Greg Stewart. OIT has been set back due to injuries to their top-two recruits, but return All-CCC outfielder Kelsi Haylett (.441 4 RBI) and 2004 CCC Player of the Year Amanda Doherty (.407 2 HR 9 RBI). Laura Delplanche (5-5 3.80 ERA, .304 4 HR 10 RBI) and Sharlie McAdams (4-1 3.38 ERA) are the only two pitchers OIT has used this season. The win over Tech on Friday ended an eight-game losing streak to the Owls, but OIT holds a 13-2 all-time series edge.

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 252-229-1 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 -