‘Yote Notes – Feb. 1,
2006
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Mike Safford Jr. – Sports
Info. Director
msafford@collegeofidaho.edu
ATHLETIC
NEWS:
NEXT C.A.A. DINNER: The next Coyote Athletic Association dinner is set
for Monday, Feb. 6, at 6:30 p.m. in the Simplot Dining Hall on the Albertson
College campus. Cost is $8.00 per
person – to RSVP, contact Dave Hahn at 459-5835.
SOFTBALL PREVIEW: The preview of the 2006 Albertson College softball
team will be unveiled next week in ‘Yote Notes.
SWIMMING: Two ‘Yotes to compete in Caldwell
Invitational
LAST WEEK: Idle
COMING UP: Caldwell Invitational, Saturday-Sunday,
All Day
ONE MORE CHANCE TO QUALIFY: A pair of
women’s swimmers will compete this weekend at the Caldwell Swim Club’s Caldwell
Invitational at the J.A. Albertson Aquatic Center. Alphonsina Savell (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS),
who has already met provisional times in two breaststroke events, will try to
qualify in the 50-freestyle – needing to shave a tenth of a second to do
so. Also Christine Mabile (Post
Falls, Idaho / Coeur d’Alene Charter) will try to qualify in the 200-medley
– needing to take ten seconds off her 2005-06 top time to do so.
NAIA QUALIFIERS: The following are the Coyote
automatic qualifiers for the NAIA Swim Meet, to be held in St. Charles, Mo. in
March – Individuals: John Green (Pleasanton, Calif. / Foothill HS) –
50-free, 100-free; Matt Barclay (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS) –
50-free; Alphonsina Savell – 100-breast, 200-breast. Relays: Men’s 200-free, Men’s 200-medley,
Women’s 200-free, Women’s 200-medley.
MORE ON THE COYOTE SWIM TEAM: For more
information on the Albertson swim team, including meet results and top times,
head to their official website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/swim.htm.
INDOOR TRACK: Two automatic, two provisional
qualifiers for the NAIA Indoor National Championships
LAST WEEK: at University of Washington Indoor
Invitational
COMING UP: at Hampton Inn Invitational,
Nampa, Friday, 6 p.m.
FLUCKIGER EARNS NATIONAL AUTO TIME IN MILE: 2005
Indoor All-American David Fluckiger (Herisou, Switz. / Va.
Commonwealth U.) picked up where he left off in cross country season,
setting a school record in the indoor mile – with an automatic national
qualifying time. The senior finished
19th in an elite field in 4:10.79 – the fourth-fastest NAIA mile this indoor
season. He also defeated 20 NCAA
Division I runners in the race.
EDWARDS HEADED TO FIRST INDOOR NATIONALS: The
Albertson women will send their first-ever competitor to the indoor nationals,
as Shannon Edwards (Sherwood, Ore. / Eastern Oregon U.) placed
fourth in the 5,000-meter event in 18:20.84, nearly ten seconds quicker than
the NAIA automatic qualifying standard, and over 30 seconds faster than the
provisional time. The senior’s run was
the sixth-fastest time in the NAIA this season.
TWO OTHERS ON THE BUBBLE: Two other men fared well in the 5,000, as sophomore Jesse Chlebeck (Eagan, Minn. / Eagan HS) and senior Jacob Haas (Portland, Ore. / Eastern Oregon U.) each earned provisional national marks in the event. Chlebeck placed fourth in the event (15:22.34) and Haas fifth (15:23.10) - and are among the Top-11 in the NAIA following the weekend. Both would need to shave less than four seconds off their time to guarantee a spot at the indoor nationals.
RELAYS MAKE THEIR DEBUT FRIDAY NIGHT: For the
first time since track return at Albertson College, the Coyotes will comprise a
relay team on both the men’s and women’s side.
The ‘Yotes will compete in the distance medley event at the Hampton Inn
Invitational in Nampa (at the Jackson’s Indoor Facility) – four runners
combining to run a 400, 800, 1,200, and 1,600-meter leg.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE COYOTES: For up-to-date statistics, stories, and information about the Albertson track team, head to the official website for the Coyotes – www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/track.htm.
ALPINE SKIING: Coyotes sweep competition at
Crystal Mountain
LAST WEEK: at Northwest Collegiate Ski Conference
Qualifier #2 at Crystal Mountain Resort – Saturday – Men 1st, Women 1st; Sunday
– Men 1st, Women 1st.
COMING UP: at Northwest Collegiate Ski
Conference Qualifier #3 at Silver Mountain, Saturday and Sunday.
WOMEN DOMINATE SLALOM AT CRYSTAL: The
Albertson College women’s alpine ski team showed this weekend why they are
ranked No. 4 in the USCSA national poll, as the Lady ‘Yotes dominated the team
slalom races at Crystal Mountain.
Saturday, ACI had a 17-second win over British Columbia, thanks to a
second-place finish from Molly Bullard (Boring, Ore. / Sandy HS),
a third-place finish from Cassie Marcial (Whitefish, Mont. /
Whitefish HS), and a fifth-place finish from Nicki Maxwell (Belfry,
Mont. / Red Lodge HS). The squad
followed it up Sunday with their third-straight team win, topping UBC by two
seconds, with Bullard winning the individual title.
WOMEN’S NWCSC STANDINGS: Team – Albertson College
380, U. of British Columbia 340, U. of Puget Sound 230, Washington State U.
210, U. of Idaho 170, U. of Washington 157, U. of Oregon 153, Oregon State U.
36, Seattle U. 0. Individual – Andrea
Lustenberger (UBC) 310, Molly Bullard (ACI) 290, Kaylie Rozen (UPS) 222,
Kristen Wick (UI) 191, Nicki Maxwell (ACI) 169, Cassie Marcial (ACI) 156.
MEN REBOUND TO SWEEP TEAM TITLES: After
struggling a week ago Sunday to an eighth-place finish at Mount Hood, the
Albertson men’s alpine team had a week to prepare for redemption – and did they
ever. The Coyotes toppled front-runner
British Columbia on Saturday by seven seconds – thanks to three Top-6 finishes
by ACI skiers. Matt Sylvester (Missoula,
Mont. / Sentinel HS) took second, Justin Rackley Lake Oswego,
Ore. / Lakeridge HS) placed third, and Aaron Flynn (St. Paul,
Minn. / Central HS) finished sixth.
Sunday it was much tighter, but the ‘Yotes defeated UBC by a mere
99-hundredths of a second. Rackley had
an outstanding run, claiming the individual title, while Flynn placed fifth.
MEN’S STANDINGS: Team – U. of British Columbia 360,
Albertson College 316, U. of Puget Sound 235, U. of Washington 205, U. of
Oregon 200, U. of Idaho 168, Washington State U. 160, Central Oregon CC 136,
Seattle U. 122. Individual – Jaime
Finlayson (UBC) 330, Trevor Bruce (UBC) 205, Matt Sylvester (ACI) 195, Robbie
Davidson (UBC) 192, Justin Rackley (ACI) 189, Kevin Makinson (ACI) 120, Aaron
Flynn (ACI) 120.
NORTH IDAHO BOUND: Albertson will compete in Idaho
only once this season and it is this weekend in Kellogg at Silver Mountain
Resort. Conditions for the giant slalom
events should be good, as the resort currently has a 72 inch base, with 120
inches at the top of the hill.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE COYOTES: For
up-to-date statistics, stories, and information about the Albertson alpine ski
team, head to the official website for the Coyotes – www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/skiing.htm.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (14-10, 8-5 CCC): Coyotes clinch playoff spot after 3-0 homestand, head to Portland for
two-game set
LAST WEEK: vs. Northwest (W 75-57), vs.
Evergreen State (W 68-40), vs. Concordia (W 59-49)
COMING UP: at No. 24 Warner Pacific, Friday,
5:30 p.m. (PST); at Cascade, Saturday, 5:30 p.m. (PST)
RADIO AND INTERNET: All nine women’s CCC road games
will be broadcast live this season on 1490 KCID-AM with Mike Safford Jr.
calling the action. The pregame show
will begin at 5:15 p.m. (PST) on Friday and Saturday as the Lady ‘Yotes meet
Warner Pacific and Cascade. The game
can also be heard live on the Internet at www.collegeofidaho.edu/media/audio/YoteSports.asx. Saturday’s game will also be carried via
the internet on Cascade College’s website at http://www.cascade.edu/athletics
with Cody Harrod calling the action.
LIVE STATS: Friday game at Warner Pacific will
have live stats available on the Internet, via the Warner Pacific athletic
website at http://www.warnerpacific.edu/athletics
(click on the banner at the top of the page).
CCC AND NATIONAL POLL: The Cascade Conference
women’s basketball coaches’ poll was released on Monday and was identical to
the past week. Warner Pacific remained
No. 1 in the league, thanks to wins at Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech, while
Corban remained at No. 2. Eastern
Oregon remained at No. 3, followed by OIT, Albertson, and Northwest. Coaches are hopeful that both Warner Pacific
and Corban will be in the NAIA Top-25 when the poll is released on Wednesday.
LADY ‘YOTES CLINCH PLAYOFF SPOT: With the
win over Concordia on Monday, the Albertson women’s basketball team became one
of five Cascade Conference clubs to clinch a berth into the CCC postseason
tournament. Beginning February 21, the
eight-team tournament will have the top four seeds host first-round playoff
games, with the semifinals set for Feb. 24, and the championship to be played
on Feb. 27. 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: Albertson has now advanced to the CCC Tournament in ten of the 11
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 2000, 2002, and 2005).
LADY ‘YOTES TURN UP THE “D”: As the
Lady ‘Yotes equaled their longest win streak of the year at four, Albertson has
amped up the defensive pressure in each of the victories. Opponents are averaging just 49 points per
game during the streak, while converting just 27-percent of their field goal
attempts. The number is even more
disheartening for opponents outside the arc, as the Coyotes have held clubs to
just 20-percent shooting from long range in upping their overall mark to 14-10.
65 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER: Looking throughout the 24
games this season, the number 65 stands out for the Lady ‘Yotes. When Albertson scores 65 or more points in a
game, they have posted a 11-1 record.
When the club fails to score 65 points, they are just 3-9.
HOME IS WHERE THE WINS ARE: The J.A.
Albertson Activities Center has been the tonic for the ACI women’s basketball
team during the last ten years. This
seasons 7-2 home mark has added to the dominance the Lady ‘Yotes have had on
their own floor – as Albertson has posted a 91-37 all-time mark in
Caldwell. In fact, the Coyotes have
never recorded a losing home record in program history.
MARTIN RETURNS TO ACTION: The ‘Yotes welcomed back Whitney
Martin (Rupert, Idaho / Boise State U.) from a mid-season knee
injury this weekend and helped the ACI cause.
The junior averaged four points and four rebounds in 17 minutes per
night in the three Albertson wins, but more importantly, gave the Coyotes
another healthy post coming off the bench.
COYOTES AMONG THE LOOPS BEST: The Lady
‘Yotes pepper the upper echelon of the Cascade Conference statistical chart
among league-only tilts. Whitney
Clark (Jerome, Idaho / Northwest Nazarene U.) ranks second in CCC
games at a 16.4 points per game scoring clip, while averaging a league-best 2.7
three-pointers made per game. Kim
Strunk (Twin Falls, Idaho / Twin Falls HS) is averaging 10.3
rebounds per game in CCC play – which is also tops in the league, while Angie
Gribble (Boise, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS) is on top of the league in
steals per game, averaging three a night in CCC action.
NORTHWEST NO MATCH FOR COYOTES: Junior Merilee Caldwell
scored a career-high 17 points, including four second half three-pointers, as
the Albertson College women's basketball team completed a season sweep of Northwest
University, stopping the Eagles, 75-57, at the J.A. Albertson Activities Center
on Friday night. The Coyotes trailed 15-7 eight
minutes into the game, but rallied to take a 28-24 halftime edge.
Albertson turned it over to Caldwell and Jori Grady in the second half,
who combined for 23 points in the period.
Kim Sandberg had
15 points and ten rebounds for the Eagles (9-15, 5-7), but the squad made just
2-for-15 from outside the arc. Grady had 15 points and seven rebounds,
with Whitney Clark adding 13 points, seven assists, and six rebounds.
CLAMMY NIGHT IN CALDWELL FOR EVERGREEN: Albertson College opened the second
half on a 20-4 run, as the Lady 'Yotes routed Evergreen State, 68-40, Saturday
night in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center. Leading
27-18 at the break, the Coyotes got five quick points from Whitney Clark, a
trey from Merilee Caldwell, a jumper from Jori Grady, and ten points from Kim
Strunk in the run to sprint past the Geoducks. Albertson
held Evergreen to 12-of-60 shooting for the game - a 20-percent clip. Clark and Strunk each had 16 for the Coyotes, who extended a
win streak to three, while Grady added 13 points. Angie Gribble had a
career-high 12 rebounds in the win.
CONCORDIA FALLS TO ACI FOR SECOND TIME IN NINE DAYS: After ending the first half without
a field goal over the final 14 minutes, the Albertson College women's
basketball team used a 24-2 second half spree to defeat Concordia University
for the second time in nine days, a 59-49 win in the J.A. Albertson Activities
Center. After the Coyotes jumped out to a
14-2 edge six minutes in the game, the squad would miss their final 12 shots of
the period, allowing Concordia to close within 24-23 at the break. The
Cavs would get two Darcy Madison free throws to open the second half, but their
only lead was brief, as ACI's margin grew to 48-27 with 12:50 left in the game. Kim Strunk had a monster game for the 'Yotes, scoring 20
points and grabbing a career-high 16 rebounds. Albertson won despite
turning the ball over 22 times and shooting 30-percent from the floor. Concordia had 23 offensive rebounds, but could not take
advantage of them - shooting just 21-percent.
CCC
LEADER, CELLAR DWELLAR ON THE ROAD: For the Lady ‘Yotes to have a chance at a home playoff game,
they must get past loop leading Warner Pacific. The No. 24 ranked Knights (16-6, 11-1 CCC)
have won their last ten CCC games in a row and are 7-1 this season on their
home floor. Katy Steding has ten
players that see at least ten minutes of action per night – with guard Nicole
Brown (12.8 ppg) and post Becky VanTine (11.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg) leading the
way. WPC defeated the Coyotes, 74-61
earlier in the month, but ACI has an 8-5 all-time series edge. Saturday, Albertson meets Cascade,
the only winless team in CCC play. The
T-Birds (2-21, 0-12) cannot be taken lightly, as the defeated the Lady ‘Yotes
73-57 in Portland last year. Posts
Jubilee Cristel (13.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg) and Kristin Woller (13.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg)
average more than half of the Cascade points this season. Albertson defeated the T-Birds 62-44 earlier
in the month and holds an 8-3 all-time series edge.
RECORD WATCH: Kim Strunk and Angie Gribble
continue to move up the charts on the ACI career record book. Strunk is second all-time for free throws made
(316) – needing just 11 made freebies to hold the all-time school mark. She ranks No. 3 in free throw attempts
(395), No. 4 in blocked shots (52), is fifth in games played (108), seventh in
points scored (901) and field goal attempts (675), eighth in steals (115),
rebounds (584), and field goals made (277). Gribble ranks fourth on the
all-time steals list with (142), is sixth on the all-time three-point field
goals made (66) and assists (238) list, while ranking seventh in three-point
attempts (231).
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.
MEN’S BASKETBALL (9-13, 6-7): ‘Yotes falter at home, head out to Portland on final regular-season road
trip
LAST WEEK: vs. Northwest (W 97-91), vs.
Evergreen State (L 72-59), vs. Concordia (L 108-95).
COMING UP: at No. 15 Warner Pacific, Friday,
7:30 p.m. (PST); at Cascade, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. (PST)
RADIO AND INTERNET: All 27 regular-season men’s
basketball games will be broadcast live in the Treasure Valley on 1490 KCID-AM,
the “Home of the Coyotes.” Mike Safford
Jr. begins his fifth season as the play-by-play man for Albertson basketball,
with the pregame show beginning 20 minutes prior to every game. The weekend games at Warner Pacific and
Cascade are women-men doubleheaders – with the broadcast beginning at 5:15 p.m.
(PST) for the ladies action, followed by the men’s game. All games can also be heard live on the
Albertson Athletic Website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/media/audio/YoteSports.asx. The game at Cascade will also be carried on
the Internet by the T-Birds at www.cascade.edu/athletics
with Cody Harrod at the mike.
LIVE STATS: Live statistics of Friday’s game
at Warner Pacific will be available on the Internet at www.warnerpacific.edu/athletic
and click on the live stats banner at the top of the page.
CCC POLL: With Warner Pacific’s rare sweep
of the Southern Oregon-Oregon Tech road trip, the Knights claimed the top spot
in this week’s Cascade Conference coaches’ poll. Southern falls to No. 2, followed by OIT, Eastern Oregon,
Northwest, and the Coyotes.
BROWN TIES GAMES PLAYED RECORD: Despite
playing with a high-ankle sprain, Derek Brown (Las Vegas, Nev. /
Desert Pines HS) saw action in all three weekend games, allowing him to tie
Justin McCarthy (2001-04) and Dan Hardee (1987-90) for the top spot on the
career games played list with 121. The
senior averaged seven points, four rebounds, four assists, and three steals in
25 minutes a night during the homestand, while connecting on 63-percent of his
shots. Brown sits in seventh-place on
the all-time list for steals (135) and assists (273) in a career.
DEFENSIVE WOES HURT COYOTE CHANCES: Coyote
head coach Mark Owen was at a loss for words on Saturday night and again
Monday after Albertson dropped home Cascade Conference affairs to Evergreen
State and Concordia. “We are struggling
to defend anyone right now,” said the sixth-year coach. “This team needs to find an identity and it
starts by taking pride on the defensive end.”
Through 22 games, Coyote opponents have converted nearly 49-percent of
field goal attempts – ranking tenth in the ten team Cascade Conference. Of the 148 schools that have reported NAIA
Division II statistics this year, Albertson ranks 137th in that category.
80-POINT GAMES STAGGERING: Looking at
the collective numbers, Albertson has allowed 12 games of 80-points or more by
their opponents, with the Coyotes posting a 3-9 mark in those contests. What is amazing is that over the past two
seasons combined, spanning 66 games, ACI had allowed 80-points or more on just
13 occasions – with a record of 7-6.
MOST
POINTS BY OPPONENTS IN THE JAAC: The 108 points scored by Concordia
on Monday night was the second-highest total by an Albertson opponent in the
15-year history of the J.A. Albertson Activities Center. The record is 109 points by Cascade College
in a 109-91 victory over the ‘Yotes on Jan. 5, 2002 (the victory was later
forfeited for the use of an ineligible players). Other high scoring games by Coyote opponents in the JAAC are –
103 (Southern Oregon 103, Albertson 101 – Feb. 20, 2002), 99 (George Fox 99,
Albertson 89, Jan. 7, 1995; NW Nazarene 99, Albertson 91 – Dec. 7, 1991), 98
(Western Baptist 98, Albertson 76 – Jan. 6, 1995). The facility record is 127 points, scored by the Akron Wingfoots
AAU team in a 127-110 victory over Menlo in the 2002 Golden Rule Shoot-Out,
while the Coyote record is 117 in a 117-65 victory over Patten College during
the 1995-96 season.
NOT THE WORST RECORD, BY FAR: With the
‘Yotes sitting at 9-13 this season, many might think that this is the poorest
record by an ACI team – but it is not even close. The 1980-81 team and the 1996-97 squad each were four games below
.500 at this point of the season, and both teams finished with identical 11-15
marks (the 1996-97 club was the only non-winning season in then head coach
Marty Holly’s tenure). However, the
1978-79 group holds the legacy – and the current Coyotes have no fear, as 27
years ago, the C of I finished with a 3-21 mark.
THREE-POINT BARRAGE: The Coyotes currently lead the
Cascade Conference in three-point field goals made per game, converting over
9.3 per game. This mark ranks No. 4 in
the NAIA Division II – with Josh Owen and Brandon Nielsen both in the national
Top-50 in the individual three-pointers per game category.
OWEN
BREAKS OUT OF SLUMP: Despite the hard times by
the ‘Yotes during the three-game set, Josh Owen (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue
HS) broke out of a midseason slump to
post solid numbers. The sophomore
averaged 18 points per game, including tying his career-high with 23 points in
the loss to Concordia. He also set a
new career-high with eight assists in the win over Northwest. Owen upped his league-leading free throw
percentage to 91-percent by converting all six of his freebies, while raising
his three-point percentage over the 40-percent mark for the first time since mid-December.
‘YOTES
TAKE OUT NORTHWEST: Five players scored in double figures for the
Albertson College men's basketball team, as the Coyotes rallied from an early
11-point deficit to stop Northwest University, 97-91, before 1,600 fans in the
J.A. Albertson Activities Center on Friday night. The 'Yotes trailed 17-6 five minutes into the contest, but used a
23-7 run to take a 29-24 edge with 9:12 left in the period. Reserve Justin
Fried (Middleton, Idaho / Middleton HS) scored all ten of his points
in the burst, with Josh Owen adding a pair of triples. After the Eagles use an 11-2 run to take a
43-41 edge at the break, the visitors would take a 58-57 edge on a Kendrick
Holley put back with 13 minutes left in the game. The Coyotes would take
the lead for good on a Craig McGee (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS)
bucket - build as big as a nine-point cushion, and withstand a late push from
Northwest. Brandon Nielsen (Twin
Falls, Idaho / Big Bend CC) had 15 of his 19 points in the second half,
while McGee recorded career-highs with 16 points and seven rebounds.
EVERGREEN
STATE STUNS ACI: Evergreen
State did not miss a field goal over the final 14 minutes of the second half,
as the Geoducks won for only the second time ever in the J.A. Albertson
Activities Center, defeating Albertson College, 72-59, on Saturday night. After trailing at halftime, Albertson took a brief 36-35
lead with 13:25 remaining on a Dan McFaul (Moses Lake, Wash. / Big
Bend CC) lay-up. However, Evergreen would hit their final 12 shots in
a row, including four three-pointers, to earn the win. Luke Hammond splashed a trey to give the Clams the lead for
good, then Doug Dietz added back-to-back three's to get edge to 44-36, a margin
that would balloon to as many as 16 in the period. The Coyotes, who squandered their third chance this season
to win three in a row, went just 4-of-19 from outside the arc and committed 15
turnovers against the pressure Evergreen defense.
CONCORDIA
RUNS BY COYOTES: Alex
Hartman led seven Concordia players in double figures with 27 points and 11
rebounds, as the Cavaliers became the first team to score 100 points in the
J.A. Albertson Activities Center since 2002, stopping Albertson College,
108-95, on Monday night. The win for the Cavs ended a
seven-game losing streak to ACI and helped them win in Idaho for the first time
since the 1999-2000 season. Tied 31-31 in the first half, CU
used a 20-4 run to take a 51-35 edge, only to watch the 'Yotes close to within
55-47 at the break. A 12-2 run by Concordia to start the second half
allowed the Cavs to build a 65-47 lead with 17:30 left, but 12 straight Josh
Owen points helped Albertson draw to within 78-74. The 'Yotes would be
within 93-88 with five minutes left, but could not get closer. The two teams combined to make 26 three-pointers, as both
Owen and Brandon Nielsen canned five apiece. Owen had 23 in the loss,
Nielsen a game-high 28 - both tying season-highs.
FINAL ROAD SWING HEADS THROUGH PORTLAND: Albertson
opens their final road trip of the regular season on Friday night with a highly
anticipated rematch with No. 15 Warner Pacific. The Knights (19-5, 9-3 CCC) have their
league-title hopes in their own destiny after a sweep of Southern Oregon and
Oregon Tech on the road (becoming just the fifth team in ten years to complete
the trip with two wins). WPC has won
six games in a row and has posted a 7-2 home record this year – thanks to
Freshman of the Year candidate Nate Menifee (17.2 ppg) and All-CCC guard Donny
Woods (16.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 6.2 apg).
Tight games would favor the Knights, the No. 2 free throw shooting team
in the NAIA (.778 percent). Albertson
topped WPC 86-72 in early January and holds a 27-9 all-time edge, including
six-straight. The ‘Yotes then head into
one of the louder gyms in the league, the Thunderdome at Cascade. The T-Birds (5-18, 1-11) pulled off the
biggest shocker in recent memory on Friday night, ending a 38-game league
losing streak with a 90-86 win at Oregon Tech.
CCC Player of the Week, Joshua Garrett (19.3 ppg, 4.2 apg) is the catalyst
for Cascade, while post Trevor Hutton (10.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg) is a tough match-up
in the paint. The Thunderbirds gave ACI
all they could handle earlier this year in a 72-66 overtime win for the ‘Yotes,
which extended the all-time series lead to 37-2, and the win streak for
Albertson to 13 over Cascade.
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.
BASEBALL: Season Preview –
Experienced Coyotes look to battle for 2006 NAIA Region I crown
COMING UP:
vs. Lewis & Clark (DH), 2/10, 11 a.m.; vs. Lewis & Clark, 2/11,
Noon.
LAST SEASON: The
Coyotes dropped an 8-3 decision to British Columbia in the NAIA Region I
championship game, the 19th-consecutive season that the Albertson College
baseball program advanced to the postseason.
The 2005 squad opened the season with ten consecutive wins at home and
earned their first Cascade Conference championship since the 2002 season.
RETURNING: A bevy of
talent returns for the 2006 season – as 19 players return from last
season. Included in this group are nine
position players that have had extensive time in the starting line-up, six
veteran pitchers, four former All-Conference performers, and two former NAIA
All-Americans.
LOST: The
Coyotes lost five key performers from the 2005 team – including current pitching
coach Matt Bergstrom, along with two other starting pitchers Taylor Blair and Matt Zachary,
who combined to for 11 of the 26 wins last season. A pair position players are also gone – All-CCC second-baseman
Billy Arko and utility player Zach Park.
THE SCHEDULE: Albertson
will play their first 15 games this season in Idaho, including ten of the first
14 contests at Simplot Stadium. The
‘Yotes open the campaign with a pair of three-game series’ against Lewis &
Clark and Puget Sound – NCAA Division III schools, then head to Lewiston for
games against Lewis-Clark State and Whitworth.
Regional play opens the first weekend of March, as the six teams in the
NAIA Region I begin a 30-game double round-robin schedule. Also on the docket are six games with Canyon
County rival Northwest Nazarene, including a home-and-home weekend series, a
non-conference game at Puget Sound, and a home-and-home series with Lewis-Clark
State. In all, ACI is scheduled to play
55 games during the regular season, 27 of them in Caldwell.
STARTING PITCHING: A
quartet of pitchers should make the majority of the starts during the 2006
season. Leading the group is returning
Cascade Conference Pitcher of the Year, Charlie Strandlund (Victoria,
B.C. / Coll. of Southern Idaho), who went
7-2 with a 3.45 ERA and 52 strikeouts last season. Also returning to the club is hard-throwing righty James Porter (Greenleaf,
Idaho / Northwest Nazarene U.), who sat
out last season after an injury-plagued 2004 campaign. Two newcomers join the starting staff – Jason Roach (Sacramento,
Calif. / Sacramento City CC) and Joe Balbas (Boise,
Idaho / Lamar CC). Roach is a hard-throwing lefty that was drafted in the 40th-Round
of the 2004 MLB Draft, while Balbas was an All-Region selection in junior
college, going 5-1 with 56 strikeouts and ten walks last year.
THE BULLPEN: The
‘Yotes should have their deepest bullpen since the 2002 NAIA World Series team
this season. Closer Nate Freese (Vancouver,
Wash. / Skyview HS) returns after posting a
school-record tying seven saves in 2005.
Left-hander Joey
Zubizarreta (Boise, Idaho / Cochise CC) and Paul
Erickson (Burlington, Wash. / Everett CC) split time between the rotation and the pen last year – and both can be
counted on for dependable innings.
Newcomer Jason
Enewold (Rifle, Colo. / Lamar CC) went 5-1 with a 2.56 ERA in junior college last year and has looked good
in bullpen sessions. Filling out the
pen are senior right-handers Lars
Alsager (Nampa, Idaho / Skyview HS) and Dominic De
La Paz (Nampa, Idaho / Nampa HS), who have combined for 102 career appearances, junior lefty Carson Taysom (Pocatello,
Idaho / Century HS), and junior righty Pat Lyon (Bonners
Ferry, Idaho / Bonners Ferry HS).
CATCHING: Experience
is key for the Coyotes behind the plate, as both Nate Freese and Pat Burke (Sisters,
Ore. / Sisters HS) return. Freese earned All-CCC honors last season
after hitting .304 with 13 doubles and 35 RBI, while Burke battled injuries all
season, but managed a .289 average with three homers and 33 RBI. Also in the mix is Robert Hamilton (Boise,
Idaho / Boise HS), who made the conversion to
catching during the 2005 season and may be the ‘Yotes best defensive catcher.
AROUND THE INFIELD: Improving
the infield was the biggest priority for 2005 Cascade Conference Coach of the
Year, Shawn Humberger, during the offseason, as the ‘Yotes look to improve on a .945 fielding
percentage. First-base will continue to
be patrolled by NAIA Region I Player of the Year, Charlie Strandlund, that is,
when he is not on the mound. Strandlund
led the team with a .397 average, 71 hits, 24 doubles, seven home runs, 49 RBI,
a .670 slugging percentage, and a .479 on base percentage. The three other infield slots may be taken
by newcomers – a transfer and two freshmen.
Shortstop Casey
Oliver (Pocatello, Idaho / Coll. of
Southern Idaho) has an outstanding glove
and hit .285 with 35 RBI in junior college.
Third-baseman Bryan Champ
(Boise, Idaho / Borah HS) and second-baseman Dane
McGrady (Boise, Idaho / Borah HS) led Borah High to the 5A state title last spring – with both having
outstanding gloves to go along with solid bats. Not to be outdone in the infield, the ‘Yotes have three returners
– Drew Cauffman (Mountain Home, Idaho / Mountain Home HS), Robert Hamilton, and Ryan
Swanson (Elk Grove, Calif. / Laguna Creek
HS), each with considerable playing
experience, along with another freshman, Luke Howarth (Boise, Idaho / Centennial
HS).
THE OUTFIELD: A
promising group of five returners look to make the outfield a strong point for
the Coyotes in 2006. Two-time
All-American Greg
Stalling (Boise, Idaho / Borah HS) makes the transition from middle infielder to center, utilizing his
speed. The senior hit .311 with 55 runs
scored last season and ranks second on the all-time ACI list with 65 stolen
bases. Look for All-CCC selection Jake McGrady (Boise,
Idaho / Borah HS) to make the move to left
this season. McGrady hit .342 with 33
RBI last season and made just two errors in 163 chances. A trio of players will see time in right – Nic Florence (Boise, Idaho / Cochise CC), Ren
Lombardo (Boise, Idaho / Oregon State U.), and Paul Erickson. Florence had 13 stolen bases last season and
struck out just four times in 125 at bats; Lombardo hit .283 in an
injury-filled season, while Erickson may be one of the team’s best long-ball
threats. Senior Josh Przybos (Meridian,
Idaho / Cochise CC) returns after missing last year with a shoulder injury
and will fill a left-handed designated hitter role.
SURVEYING
THE REGION: The 2006 season will be the final campaign under the current
scheduling format. Beginning in 2007,
all seven NAIA Region I teams (including Lewis-Clark State) will compete in a
32-game regional schedule, with the top-four teams heading to the
playoffs. Without preseason No. 2
LC-State in the mix, No. 23 ranked and defending regional champ, British
Columbia, looks to be the top contender.
The T-Birds (34-21-1), who lost to Biola in the super-regional in 2005,
lost just two position players from last year and return All-Region selections
SS Mark Capone, OF Adam Campbell, and LHP Brad Ashman. Concordia looks to rebound this year after
ACI ended their two-year reign as CCC champs.
The Cavs (23-28) will rely on catcher Adam Hackstedt in the line-up,
while All-CCC pitcher Mike Allen returns for his senior season. Oregon Tech advanced to their
second-straight regional in 2005 and return their top hitter, Ryan Wilson, as
the Owls (23-25) look for their first winning season. Both Corban (17-28) and Eastern Oregon (10-35) are the big
question marks, but both clubs had solid recruiting classes.
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.
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