ATHLETIC NEWS:

 

BASKETBALL TEAMS IN PLAYOFFS: The Coyote men’s and women’s basketball teams will begin play in the Cascade Conference postseason tournament this Tuesday and Wednesday.  The Lady ‘Yotes (16-13) will open against Oregon Tech on Tuesday night in Klamath Falls, while the Coyotes (11-16) will face No. 9 ranked Southern Oregon in Ashland on Wednesday.  Both games will be carried locally in the Treasure Valley on 1490 KCID-AM, however, no internet feed will be available.

 

COYOTE SKIERS HEAD TO REGIONALS: The Albertson College alpine ski team will compete this weekend at the USCSA Western Region Championships at Steamboat Springs Resort in Colorado.  Albertson will be one of 15 teams competing for five spots to the USCSA championships in Sugarloaf, Maine.

 

INDOOR TRACK COMPLETES REGULAR SEASON: Albertson College tracksters continued their push toward the NAIA Indoor Nationals with a solid weekend at the University of Idaho.

On Friday night, senior David Fluckiger (Herisou, Switz. / Virginia Commonwealth U.) ran a 1:56.26 in the 800-meter race, establishing an NAIA automatic qualifying time in the process.  He had previously qualified for nationals in the one-mile race.  Saturday afternoon, Shannon Edwards (Sherwood, Ore. / Eastern Oregon U.) took home the crown in the 3,000-meters, distancing the field in a time of 10:49.76.  She narrowly missed an NAIA "B" qualifying time by less than a second.  On the men's side, Tyler Hopper (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS) established an NAIA "B" standard in the 800, finishing fifth in a time of 1:58.27.  His teammates - Jesse Chlebeck (Eagan, Minn. / Eagan HS) and Jacob Haas (Portland, Ore. / Eastern Oregon U.) finished third and fourth in the 5,000 - but failed to improve on their NAIA provisional qualifying marks set earlier this season.  Up next is the NAIA Indoor Championships in Johnson City, Tenn. - March 9-11. 

 

BASEBALL (6-0): Coyotes sweep Puget Sound, off to first 6-0 start since 1958

 

LAST WEEK: at Puget Sound (W 7-6, W 11-3, W 10-0)

 

COMING UP: at Guardian Heating and Air Conditioning Tournament – Lewiston; vs. No. 3 Lewis-Clark State, Friday, 2 p.m. (PST); vs. Whitworth, Saturday, 10 a.m. (PST); vs. Lewis-Clark State, Saturday, 4 p.m. (PST); vs. Whitworth, Sunday, 11 a.m. (PST)

 

ON THE INTERNET: Friday’s game with Lewis-Clark State will be broadcast in the Lewis-Clark Valley on KOZE 950-AM with Brian Danner calling the play-by-play.  The game will be available for Coyote fans on the internet at www.koze-sports.com.

 

‘YOTES STAY PERFECT WITH SWEEP OF PUGET SOUND: The Albertson College baseball team their stellar start to the 2006 season, outscoring NCAA Division III opponent Puget Sound by 28-9 in a road sweep of the Loggers.  The Coyotes have now recorded 11 or more hits in all six games this season.

 

SERIES MOVED TO TACOMA: With the possible threat of snow and bitter-cold temperatures in the Treasure Valley last weekend, the coaches for both Albertson and Puget Sound decided to move the three-game series from Simplot Stadium to Logger Field in Tacoma.  Games were also moved from Saturday-Sunday to Sunday-Monday – which didn’t affect the Coyotes and schoolwork, as ACI is between their Winter and Spring Terms.

 

BEST START IN YEARS: The 6-0 start by the Coyotes is the best start by the squad in the aluminum bat era – the top start since baseball returned to the College in 1987.  Only one other team in school history has had a better start – as Babe Brown’s 1958 team opened the season with 13-straight wins, a team that finished 20-4 and won the Northwest Conference championship.

 

‘YOTES CONTINUE TO SWING HOT STICKS: Things did not change for the Coyotes in Tacoma, as ACI continued to hit the ball very well.  Albertson was led by Nic Florence (Boise, Idaho / Cochise CC), who went 6-for-9 in the series with two doubles and two RBI.  Florence raised his batting average to .632 through the first six games.  Freshman Luke Howarth (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS) had a monster second game of the series, going 5-for-6 against UPS – completing the series with a 6-for-10 weekend.  Also having a nice series was senior Greg Stalling (Boise, Idaho / Borah HS), who went 5-for-10 with six runs scored, four stolen bases, and two RBI.

 

ARMS CONTINUE TO IMPRESS: While the Albertson hitters continue to put up big numbers, the ‘Yote pitching staff continues to put zeros up on the board.  Through six games, the Coyotes have recorded a miniscule 1.83 ERA, including their second shutout of the season in Game 3 of the UPS series.  Paul Erickson (Burlington, Wash. / Everett CC) tossed three innings of one-hit relief to notch his second win.  Erickson has now thrown seven scoreless innings to start the season.  Skipper Shawn Humberger was really impressed by the five-inning start of junior Joe Balbas (Boise, Idaho / Lamar CC), who allowed just one hit and fanned ten to get the win.

 

NATIONAL NUMBERS: Through the first two weeks of the season, Albertson is among the NAIA leaders in multiple stat categories.  The Coyotes lead the nation in hits per game (14.5), stolen bases per game (5.5), and strikeouts per game by pitchers (12.0).  The ‘Yotes have posted the second-best ERA (1.83) and batting average (.379) in the nation, while their 11 runs per game ranks No. 6.

 

OFF TO LEWISTON FOR THREE-TEAM TOURNAMENT: Albertson will head to Lewiston this weekend for the Guardian Plumbing, Heating, and A/C Tournament at Harris Field.  The ‘Yotes will be joined by host Lewis-Clark State and Whitworth in the three-day event.  Albertson will play a single game against LC-State on Friday, face both teams on Saturday, and finish with a single-game vs. Whitworth on Sunday morning.

 

ABOUT THEIR IDAHO NEIGHBORS: The baseball juggernaut that is Lewis-Clark State continues to roll, as the No. 3 ranked Warriors (7-0) look to prosper in their final year as a Region I independent (LC-State will join the NAIA Region I schedule next season).  Hall-of-Fame head coach Ed Cheff has seen his club, which had six players drafted last year in the MLB First-Year Players Draft, get off to a great start this season – thanks to the bats of Matt Vogel (.545 6 RBI) and Justin Fuller (.450 HR 9 RBI).  The pitching staff is deep – with transfer Max Hibbs (1-0 0.00 ERA with 8 K in 8 IP) and returner Chris Kissock (2-0 1.32 ERA, 11 K) leading the way.  LC-State has dominated the series as of late – winning 11-straight against their fellow Idahoans, while holding an 11-game win streak (dating back to 2002) against the ‘Yotes at Harris Field.  Since the first meeting between the teams in 1967, the Coyotes have a 25-92-1 record against the Warriors.

 

MEETING THE WHITS: Albertson renews its rivalry with Whtiworth this weekend, meeting the Pirates (3-2) for the first time since 2004.  The Bucs are coming off a solid road trip to Arizona, where they won 3-of-4 games, including extra inning affairs with Wayland Baptist and LaVerne.  Outfielder Danny Pecka (.368 2 HR 6 RBI) and designated hitter Mike Marlow (.375 HR 5 RBI) are the Pirates top hitters, while transfer Brandon Zimmerman (2-0 0.00 ERA 8 K) has yet to give up an earned run in his two appearances.  The two teams have met 56 times, dating back to the 1962 season, with the Coyotes holding a 30-26 series 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 (2-2): Lady ‘Yotes sweep Northwest Nazarene, head to California for five-game tournament

 

LAST WEEK: vs. Northwest Nazarene (W 4-3, W 7-3)

 

COMING UP: at NorCal Classic, Hayward, Calif. – Thursday vs. Patten, 5 p.m. (PST), vs. Notre Dame de Namur, 7 p.m. (PST); Friday vs. Southern Oregon, Noon (PST), vs. Bethany, 4 p.m. (PST); Saturday vs. Concordia-Irvine, 11 a.m.

 

COYOTES CONTINUE DOMINANCE OF NNU: The softball last Thursday was hot, the temperatures at Symms Field were not, as Albertson and Northwest Nazarene played the first softball game in the Treasure Valley this season.  Despite temperatures that failed to climb above freezing, the Lady ‘Yotes kept their stranglehold on the Canyon County rivalry, sweeping the Crusaders 4-3 and 7-3.  The two wins extended ACI’s lead in the all-time series to 20-6.

 

SOLID AT THE TOP OF THE ORDER: A key to the sweep of NNU was the play at the top of the Lady ‘Yote order.  Leadoff hitter Anna Schroeder (Eagle, Idaho / Eagle HS) went 3-for-7 in the twinbill, while No. 2 hitter Heather Kirtley (Eagle, Idaho / Eagle HS) went 3-for-6.  Through the first two games, the duo are 1-2 in batting average, runs scored, hits, and stolen bases on the team – as Kirtley is hitting .545, while Schroeder is hitting .333 with seven runs scored.

 

SHOW ME THE LONG BALL: In four years of softball at Albertson College, the Lady ‘Yotes had hit just 11 home runs.  Against NNU, a power surge was present in Game 2, as ACI hit a pair of dingers in the third inning.  Shortstop A.J. Cavanaugh (Covington, Wash. / Kentwood HS) hit a two-run bomb over the left-center fence, then one out later, catcher Stacy Smith (Draper, Utah / Juan Diego Catholic HS) ripped a monster shot to dead centerfield.  It marked the second-time in school history that Albertson had hit two home runs in one game and the first time it had happened at Symms Field.

 

ZILLNER STRONG IN THE CIRCLE: Transfer Katie Zillner (Emmett, Idaho / Chicago State) was very impressive in her home debut, striking out 12 NNU batters in the complete game victory in Game 2.  The 12 K’s in a game rank second on the all-time list in ACI history, trailing only the 13 strikeouts that Nicole Glenn recorded against Northwest Christian during the 2002 season.

 

‘YOTES HEAD TO CALIFORNIA FOR THE SECOND TIME: For just the second time in school history, Albertson College will be making a trek into the state of California.  The Lady ‘Yotes will take part in the ten-team NorCal Classic, hosted by Notre Dame de Namur, in Hayward.  ACI will play a pair of games on Thursday and Friday, and a single game on Saturday morning.  In 2002, the Coyotes opened the season with a 10-game tour of Southern California, going 0-10 on the trip.  Last year, the squad went to Tucson, Ariz. for a six-game tournament and went 3-3.

 

DAY ONE OPPONENTS: The ‘Yotes open up tournament play under the lights on Thursday night.  Up first is Patten College from Oakland, a tiny NAIA Region II independent.  The Lions (4-6) have lost six in a row after opening the season with sweeps of Pomona-Pitzer and Whittier.  No other information is available on the squad.  Later that night, ACI meets host Notre Dame de Namur.  The Argo (7-7) have recently made the move from the NAIA to the NCAA Division II and have split their last two doubleheaders.  It is the Lady ‘Yotes first meetings with both opponents.

 

DAY TWO OPPONENTS: Day 2 opens with a familiar face, as Cascade Conference rival Southern Oregon meets ACI.  The Raiders (2-0), the three-time defending CCC champs and ranked No. 23 in the NAIA preseason poll, opened the season with a doubleheader sweep of Lewis & Clark.  Julianne Cree tossed the third no-hitter in program history in the win.  Albertson and SOU have played one non-conference game in the past, with the Raiders posting a 2-0 win during the 2004 season.  It is the 21st all-time meeting, with Southern holding a 15-5 edge.  Later in the day, Albertson meets Bethany of California for the first time.  The Bruins (0-8) are a member of the California Pacific Conference and lost three one-run games this season. The Bruins are led by junior Danielle Myrick, who hit .343 with four homers and 27 RBI last season.

 

DAY THREE OPPONENT: Albertson rounds out the tournament with a morning game against No. 13 ranked Concordia-Irvine.  The Eagles (6-0) have outscored their opponents 46-2 this season and will be looking for revenge against the ‘Yotes, as ACI stunned Concordia, 6-3, last season.  Jaime Van Dijk (.556 1 HR 7 RBI) and Natalie Brown (4-0 0.00 ERA) are the Eagles top two players.

 

MORE INFORMATION: Updated information and statistics on the 2006 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 -