‘Yote Notes – Mar. 9, 2006

Mike Safford Jr. – Sports Info. Director

msafford@collegeofidaho.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ATHLETIC NEWS:

 

WOMEN’S TENNIS TO OPEN UP 2006 SEASON ON FRIDAY NIGHT: The Albertson College women’s tennis team will open up the 2006 spring season on Friday night at the Boas Tennis Center in Boise against Lewis-Clark State.  The match is scheduled for 9 p.m.  Albertson will head to the Willamette Valley next weekend for matches against Pacific, George Fox, and Southern Oregon.

 

GOLF OPENS SPRING SEASON ON TUESDAY: The Albertson College golf team will open up their 2006 spring schedule on Tuesday afternoon, as the ‘Yotes meet Northwest Nazarene in a dual match at Broadmore Golf Club in Nampa.  The ACI men defeated NNU in an earlier duel last September.

 

THREE COYOTE HOOPSTERS HONORED WITH POST-SEASON AWARDS: Three Albertson College men’s basketball players earned accolades following the 2005-06 season.  Senior Dan McFaul and junior Ike Stafford were named to the All-Cascade Conference team as honorable mention selections, while it is expected that Brandon Nielsen will be named to the NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete team.

 

LADY ‘YOTES EARN HONORS: Five Albertson College women’s basketball players were honored by the Cascade Conference and the NAIA following the 2005-06 season.  Both Jori Grady and Kim Strunk were named to the All-CCC team as first-team selections, while Angie Gribble was named to the CCC All-Defensive Team.  It is expected that five Lady ‘Yotes will be named NAIA All-America Scholar-Athletes – Strunk, Gribble, Grady, Desirae Smoot, and Whitney Martin.

 

SWIMMING: Coyotes cap successful season with record-filled NAIA Championships

 

LAST WEEK: at NAIA Championships, St. Peters, Mo.

 

COYOTE MEN HAVE OUTSTANDING RUN AT NATIONALS: The Albertson men’s swim team finished 11th overall at last weeks national championships, earning a total of 18 team points.  Both relay teams that competed qualified for the consolation final, with the 200-freestyle relay squad placing second in their final, good enough for eighth-place overall.  What was more impressive, was that the Coyotes shaved two seconds off their previous top-time in both the medley and freestyle events.  Matt Barclay and John Green also claimed Top-20 finishes in their individual events – Barclay setting a school record (22.23) in the 50-free, with Green doing the same in the 100-free (49.21).

 

BARCLAY NAMED SCHOLAR-ATHLETE: Multi-sport athlete Matt Barclay added another notch to his belt last week, becoming the Coyotes first-ever NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete in swimming.  Last season, Barclay earned the same honor while competing in men’s basketball, and has the opportunity this spring to earn the honor in track and field.

 

SAVELL LEADS ACI WOMEN: Despite the women’s team not scoring a team point in the championships, it was a good meet for freshman Alphonsina Savell, who tied a school record in the 50-free (26.20) and blasted her own school record by five seconds in the 200-breaststroke (2:37.64).

 

RECORD BOOK SHATTERED: The 2005-06 swim season was one for the record books, as every women’s school record was broken during the course of the season, while all but one of the men’s records were eclipsed.  Both John Green (100-free, 200-free) and Scott Mikelonis (100-breast, 200-medley) each hold two school records, while Alphonsina Savell (50-free, 100-free, 100-breast, 200-breast, 200-medley) currently holds five top marks.

 

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.

 

TRACK: Coyotes head to Tennessee for NAIA Indoor Championships

 

COMING UP: NAIA Indoor Track Championships, Johnson City, Tenn., Thursday-Saturday.

 

COYOTES OFF TO INDOOR NATIONALS: The Albertson College track team will compete this week at the 2006 NAIA indoor national championships on the campus of East Tennessee State University.  The ‘Yotes will have runners in four individual events, along with a relay team – their biggest contingent ever.  David Fluckiger looks to become ACI’s first-ever two-time All-American, hoping a repeat performance from his third-place finish in the mile at last season’s indoor championships.  Also competing in individual events are Jesse Chlebeck and Jacob Haas in the men’s 5,000 meters, along with Shannon Edwards in the women’s 5,000-meters.  The ‘Yotes will also have an entry in the men’s distance medley relay.

 

TRACK TEAM TO HOST DASH FOR CASH: The Coyote cross country and track team will be holding the first annual “Dash for Cash” to support the travel efforts of both teams.  The athletics will run for 30 minutes at the Caldwell High track on March 15 and donors are asked to pledge money for each lap an athlete (or coach completes).  For more information, contact head coach Pat McCurry at 459-5085.

 

SKIING: Coyotes off to USCSA Championships

 

COMING UP: USCSA Championships, Sugarloaf Mountain, Maine, Wednesday-Saturday.

 

COYOTES HEAD TO NORTHEAST: The Albertson College alpine ski teams will compete this week at the USCSA national championships at Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine.  The ACI women head into the event as the Western Region champions, while the men’s team heads in with something to prove after a fourth-place finish at regionals.

 

SNOWBOARDERS MAKE 2006 DEBUT: The Coyote snowboard team used some late-minute fundraising efforts to make the trek to Maine for the USCSA championships – the only collegiate snowboard championships in the U.S.  Last season, the Coyote men claimed the USCSA national championship in the slopestyle (halfpipe) snowboard event, with Evan Williams claiming the individual title – the 27th and 28th all-time national championships by the ‘Yotes.

 

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. 

 

BASEBALL: ACI rebounds with win over NNU, Coyotes head to Concordia for key Region I series

 

LAST WEEK: vs. No. 21 British Columbia (L 2-1, L 8-5, L 7-1, L 11-6), vs. Northwest Nazarene (W 18-6)

 

COMING UP: at Concordia (DH), Saturday, Noon (PST); at Concordia, Sunday, 1 p.m. (PST); at Eastern Oregon (DH), Tuesday, 11 a.m. (PST)

 

NATIONAL RANKING?: Albertson moved up the charts in the first NAIA national poll of the 2006 season, earning the No. 27 position in the nation.  It is the first time that the Coyotes have received 50-or-more points in the national poll since April 2, 2003 – when ACI was ranked No. 25.  LC-State is ranked No. 1 in the NAIA, with British Columbia ranked No. 21.

 

‘YOTES BLAST NORTHWEST NAZARENE: A Nate Freese (Vancouver, Wash. / Skyview HS) three-run home run in the fifth inning broke open a 5-4 game, as Albertson College scored 14 runs off the Northwest Nazarene bullpen in a 18-6 victory Tuesday afternoon at Simplot Stadium.  The victory for the Coyotes ended a four-game losing streak, as the NAIA squad picked up their 136th win versus their Canyon County rivals since 1952.  The game was scoreless heading into the bottom of the fourth, when ACI took advantage of two NNU errors to plate four runs.  A two-run Jake McGrady (Boise, Idaho / Borah HS) single was the big blow in the inning.  The Crusaders would tie the score with one swing in the fifth, as C.J. Severin launched a two-out grand slam to center.  However, the Coyotes would answer, getting a Greg Stalling (Boise, Idaho / Borah HS) RBI single in the bottom of the frame, followed by Freese's homer, a bomb over the left field wall.  NNU would close to within 8-6 on a Tyson Burkhart two-run homer in the seventh, but Albertson would put the game away with seven runs in the seventh and three more in the eighth.  A bases-clearing double by Stalling keyed the seventh inning explosion.  Ren Lombardo (Boise, Idaho / Oregon State U.) and Stalling each had three hits for ACI, while Burkhart went 2-for-3 for the Crusaders.

 

MOST ERRORS ALLOWED IN?: A key to the Coyote win was the fact that NNU committed eight errors in the contest.  The eight errors were the most an Albertson opponent had logged since March 10, 2001, when Whitworth recorded eight errors in a 24-0 loss to the ‘Yotes at Simplot Stadium.  NNU holds the record for most errors in a game by an ACI opponent, committing 11 miscues in a game in 1992.

 

STALLING BREAKS WALKS RECORD: Last weekend, Greg Stalling broke the Albertson College school record for career walks with a free pass against British Columbia.  The fourth-year senior now has walked 123 times as a Coyote, passing the mark of 122 set by Steve Downey from 1987-90.  Stalling also ranks among the top-ten all-time in six other categories – second in stolen bases (77), is third in hits (228) and runs (184), and is fourth in at bats (641) and hit by pitches (37).

 

OTHER ‘YOTES AMONG THE CAREER BOOK: Three other Coyotes have joined the top-ten career list so far this season.  Jake McGrady ranks fourth all-time in stolen bases (56), is sixth in sacrifice bunts (16), is seventh in at bats (576), and eighth in all-time hits (182).  Nate Freese sits in seventh-place all-time in hit-by-pitches (25), with Lars Alsager (Nampa, Idaho / Skyview HS) ranking third all-time in appearances by a pitcher (67).

 

TOUGH WEEKEND VS. BRITISH COLUMBIA: The Coyotes headed into last weekend’s NAIA Region I opening series with British Columbia on a high – with a 9-1 record and a perfect 3-0 mark at Simplot Stadium.  However, the bats for ACI went silent during the weekend – as the club hit just .210 as a team, losing all four games to the No. 21 ranked Thunderbirds.  Only one Coyote hit better than .333 during the series – Pat Burke (Sisters, Ore. / Sisters HS) went 5-for-13 at the plate, while Albertson went just 7-for-37 with runners in scoring position.  Even more discouraging was the fact that the ‘Yotes hit just .183 against the plethora of left-handed hurlers the Canadian squad trotted out to the mound.

 

TOUGH WEEKEND, PART TWO: The weekend was doubly tough for a pair of Coyotes, who had been stinging the baseball prior to the series with UBC, struggled against the T-Birds.  Nate Freese, who came into the series with a .366 average, got an RBI double in his first at bat of the series, then went hitless in his final 14 at bats of the weekend (he did go 2-for-4 with four RBI against NNU on Tuesday).  Also having trouble with the UBC pitching was shortstop Casey Oliver (Pocatello, Idaho / College of Southern Idaho), who began the season with a .474 average, but went hitless in ten at bats vs. the Canadians (he did got 2-for-3 against NNU).

 

CAN THE ‘YOTES END THE STRING IN PORTLAND?: The cozy confines of “The Yard” on the Concordia University campus has been a graveyard for the Albertson College baseball team over the past few seasons, as the ‘Yotes have not won a game vs. the Cavaliers on their home field since 2001.  In fact, ACI has dropped ten-consecutive games to Concordia in Portland, including a three-game series to close the 2005 season.  The ballpark, with a very-very short porch in left and just 340 to the left-center power-alley, has been kind to the Cavs, who have a 44-21 mark at home over the past three-plus seasons.

 

ABOUT CONCORDIA: Rob Vance’s Cavaliers (7-5, 3-1 Region I) are led by the bats of Mount Hood C.C. transfer Greyson Thain (.405 2 HR 13 RBI), along with All-CCC infielder Josh Brandt (.184 3 HR 11 RBI).  Concordia has a solid pitching staff that is anchored by All-CCC right-hander Mike Allen (2-1 5.14 ERA), but currently has a 5.89 team ERA.  The first game on Saturday will be the 72nd meeting between the teams, with ACI holding a 53-18 all-time series edge.

 

TUESDAY TWINBILL IN LA GRANDE: The ‘Yotes will play their second of three consecutive Tuesday dates next week, as ACI travels for their first encounter with rival Eastern Oregon.  The Mountaineers (3-6, 1-2) opened up regional play by dropping 3-of-4 games to Oregon Tech, but have played solid ball this season – notching wins against both Central Washington and Linfield.  Eastern boasts the top-two hitters in the league thus far – Casey Held (.480 11 RBI) and David Shierman (.462 2 RBI), but a .939 team fielding percentage has been their Achilles heel.  Opponents are hitting .343 against the EOU staff, with the Mounties recording an 8.45 team ERA.  Albertson won 6-of-7 meetings between the teams last season and holds a 129-33-1 all-time 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: Lady ‘Yotes have week off after sweep of Eastern Oregon, two tough losses to Simon Fraser

 

LAST WEEK: at Red Lion Hotel Invitational, Richland, Wash. – vs. No. 2 Simon Fraser (L 2-1, L 10-3), vs. Eastern Oregon (W 4-1, W 3-2)

 

COMING UP: Idle until March 18 vs. Northwest Christian.

 

LADY ‘YOTES HOST DINNER-AUCTION: The Albertson College softball team will take the week off from competition, but will be in action of a different sort.  The Lady ‘Yotes will be hosting their annual Dinner-Auction to benefit the fundraising efforts of the squad this Saturday night in the Simplot Dining Hall on the ACI campus.  Cost is $25.00 for a prime rib dinner, along with a chance to be involved in the auction later in the evening.  To reserve your spot in the Dinner-Auction, contact head coach Al Mendiola at 459-5113.

 

GREAT WEEKEND IN COLUMBIA BASIN: The Lady ‘Yotes had something to prove against a pair of teams that have dominated them the previous four seasons.  Albertson went into the Red Lion Invitational a combined 2-36 against defending NAIA champion Simon Fraser and Eastern Oregon, but equaled their win total from the past in two days.  The Coyotes hit .283 as a team, hit .286 with runners in scoring position, and had a 2.85 team ERA in the four games against the two teams that qualified for the 2005 NAIA Region I tournament.  ACI held their first-ever lead against SFU when A.J. Cavanaugh (Covington, Wash. / Kentwood HS) launched her second home run of the season, while Katie Theisen (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS) ended the finale against Eastern Oregon with a one-out bases-loaded single in the seventh inning.

 

RUSSELL WAS OUTSTANDING: In the circle, fifth-year senior Kerri Russell (Melba, Idaho / Melba HS) continued to impress, tossing eight and a third innings without allowing an earned run.  She limited Simon Fraser to just three hits in the weekend opener, allowing two unearned runs.  Russell then got the win against Eastern on Sunday, retiring all seven batters she faced in relief.  For the season, she is 3-4 with a 2.80 ERA with just five walks in 35 innings of work.

 

BIG WEEKEND FOR ZILLNER: Transfer Katie Zillner (Emmett, Idaho / Chicago State U.) was a hitting and pitching machine for the Coyotes in the four-game weekend set.  The sophomore went 6-for-10 at the plate with three RBI, upping her season batting average to .286, while fanning 22 batters in 14 innings of work – including a complete game win over Eastern Oregon.  Her 55 strikeouts this season rank second in the Cascade Conference, while she leads the loop with nearly 10 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.  Zillner has fanned ten-or-more batters three times this season – equaling the number all previous ACI pitchers had recorded in the four previous seasons of competition.

 

NO SHUTOUTS: Through the first 13 games this season, the ACI softball team has scored at least one run in every contest.  Dating back to last season, the Lady ‘Yotes have run their consecutive game streak without being shutout to 17 – a school record.  The previous mark was 15 games, set during the 2004 season.

 

WITH THE BAT: The ‘Yotes got a very productive weekend from Anna Schroeder (Eagle, Idaho / Eagle HS) at the top of the batting order.  The junior went 7-for-14 with two doubles and three runs scored, including a three-hit game against Simon Fraser.  Schroeder currently leads the Cascade Conference with eight stolen bases.  Also continuing to hit the ball well is freshman Nicole Illias (Beaverton, Ore. / Valley Catholic HS), who had three hits in ten at bats.  She currently ranks eighth in the CCC in batting average.

 

GRIBBLE AT FIRST?: This weekend saw the 2006 debut of senior Angie Gribble (Boise, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS) – as she made the transition from baseball to fastpitch.  Gribble also made a big change, seeing action at first-base for the first time in her career – filling in for the injured Lisa Stout (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS), who has missed three weeks with a finger injury.  Gribble was perfect in the field, converting all 14 chances.

 

SCHOOL RECORD FOR DINGERS: With another home run during the tournament, the Lady ‘Yotes continue to add to a school record for home runs in a season – through just 13 games.  ACI has hit five homers this season, breaking the mark of three home runs hit by the 2003, 2004, and 2005 teams.  Coming into the season, the Coyotes had hit just 11 home runs in program history.  Both A.J. Cavanaugh and Stacy Smith (Draper, Utah / Juan Diego Catholic HS) have tied the school record with two home runs in a season.

 

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 -