‘Yote Notes – Apr. 19,
2006
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Mike Safford Jr. – Sports
Info. Director
msafford@collegeofidaho.edu
ATHLETIC NEWS:
GOLF SNOWED OUT IN UTAH: The Albertson College golf
team traveled to Salt Lake City for the annual Westminster College Spring
Invitational, but got only a practice round out of the trip. A rare spring snowstorm to the Wasatch Front
dropped snow on Wingpointe Golf Club, cancelling the event. The Coyotes will round out the golf season
next Monday and Tuesday at the NAIA Region I tournament, to be held in
Christina Lakes, B.C.
TRACK HEADED TO THE “HOLY GRAIL” OF TRACKS: The Coyote
track team, fresh off a week of training, will head to Eugene for the
University of Oregon Invitational at historic Hayward Field. Seven different runners will be gunning for
NAIA national qualifying times on one of the best track surfaces in the entire
United States. The key events for ‘Yotes
to qualify look to be Jesse Chlebeck, Jacob Haas, and Shannon
Edwards in the 5,000-meters, Tyler Hopper in the 800-meters, and Jayne
Saunders in the 400-hurdles.
TENNIS COMPLETES WEEK WITH 2-1 MARK: The Coyote
women’s tennis team had a successful Spring Break, winning two of the three
matches that they played. ACI traveled
to California and defeated La Sierra 8-1, but dropped a 5-4 decision to La
Verne. The ‘Yotes then topped Treasure
Valley C.C., 9-0, in their final tune-up for next week’s regional
tournament. Kyla Westerberg and Anna
Moylan won all three of their No. 1 doubles matches – along with a perfect
mark in the top-two spots in the singles ladder.
BASEBALL: Coyotes and No. 1 Lewis-Clark State set for annual
home-and-home four-game series
LAST WEEK: vs. Concordia (W 12-7, W 14-4, L
19-12)
COMING UP: vs. No. 1 Lewis-Clark State,
Wednesday, 3 p.m.; vs. No. 1 Lewis-Clark State, Thursday, 3 p.m.; at No. 1
Lewis-Clark State, Saturday, 6:30 p.m. (PDT); at No. 1 Lewis-Clark State,
Sunday, Noon (PDT)
INTERNET BROADCAST AVAILABLE: The
four-game series with Lewis-Clark State will be carried live on the radio in
the Lewis-Clark Valley on 950 KOZE-AM with Brian Danner calling the
play-by-play. An internet feed of the
broadcast is available via www.koze-sports.com.
COYOTES
DROP OUT OF POLL: After back-to-back weeks in
the NAIA Top-20, the Albertson College baseball team fell out of last week’s
NAIA national poll. The Coyotes fell to
the No. 27 slot (21 voting points, second highest among of teams in the “others
receiving votes” category) – which is the fifth-straight poll they have earned
votes. ACI had climbed to No. 19 in the NAIA after a stretch of 13 wins in 14
games. Two other NAIA Region I teams
were in the poll – No. 1 ranked Lewis-Clark State and No. 8 ranked British
Columbia. The next national poll will
be released on Wednesday.
LEWIS-CLARK
STATE HEADS TO TOWN: For college baseball fans,
this has been touted in the past as the “Idaho World Series” – the annual clash
between the two most successful collegiate baseball teams the Gem State. Top-ranked Lewis-Clark State heads to Caldwell this week
for games Wednesday and Thursday, with the Coyotes making a return trip to
Lewiston for games over the weekend.
The 13-time NAIA champion Warriors (31-3) have won 20-consecutive games
this season and have lost only once to an NAIA team this season – that being
the Coyotes.
ABOUT THE
WARRIORS: Head coach Ed Cheff has been an
institution at LC-State for three decades, posting 1,485 wins in 1,878 games at
the helm. However, his 2006 squad is
much different than those from the past – as the Warriors have hit just 16 home
runs in 34 games. However, L-C
continues to handle the bat well (.327 team average) – thanks to shortstop Matt
Vogel (.426 1 HR 27 RBI), third-baseman Allen Balmer (.388 3 HR 24 RBI), and
first-baseman D.J. Kooken (.340 4 HR 28 RBI).
There has been no change in the pitching department – the Warriors are
as dominating as ever, touting the best ERA in the NAIA Region I (2.37). Reliever Jason Garcia (5-0 1.12 ERA) and
Chris Kissock (5-1 2.16 ERA) lead a group of nine pitchers who have an ERA
under 3.00.
HISTORY OF
THE SERIES: Wednesday’s meeting will be the 147th between the schools,
dating back to May of 1946 – when Clem Parberry’s College of Idaho team, just
back from World War II, dropped a 37-3 decision to North Idaho College of
Education – which is the most runs a Coyote team has ever allowed in a single
game. The Warriors hold a 96-29 series
edge, along with one tie.
THIS SEASON
BETWEEN THE TEAMS: ACI and LC-State met twice
earlier this season at the Guardian Heating and Plumbing Tournament in
Lewiston. The ‘Yotes took the opening
game of the weekend, scoring five runs in the final three innings to top the
Warriors, 6-3 – recording 14 hits in the victory. The next day, L-C returned the favor, blanking the Coyotes, 7-0,
as Chris Kissock and Austin Weilep combined on a four-hit shutout.
NEXT YEAR
THE GAMES COUNT: The weekend series will also mark the final time that
the games between the Coyotes and the Warriors will not count in the NAIA
Region I standings. Beginning next
season, LC-State will join ACI, British Columbia, Concordia, Corban, and Oregon
Tech (Eastern Oregon announced last week that they will not sponsor baseball,
beginning in 2007) in the regional round-robin schedule and compete for the
NAIA Region I pennant.
STALLING BREAKS TWO MORE SCHOOL RECORDS: A monster
weekend during the three-game series with Concordia lifted Greg Stalling (Boise,
Idaho / Borah HS) to the top of two more career ACI record lists. The senior, who already holds the mark for
walks in a career with 137, went 7-for-12 at the plate with five runs scored,
five RBI, his first home run of the season, and three stolen bases. With a swipe of third on Saturday, Stalling
surpassed the career stolen base record of Steve Barningham, and has now swiped
88 bags in his career. With the long
ball against the Cavs, he moved past Greg Schelhaas on the runs list, now
having scored 207 runs in his four-year career. Stalling also ranks third in the ACI career list for hits (249 –
21 behind the record), at bats (710), hit-by-pitches (38), and games played
(201). His is second in all-time games
started (197), is seventh in doubles (41), and 12th in RBI (121).
MORE RECORD BOOK INFO: Greg Stalling is not the
only Coyote making a splash in the career record book. Jake McGrady (Boise, Idaho / Borah
SH) ranks third all-time in stolen bases (68), is fourth in games played
(192) and at bats (649), is fifth in games started (175), is sixth in hits
(208) and sacrifice bunts (16), and is tenth in runs scored (141). Nate Freese (Vancouver, Wash. /
Skyview HS) sits in third-place in all-time saves (9) and in doubles (47),
is fifth in all-time in hit-by-pitches (32), eighth in at bats (593) and games
started (163), is ninth in games played (176), and is tenth in hits (177) and
RBI (126). Rounding out the group is Lars Alsager (Nampa, Idaho /
Skyview HS), who ranks third all-time in appearances by a pitcher (72).
HITTING STREAK ENDS ON SATURDAY: Coyote
shortstop Casey Oliver (Pocatello, Idaho / Coll. of Southern Idaho) saw
his 19-game hitting streak ended in the 19-12 loss to Concordia on Saturday
afternoon – nine games shy of the school-record 28 game streak set by Dustin
Garcia in 2003.
FOUR COYOTES ON TOP OF REGION I STATS: Four
different ACI players lead statistical categories in the NAIA Region I. Casey Oliver is the league leader in hits (51)
and doubles (15), while Greg Stalling holds the top spot in runs scored (42),
stolen bases (23), and walks (26). Nate
Freese is the leader currently in RBI (39), while Jason Roach (Sacramento,
Calif. / Sacramento City CC) leads all pitchers with 65 strikeouts.
LOOKING AHEAD: Following the two games in
Caldwell this week, the ‘Yotes will play 11 of their final 13 games on the road
(not including a suspended game to be continued against Eastern Oregon on April
25) – including series at Corban and Oregon Tech, before heading on the road
for the NAIA Region I Tournament in Vancouver, B.C.
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: Zillner named NAIA Region I Player of the Week, Lady ‘Yotes
travel to Southern, O.I.T.
LAST WEEK: vs. Eastern Oregon (L 5-1, L 5-2),
vs. Utah Valley State (W 7-5, L 8-2)
COMING UP: at Southern Oregon (DH), Friday, 2
p.m. (PDT); at Oregon Tech (DH), Saturday, 11 a.m. (PDT), vs. No. 4 Simon Fraser
(DH), Monday, 2 p.m.
REGIONALLY RANKED?: This week the Albertson College
softball team mysteriously dropped out of the NAIA Region I Top-5 poll –
because the poll only included the Top-4 teams. Simon Fraser, Oregon Tech, Southern Oregon, and Concordia were
listed, however, the Lady ‘Yotes, who had held the No. 5 spot each of the last
three weeks, nor any other team, occupied that spot.
ZILLNER NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK: For the
first time this season, an ACI softball play has earned kudos from the
league. Katie Zillner (Emmett,
Idaho / Chicago State U.) was named Cascade Conference and NAIA Region I
Player of the Week after a solid performance in the Lady ‘Yotes four games last
week. The sophomore hit safely in all
four contests, extending her hitting streak to a school-record 11 games. Zillner went 6-for-13 at the plate with four
runs scored and a pair of stolen bases, raising her batting average in CCC play
to .405.
INSIDE THE LEAGUE NUMBERS: As a team,
the Coyotes rank third in the Cascade Conference in team ERA (3.50) and team
batting average (277), and rank fourth in team fielding percentage (.956). Individually, A.J. Cavanaugh (Covington,
Wash. / Kentwood HS) leads the league with four saves, and is second in ERA
(1.95), while Katie Zillner is second in the league in strikeouts (104),
and is eighth in the CCC in doubles (6).
Also among the league leaders is Stacy Smith (Draper, Utah /
Juan Diego HS), who is tied for the league lead in home runs (8) and is
fifth in RBI (23), Heather Kirtley (Eagle, Idaho / Eagle HS), who
is second in stolen bases (15), and Kerri Russell (Melba, Idaho /
Melba HS), who is fifth in wins (7).
COYOTES DEFEAT NCAA DIVISION I TEAM: Stacy Smith hit a three-run home run
to cap a four-run third inning, as the Albertson College softball team defeated
their first-ever NCAA Division I team in program history, stopping Utah Valley
State, 7-5, at Symms Field on Easter Sunday. The Wolverines took the nightcap,
8-2. After spotting UVSC a 1-0 lead in the first, ACI took
the lead in the second on a Lisa Stout (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell
HS) two-run homer, the first of her career. Smith's bomb an inning
later, her eighth of the year, gave the 'Yotes a 7-3 lead. Despite Chris Jimenez going 3-for-4 with three runs scored
for Valley, Kerri Russell scattered seven hits around five runs to get her
seventh win. A.J. Cavanaugh got the final two outs for her fourth save. UVSC pounded out 12 hits in the nightcap, rallying from an
early 1-0 deficit to get the split. Cari Hamilton went 3-for-4 with two
runs scored in the contest.
CONFERENCE VS. NCAA D-I’S: The win by the Lady ‘Yotes
was the first time a Cascade Conference school had knocked off an NCAA Division
I opponent since 2004. Southern Oregon
topped the same Utah Valley State squad, 6-3, at the Central Washington
Invitational. ACI is now 1-8 against
the Wolverines all-time.
EASTERN SWEEPS ACI: Eastern Oregon pulled even with
Albertson College in the Cascade Conference softball standings, sweeping the
Lady 'Yotes, 5-1 and 5-2, at a windswept Symms Field on Friday afternoon. The wins
for the Mountaineers ran their win streak to five-straight and salvaged the
final two games of the season series with ACI, after the Coyotes had won the
first four games. Eastern plated all five of their
runs in the fifth inning of the opener. Leanne Foster had a two-out, two-run
double, with Tara Peerenboom capping the frame with a pinch-hit, two-run
single. Kelly West fanned allowed five hits and fanned five, allowing
only a Lisa Stout RBI single in the sixth.
The nightcap saw Katie Zillner strikeout 10 Eastern batters, but the
Coyotes could not stop the top of the Mounties order. Heather Tandberg
and Hannah Shelley each went 3-for-4, as EOU took advantage of three ACI errors
to plate a pair of unearned runs. Zillner and A.J. Cavanaugh each had two hits for the 'Yotes.
NO SHUTOUTS: Through the first 29 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
33 – a school record. The previous mark
was 15 games, set during the 2004 season.
HEADED SOUTH: The Lady ‘Yotes will make their
final regular-season road trip this weekend, as ACI heads to the southernmost
reaches of the Cascade Conference, with games at Southern Oregon and Oregon
Tech. The Raiders (18-13, 6-6 CCC)
have not played particularly well since a mid-March trip to Georgia where they
upset three nationally ranked teams. SOU
leads the six-team league in team batting (.339), but has struggled at times in
the pitching category (4.46 ERA) – a place the Raiders have dominated en route
to their three-straight CCC titles. All-Star
candidates Deni Rowley (.449 1 HR 15 RBI) and Leann Foster (.427 3 HR 29 RBI)
lead the way for Larry Binney’s club, who has lost four of their last six
counters. ACI and Southern split an
earlier series in Caldwell, with the Coyotes taking the opener 6-3 (using a
four-run seventh inning rally), but the Raiders took the nightcap, 13-5 –
improving their lead in the all-time series to 16-6. Saturday, ACI meets the No. 23 ranked Owls (25-3, 12-1), who saw
their first blemish on their CCC season with a 6-4 loss to Corban on Wednesday. Prior to that loss, the closest league games
OIT had faced were the 3-2 and 5-4 victories they had against the Coyotes in
March. Tech’s potent line-up features
perennial all-stars Lisa Erwert (.467 6 HR 35 RBI), Amanda Doherty (.451 8 HR
29 RBI), and Kelsi Haylett (.405 9 RBI 15 SB), while pitchers Jenni Bittle (15-1
2.45 ERA) and Megan Erner (10-1 2.74 ERA) have been solid. OIT has dominated the series with ACI,
taking 19 of the previous 21 games.
LOOKING AHEAD: The surface at Symms Field will
take a pounding next week, as the Coyotes will play eight home games to round
out the regular-season. Albertson will
play a non-conference doubleheader against No. 4 ranked Simon Fraser on Monday
afternoon, then tangle with rival Northwest Nazarene on Wednesday. The league schedule rounds out at the end of
the week – as Corban comes to town on Friday, and Concordia meets ACI on
Saturday.
ABOUT THE CASCADE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT: Unlike the
past four seasons, the Lady ‘Yotes are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs for
the first time in school history. The
six Cascade Conference softball coaches voted last year to allow each team to
participate in the CCC postseason tournament – with the tournament a true
double-elimination affair. The top-two
teams in the regular-season standings will receive a bye in the first-round of
the tournament (along with earning an automatic berth to the NAIA Region I
tournament). The highest finisher in
the tournament, not among the regular-season top-two, will earn the final berth
to regionals.
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 -