Yote Notes – Feb. 19, 2007

Mike Safford Jr. – Sports Info. Director

msafford@collegeofidaho.edu

ATHLETIC NEWS:

SOFTBALL DINNER/AUCTION: The 4th Annual ACI Softball Dinner-Auction is slated for March 10 on the ACI campus. For more information, including tickets, contact Al Mendiola at 459-5113.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STEAK LUNCHEON: The 3rd Annual ACI Women's Basketball Steak Luncheon is set for April 4th at the Outback Steakhouse on Karcher Road in Nampa.  The event, which costs $15, will run from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and features a menu of steak and chicken, along with potatoes and salad.  All proceeds help the Lady Yotes in their fundraising efforts.  To purchase tickets, contact Reagan Rossi at 459-5855.

MEN’S BASKETBALL (19-6): Coyotes host Eastern Oregon on Wednesday in Cascade Conference Tournament quarterfinal game

COMING UP: Cascade Conference Postseason Tournament – vs. Eastern Oregon, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.

LAST WEEK: at Eastern Oregon (L 78-75)

RADIO BROADCAST: All postseason men’s basketball games will be broadcast live in the Treasure Valley on 1490 KCID-AM, the “Home of the Coyotes.” Mike Safford will have all the action Wednesday night on the Home of the Coyotes, 1490 KCID-AM – America’s Best Music. The game will also be carried in La Grande on 91.7 KEOL-FM with Barrett Henderson calling the action. The EOU broadcast will also be online at http://www3.eou.edu/keol.

LIVE STATS: Live stats are currently not available for ACI home games.

YOTES THE NO. 4 SEED INTO CCC TOURNAMENT: Following the narrow loss Friday night at Eastern Oregon, the Coyotes watched as Northwest drew even with them in third-place in the final Cascade Conference standings – with NU earning the No. 3 seed with their head-to-head wins over ACI. The Yotes will had the No. 4 seed into the tournament and earn a rematch with Eastern on Wednesday night. It marks the tenth-straight season that the Yotes have qualified for the postseason tournament, having won the tourney four times (in 1996, 2001, 2003, 2004) – with the team posting a 12-3 mark in the CCC Tourney under Mark Owen.

NATIONAL TOURNAMENT TALK: Oregon Tech has clinched their fifth-consecutive berth to the NAIA Division II National Championships with their CCC regular-season title, with Warner Pacific locking up at worst an at-large berth for the second straight season. However, when it comes to all-time national berths – ACI has the entire CCC beat. The Coyotes, who last advanced to the national tournament in 2005, have qualified for 16 NAIA tourneys – four more that Oregon Tech. On the flip side, Wednesday’s opponent, Eastern Oregon, has not advanced to the national tournament since 1943.

PLAYOFF TICKET INFORMATION: All tickets for the Cascade Conference Tournament will be the same price as regular-season tickets at the J.A. Albertson Activities Center - $10.00 for reserved seating, $6.00 for general admission, $4.00 for student/senior general admission, and $2.00 for ACI students. Tickets will be available on Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center, along with at the Lady Yotes playoff game on Tuesday night. All tickets, including lifetime seat holders or 2007 season ticket holders who have not purchased their seats by next Tuesday night, will go on sale to the general public.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE: Opening round games in the CCC Tournament will take place on Wednesday night, with the semifinals set for Saturday, and the championship game scheduled for next Tuesday. The quarterfinals are a straight bracket, with the bracket reseeded after each round – ensuring the top remaining seed will play the lowest remaining seed. The tournament champion will receive an automatic berth to the NAIA Championships. Quarterfinal Pairings – No. 8 Evergreen State at No. 1 Oregon Tech, No. 7 Southern Oregon at No. 2 Warner Pacific, No. 6 Concordia at No. 3 Northwest, No. 5 Eastern Oregon at No. 4 ACI.

ABOUT EASTERN: Eastern Oregon is in the midst of one of their best basketball seasons in school history – having equaled the most wins in a season with 21. The Mountaineers have a balanced attack, with six players averaging ten points or more a game – paced by Tanner McIntosh (12.9 ppg,, 5.0 rpg) and Paul Carollo (11.2, 8.6 rpg). EOU is among the league leaders in scoring defense (68.1 ppg) and rebound margin (+7.2). It marks the 158th meeting between the rivals since 1933, with ACI holding a 101-56 series edge.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS: The two teams have split the previous meetings this season, each holding their own home court. ACI won the first contest, 98-90 in Caldwell, as Craig McGee scored 23 points in the win for the Yotes, offsetting a 33 point night from the Mounties Mark Carollo. Eastern won the last meeting on Friday night, hanging on to win, 78-75. Derek Brown led EOU with 16 points, with Brandon Nielsen leading ACI with 24 points.

HOME SWEET HOME: Big crowds for years have helped make the J.A. Albertson Activities Center one of the toughest gyms in the Northwest to play. Since the facility opened in 1991, ACI has posted a 176-39 all-time record on its hardwood (.819 win percentage), including a 101-24 mark in CCC play (.808 percentage). Caldwell has been a tough place in general for Coyote opponents, as ACI has posted a 294-48 mark at home since 1982 (.860 percentage), including a 56-game win streak at O’Connor Fieldhouse from Mar. 5, 1983 to Dec. 19, 1987.

YOTES AT NO. 14 IN LAST WEEK’S NAIA POLL: The Coyotes were ranked No. 14 in last week’s NAIA Division II Top-25 Coaches Poll, the ninth-straight week ACI has been in the national poll. ACI has maintained its perfect mark in the NAIA Division II, as the Yotes have been ranked at least once in the Top-25 every season since the NAIA split into two divisions in 1991 (The Coyotes were the very first No. 1 ranked team in the NAIA Division II, topping the initial poll during the 1991-92 season). The Cascade Conference had three other teams in the Top-25 – Warner Pacific ranked No. 4, Oregon Tech at No. 6, Northwest at No. 25, while Eastern Oregon was in the others’ receiving votes category. The final national poll will be released on Wednesday afternoon.

CAREER NUMBERS: Three different Coyotes are currently climbing the career record book lists. Josh Owen (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) currently ranks No. 1 in free throw percentage (.872, 171-of-196 attempts), is No. 3 all-time in three-point field goals made (182) and attempted (468), and is in the Top-15 in steals (114) and assists (215), and points scored (1,025). Senior Brandon Nielsen (Twin Falls, Idaho / Big Bend CC) is No. 6 in three-point attempts (385) and is in the Top-15 in three-pointers made (136), while fellow senior, Ike Stafford (Auburn, Wash. / Salt Lake CC) is No. 4 in three-point percentage (.451), and is in the Top-15 in three-pointers made (143) and attempted (317).

CONFERENCE LEADERS: Scoring Average – Scott O’Gallagher (WPC) 23.8, Alex Hartman (CU) 19.8, Adam Moore (ESC) 19.6, Josh Jackson (WPC) 18.3, Aaron Sawyer (NU) 17.6; Rebound Average – Paul Carollo (EOU) 8.8, Sawyer 8.3, Joshua Wetzler (OIT) 8.2, Jalonta Martin (WPC) 7.4, Stephen Ishmael (NU) 7.2; Field Goal Percentage – Derek Brown (EOU) .639, Erion Moore (SOU) .571, A. Moore .569, Jason Nunnemaker (SOU) .568, Stephen Ishmael (NU) .559; Assist Average – Levell Hesia (OIT) 5.3, Jesse Alvarez (CU) 4.7, Jeremy Templeton (EOU) 4.7, Dwain Hicks (ESC) 4.4, O’Gallagher 3.8.

AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS: As a team, the Coyotes lead the Cascade Conference in four statistical categories – steals per game (13.0), three-pointers made per game (10.9), turnovers forced per game (23.6) and turnover margin (+8.7). Individually, Ike Stafford leads the loop in three-pointers made per game (3.2), while ranking No. 6 in scoring average (17.4) steals per game (1.6), and in three-point percentage (.440). Bryan Champ (Boise, Idaho / Borah HS) currently leads the league in steals per game (2.6), with Josh Owen second the league in steals per game (2.1), free throw percentage (.855), and three’s made per game (2.8). Also among the league leaders are Brandon Nielsen, who is fifth in three-pointers made per game (2.4) and ninth in scoring average (16.4), Craig McGee (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS), who is seventh in field goal percentage (.556) and blocks per game (0.8), and is ninth in rebounds per game (6.4), with Donnel Garner (Scottsdale, Ariz. / Chaparral HS), ranked seventh in steals per game (1.5).

ON THE NATIONAL FRONT: As a team, the Yotes lead the NAIA Division II in turnover margin and steals per game, ranking second in three-pointers made per game, and third in scoring average. Individually, Ike Stafford ranks third in the NAIA in three-pointers made per game and Bryan Champ is eighth in steals per game.

TOUGH LOSS AT EASTERN: Paul Carollo scored 11 points and had 14 rebounds helping Eastern Oregon upset ACI, 78-75, in a rugged game Friday night at Quinn Coliseum. In a game that was marred with 52 fouls, it was the Coyotes free throw shooting that doomed the visitors, as ACI connected on just 12-of-29 freebies in the contest. Eastern used an 11-0 run late in the first half to build a 42-33 halftime edge, a lead that was extended to 61-47 with 12:32 remaining.  However, the Yotes did not quit, holding the Mountaineers to just one field goal over an eight minute stretch, cutting the margin to 66-62 on a pair of Craig McGee free throws.  ACI would close within two points on a pair of occasions, but could not get over the hump, and Brandon Nielsen rimmed out a potential game-tying three from the corner as time expired. Derek Brown led the Mounties with 16 points and seven rebounds, with Mark Carollo adding 15.  Nielsen had a game-high 24 points for the Yotes, as ACI hit 11-of-24 three-point attempts - but could not make up for their woes at the foul line.

100-POINT GAMES REACH FIVE: So far this season, ACI has topped the 100-point mark in a game on five occasions (129 vs. Montana-Western, 116 vs. Willamette, 111 vs. Evergreen State, 101 vs. Southern Oregon, 101 vs. Warner Pacific). It marks the first time since 1996 since the Coyotes have accomplished the feat, but still well off the school record for 100-point games in a season – seven, set during the 1990-91 season.

MORE INFORMATION ON THE COYOTES: For game stories, statistics, and information regarding the ACI men’s basketball program, head to the official site Coyote Basketball: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/mensbasketball.htm.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (18-9): Lady Yotes host Warner Pacific on Tuesday night in Cascade Conference Tournament quarterfinal game

COMING UP: Cascade Conference Postseason Tournament – vs. Warner Pacific, Tuesday, 7 p.m.

LAST WEEK: at Eastern Oregon (L 60-55)

INTERNET BROADCAST: Tuesday’s CCC Tournament quarterfinal between ACI and Warner Pacific will be carried on the Internet via the ACI Athletic Website (www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/caa/radio.htm) with student Chris Rifer calling the play-by-play. Internet and radio broadcasts for the possible CCC semifinal or championship games will be handled on a game-by-game basis.

LIVE STATS: Live stats of ACI home games are currently unavailable.

LADY YOTES THE NO. 3 SEED INTO CCC TOURNEY: The Lady Yotes dropped from first-place in the CCC standings for the first time this season on Friday night, after losing 60-55 at Eastern Oregon, falling into the No. 3 slot into the Cascade Conference Postseason Tournament. It marks the tenth time in 12 years that ACI has advanced to the postseason and are looking for their first-ever CCC Tourney title. The Coyotes have, however, advanced to three NAIA Division II tournaments (1998 – first round, 2000 – quarterfinals, 2001 – championship game), ACI has not hosted a playoff game since 2005, but boasts a 4-1 all-time record at home in the postseason.

PLAYOFF TICKETS: All women’s basketball playoff tickets will be general admission tickets - $6.00 for adults, $4.00 for students and seniors, and $2.00 for ACI students. Tickets are on sale in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, with the gates opening at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday night.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE: The quarterfinal games are set to be played on Tuesday night, the semifinals set for Friday, and the title game next Monday. The tournament bracket is reseeded after each round, with the highest remaining seed meeting the lowest remaining seed. The winner of the tournament will receive an automatic berth to the NAIA Division II National Championships in Sioux City, Iowa. Quarterfinals – No. 8 Northwest at No. 1 Eastern Oregon, No. 7 Concordia at No. 2 Corban, No. 6 Warner Pacific at No. 3 ACI, No. 5 Southern Oregon at No. 4 Oregon Tech.

COIN FLIP GOES EASTERN’S WAY: The CCC regular-season championship ended in a tie between Eastern Oregon and Corban, with both teams with an identical 15-3 mark. After all tie-break scenarios were exhausted, a coin flip was needed to decide the first of two automatic berths to the NAIA Tournament – which was won by Eastern Oregon.

ABOUT WARNER PACIFIC: Warner Pacific comes into the CCC Tournament having won three of their final four regular-season games, including a road sweep at Northwest and Evergreen State. The Knights are led by the CCC’s leading scorer Nicole Brown (18.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg), along with guards Jessica Mendizona (11.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and Lindsey Wells (5.1 ppg, 3.8 apg). They will be without the services of their top post, Danica Wilson (10.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg), who broke a finger in the previous meeting with ACI on Feb. 2. It marks the first playoff encounter between the teams and the 17th all-time meeting between the teams – with ACI holding a 10-6 series edge.

RECAP OF WP-ACI IN 06-07: ACI won the first meeting, 90-58, in Portland, as Savannah Ames led the Lady Yotes with a career-high 24 points. The Coyotes won the previous game in Caldwell, 84-72, as Ames scored a game-high 21 points and Jori Grady had 18 points and ten rebounds.

COYOTES GO OVER 100-WIN MARK: Playing at home has always been a big key for the Lady Yotes, as ACI has posted a 101-41 all-time record in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center. This year’s team has excelled in Caldwell, completing the regular-season home schedule with an 11-2 mark.

SCORING PACKS A PUNCH: Through 27 games this season, the Lady Yotes lead the CCC in scoring offense, averaging 73.3 points per game. ACI has scored 70-or-more points in a game 20 times this season, breaking the school record that was set during the 1999-00 and 2000-01 seasons. During the 2004-05 and the 2005-06 seasons – the Coyotes managed just nine 70-point games in each year. Interestingly, the 1996-97 team, which holds the school record for scoring average in a season (73.4), had only 14 70-point games.

STEALING FRENZY: As a team, the Yotes lead the CCC and the NAIA Division II in steals per game (17.0), with the 458 steals breaking the former school record (386) set in 2005.

CONFERENCE LEADERS: Scoring Average – Nicole Brown (WP) 18.7, Whitney Clark (ACI) 15.9, Christie Weaver (EOU) 15.7, Jessi Norton (CRB) 14.5, Jessica Steigleman (CRB) 14.4; Rebound Average – Te Awhina Arunui (CAS) 10.9, Jackie Spear (SOU) 9.9, Jennifer Solberg (ESC) 8.1, Brianne Carras (CRB) 7.7, Denise Hill (ACI) 7.6; Field Goal Percentage – Carras .583, ,Tosha Wilson (CRB) .542, Rebekah Johnson (NU) .533, Kelsey Richards (SOU) .515, Sam McCracken (NU) .503; Assist Average – Whitney Leman (EOU) 5.7, Wilson 5.5, Chelsey Zimmerman (SOU) 4.9, Kelsi Haylett (OIT) 3.8, Lindsey Wells (WPC) 3.6.

AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS: As a team, the Lady Yotes lead the CCC in steals per game (17.0), turnover margin (+7.4), turnovers forced per game (28.7), and scoring average (73.3). Individually, Whitney Clark (Jerome, Idaho / Northwest Nazarene U.) ranks second in the loop in scoring average (15.9), is fourth in free throw percentage (.791), and is seventh in three-pointers made per game (1.7), with Jori Grady (Roseburg, Ore. / Umpqua CC) ranking fourth in steals per game (2.7) and tenth in assists (2.6) per game. Christon Vander Esch (Grangeville, Idaho / Treasure Valley CC) ranks third in the CCC in blocked shots per game (1.0), is ninth in steals per game (2.2), and is tenth in rebounds per game (6.6). Also among the league leaders are Denise Hill (Eugene, Ore. / Boise State U.), who is fifth in rebound average (7.6), and Savannah Ames (Skagway, Alaska / Skagway HS), who is fourth in three-point percentage (.398).

CAREER RECORDS: Both Whitney Clark and Jori Grady are inching up the ACI career record book as the 2006-07 season rolls on. Clark currently ranks No. 5 all-time in three-pointers made (99) and attempted (307), is No. 6 in free throws made (204), is No. 7 in free throw attempts (263), and is No. 9 in points scored (767). She is also climbing the ladder in field goals made (232) and attempted (609). Grady is No. 8 in three-pointers made (66) and attempted (175), and is No. 9 in steals (121). She is also closing in on the top-ten in points scored (730), field goals made (261) and attempted (582), free throws made (141) and attempted (209), and assists (160).

SINGLE SEASON RECORDS: A total of five players have already cracked the single-season top-ten list for the Yotes. Whitney Clark currently has the third-highest scoring average in program history (15.9), while ranking fifth in free throws made (106) and tenth in field goal attempts (345), three-point attempts (142) and steals (58). Christon Vander Esch is seventh with 28 blocks and tenth with 58 steals, while Jori Grady sits at No. 5 on the steals chart (70). Also in the Top-10 are Savannah Ames, who is fourth in three-point percentage (.398) and Denise Hill, who is eighth in free throw attempts (142).

LADY YOTES LOSE TOUGH ONE AT EASTERN: Sheena Henderson hit a fall-away three-pointer as the shot clock expired inside the final minute, as Eastern Oregon withstood a furious Albertson College rally, topping the Lady Yotes, 60-55, at Quinn Coliseum. The win for the Mountaineers was the 11th-straight for EOU. Eastern used a 15-4 run inside the final five minutes of the first half to build a 37-30 halftime edge.  That lead would grow to ten in the second half, before an 8-0 run by the Coyotes, keyed by back-to-back Whitney Clark three's, got ACI within 46-44.  The Yotes would be within 54-51 after two Denise Hill free throws, but it was Henderson's trey that proved too much. Henderson led the Mounties with 19 points, with point-guard Whitney Leman adding 14 - as ACI held EOU's top two scorers to just four combined points (Christie Weaver and Tiffanie Ulmer each with two points). Clark led ACI with 16 points and Hill added 13 points and seven rebounds in the loss, the third-straight for the Coyotes - by a combined margin of 11 points.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For up-to-date statistics, stories, and information about the ACI women’s basketball team, head to the official website for the Lady Yotes – www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmensbasketball.htm.

ALPINE SKIING: Coyotes head to Red Lodge, Mont. for USCSA Western Regionals

LAST WEEK: Idle

COMING UP: at USCSA Western Regionals, Red Lodge, Mont., Feb. 21-24.

LADY YOTES LOOK TO REPEAT AS REGIONAL CHAMPS: Last season, the ACI women's alpine ski team captured their third USCSA Western Regional title in the last eight years by winning the giant slalom event and placing second in the slalom at Steamboat Springs, Colo.  Reigning Northwest Collegiate Ski Conference individual champion Molly Bullard (Boring, Ore. / Sandy HS) will look for a repeat performance in Montana - having placed fourth last season in both disciplines.  They will be tested by conference foe, British Columbia, along with regional opponents from the University of Colorado, University of Denver, and Rocky Mountain College.

MEN LOOK FOR REPEAT TRIP TO NATIONALS: The Coyote men look for a better performance at the Western Regional this year, after a disappointing tenth-place finish in the 2006 giant slalom left them on the outside looking in.  However, ACI rallied, using a second-place slalom to vault into the Top-5, clinching a spot at the USCSA Championships.   They will be pressed by Rocky Mountain, British Columbia, the University of Colorado, and Colorado Mountain College at the regional.

WHAT'S AT STAKE: The top-five team finishers in the combined will earn automatic berths to the USCSA Championships in Winter Park, Colo.  The ACI men have advanced to four consecutive national championships, while the women have advanced to every USCSA Championship since 1999.

HISTORY: Since 1979, the ACI ski program (alpine, nordic, snowboard) has won a combined 21 NCSA or USCSA team national championships, along with 15 individual NCSA or USCSA national championships.  Current snowboarder Evan Williams is a two-time national champ - winning the 2005 Snowboardcross and 2006 Halfpipe championships.

NATIONAL RANKINGS: Both the ACI men and the ACI women were ranked No. 8 in the USCSA preseason poll, released in November.

ABOUT THE COACH: Ron Bonneau is in his 17th season as head coach for the ACI alpine ski programs.  During his tenure at ACI, the native of New Hampshire has seen the Coyote men's team qualify for the USCSA championships on nine occasions, with the women's team making appearances 12 times.  His 2004 women's squad finished second in the nation and fourth in the alpine combined.  The Yotes have seen much success in the 21st Century, as both the men's and women's programs, under Bonneau's direction, have won four-consecutive Northwest Collegiate Ski Conference championships, with the Lady Yotes taking home Western Region championships in 1999, 2003, and 2006.  His women's teams have advanced to eight-straight USCSA championships, finishing in the Top-8 on each occasion.  Bonneau, a graduae of Plymouth State College, replaced Tom Olson as the alpine coach in 1991 - and worked with Chris Melgaard on the nordic side, to claim the women's nordic national championships in 1994 and 1995.  During his tenure, Bonneau has coached five national champions, 30 All-Americans, and 60 All-America Scholar-Athletes

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on the ACI alpine ski program, head to the official homepage of the Coyotes - www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/skiing.htm.

BASEBALL (4-2): Coyotes set to host Puget Sound in three game weekend series

LAST WEEK: at Regence Blue Shield of Idaho Tournament, Lewiston – vs. No. 1 Lewis-Clark State (L 8-1, L 7-0), vs. Whitworth (W 8-2, W 7-2)

COMING UP: vs. Puget Sound (DH), Saturday, 11 a.m.; vs. Puget Sound, Sunday, 11 a.m.

INTERNET BROADCAST: The ACI-UPS weekend series may have games broadcast on the internet, depending on the success of the Coyote basketball teams. If the ACI hoops teams play games on the road this weekend, baseball games will not be available on the internet. If there are no road basketball games, the first game of each day will be carried live on www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/caa/radio.htm with Mike Safford calling the play-by-play.

VOTES IN NAIA POLL: The Coyotes earned 14 votes in the preseason NAIA Top-25 poll, released in November, good enough for a No. 34 ranking. Defending NAIA champion, Lewis-Clark State, was the No. 1 team in the poll, with rival British Columbia at No. 5.

AROUND THE REGION: Oregon Tech opened their season with five games in California, opening with a doubleheader sweep of Simpson, before dropping a three-game series at Chico State. British Columbia opened their tour of Southern California with a shutout of Division III Occidental, but lost a one-run decision at The Masters. Concordia lost their season opener, a 4-2 decision at Western Oregon, while Corban had an up-and-down week in Northern California, taking two from Patten and a single from Simpson, before dropping two games at Bethany. Lewis-Clark State was the lone team unscathed, winning all four games at their own tournament in Lewiston.

ABOUT PUGET SOUND: The Coyotes return home this weekend, hosting their final non-regional series of the season, as NCAA Division III opponent Puget Sound heads to Caldwell for a three-game set. The Loggers (1-2-1) opened their season with a loss to Central Washington, earned a win and a tie against Corban, then dropped a 12-6 decision two weeks ago to Pacific Lutheran. UPS is led offensively by left fielder Michael Olsen (.533 1 HR 2 RBI) and designated hitter Joe Newland (.462 3 HR 6 RBI), with pitcher Evan Scandling (1-0 3.24 ERA) notching the Loggers lone win of the season. The squad is hitting .297 as a team this season, but their pitching staff has labored to a 7.91 ERA. The two teams have met 25 previous times, dating back to 1987, with the Yotes holding a 20-5 all-time series edge, including a three-game series in Tacoma last season – which ACI swept.

FRESHMEN PITCHERS MAKE DEBUTS: The games in Lewiston allowed the Yotes to throw a trio of freshmen pitchers out of the bullpen in the four-game series, with all three putting up zeros. Ben Rodwell (Nampa, Idaho / Skyview HS) saw action in two games, throwing three scoreless innings – allowing three hits and striking out one. Kyle Johnson (Centralia, Wash. / Centralia HS) tossed a scoreless inning on Saturday against Whitworth, with redshirt frosh Kris Bittner (Hollister, Calif. / San Benito HS) throwing an inning of relief in two games, allowing one hit, one walk, and two strikeouts.

WHO IS HOT: A trio of Coyotes are hitting over .400 through the first six games – led by a pair of hometown players, Jacob Garsez (Caldwell, Idaho / Columbia Basin CC) and Kent Bradshaw (Caldwell, Idaho / Tacoma CC). Garsez is 6-for-13 at the plate, while Bradshaw is 10-for-22, with six runs scored. Also swinging a hot stick early is All-American, Casey Oliver (Pocatello, Idaho / College of Southern Idaho), who is hitting .436 with three doubles and six RBI. On the mound, Joey Zubizarreta (Boise, Idaho / Cochise CC) has made two scoreless appearances, including a four inning outing on Saturday, allowing just two hits with two strikeouts – with opponents hitting just .118 against the lefty. Also throwing well is 2006 Cascade Conference Pitcher of the Year, Jason Roach (Sacramento, Calif. / Sacramento City CC), who is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings of work – striking out 11 batters, while holding opponents to a .128 batting average.

WHO IS NOT: Struggling early in the season at the plate is Drew Cauffman (Mountain Home, Idaho / Mountain Home HS), who is hitless in nine plate appearances. However, the senior made his first appearance on the mound in his college career, throwing a scoreless inning with a strikeout against Whitworth. Freshman Camron Hammond (St. Anthony, Idaho / South Fremont HS) has just one hit in 14 at bats, but has recorded 12 clean chances at third-base, with transfer Drew Echanis (Ontario, Ore. / Western Oregon U.) having just one hit in 12 plate appearances, but has 40 chances without an error at first-base. On the mound, Pat Lyon (Bonners Ferry, Idaho / Bonners Ferry HS) has allowed five hits in just two and two-thirds innings of work, but three of the eight outs he has recorded have come via the strikeout.

ABOUT THE SKIPPER: The 2007 season marks the 20th year in the Albertson College of Idaho baseball program for head coach Shawn Humberger, his seventh year as Coyote skipper. Last season, he led the squad to a 36-20 mark, their second-straight Cascade Conference championship, and a runner-up finish at the NAIA Region I Tournament. During his tenure, Humberger has compiled a 209-142-1 record, including a third-place finish at the 2002 NAIA College World Series. He has been named CCC Baseball Coach of the Year in 2002, 2005, and 2006, along with earning NAIA Region I Coach-of-the-Year and CCC Men's Coach-of-the-Year for all sports in 2002. A native of Twin Falls, Humberger graduated from Twin Falls High, played for the College of Southern Idaho for two seasons, and played at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas for one year. In 1984, Humberger was part of the CSI national championship junior-college team. In addition, he was named to the 1985 Junior College All-America team. Humberger, a 1989 Albertson graduate, also served as the facilities coordinator for the J.A. Albertson Activities Center for ten years, is a physical education instructor at the College, and coached Nampa's American Legion baseball program for eight seasons. 

RECAP OF THE REGENCE BLUE SHIELD OF IDAHO TOURNAMENT: (Friday – Lewis-Clark State 8, ACI 1) - Jessie Mier went 1-for-4, including a bases-clearing double in the seventh inning, as No. 1 ranked Lewis-Clark State handed ACI their first loss of the 2007 season, stopping the Yotes, 8-1. Chris Kissock limited the Yotes to just five singles in seven innings of work to notch the win in the season opener for the defending NAIA champs. A pair of errors in the fourth inning got L-C on the board, adding a pair of runs in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead.  After the Yotes scratched a run across on a Drew Echanis sacrifice fly in the seventh, a walk and back-to-back hit batters loaded the bases for Mier, who ripped the two-bagger into the right-center gap to put the game out of reach. Andrew Brock (Burnaby, B.C. / Douglas CC) took the loss for the Yotes, going five innings, allowing five runs, three earned, on six hits, and one strikeout.  (Saturday – ACI 8, Whitworth 2) Jason Roach pitched six solid innings and the ACI attack banged out 12 hits in an 8-2 victory over Whitworth College. Roach, who combined on a one-hit shutout in his season debut last Saturday, allowed just four hits over six innings to pick up his second win of the season.  The senior allowed a pair of earned runs and fanned five. The Coyotes jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning.  Kent Bradshaw led off the frame with a single, followed by an RBI triple from Tyler Smith (Fruitland, Idaho / Lower Columbia CC).  Casey Oliver then ripped an RBI double down the left field line and Pat Burke (Sisters, Ore. / Sisters HS) picked him up with a sacrifice fly. It was enough for Roach and the bullpen - as three relievers tossed a shutout inning apiece.  Kris Bittner, Kyle Johnson, and Ben Rodwell all made their ACI debut a good one. Oliver led the Yotes with a 3-for-4 afternoon, including a pair of RBI, with Bradshaw and Jacob Garsez each recording a pair of hits. Sunday – ACI 7, Whitworth 2; Lewis-Clark State 7, ACI 0) – The Coyotes split two games, winning the opener against Whitworth, 7-2, but falling to host Lewis-Clark State, 7-0, at Harris Field. In the opener, the Coyotes got solid pitching from Tim Bourner (Buhl, Idaho / Treasure Valley CC) and Joey Zubizarreta in notching the victory.  Bourner went the first four innings in the piggy-back start, allowing two runs on just four hits, with four strikeouts.  Zubizarreta entered in the fifth and held the Pirates without a run in his four inning stint, allowing just two hits to go along with two strikeouts. ACI erased a 2-1 Whitworth lead in the third on a Casey Oliver two-run single, part of his 3-for-5 day.  The Yotes blew the game open in the seventh, as freshman Garrett Schultz (Belgrade, Mont. / Belgrade HS) laced a two-run single to cap the scoring. Jacob Garsez had a 3-for-5 afternoon for the Coyotes had ten hits in the game. Game 2 saw Matt Fitts and Brian Parker combine on the shutout for the No. 1 ranked Warriors.  Fitts allowed four hits in five innings to get the win, with Parker closing the game out, fanning six. L-C scored three runs in the first off ACI starter, Carson Taysom (Pocatello, Idaho / Century HS), with a Beau Mills ripping a two-run double into left-center providing the big blow.  Mills and Jessie Mier each went 2-for-5 with two RBI in the win.

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 (4-1): Lady Yotes off to best start ever, head this weekend to Capitol Cup in Oregon

COMING UP: at Menlo (DH), Tuesday, 1 p.m. (PST); at Capitol Cup – Saturday (at Newberg, Ore.) vs. Pacific, Noon (PST), vs. Whitworth, 2:30 p.m. (PST); Sunday (at Salem, Ore.) vs. Western Oregon, 9:30 a.m. (PST), vs. Willamette, Noon (PST)

LAST WEEK: at Priscilla Benham Classic, Manteca, Calif. – vs. Patten (W 6-4), vs. Corban (W 6-4), vs. Bethany (W 1-0), vs. Dominican (W 7-4, L 1-0)

NAIA NATIONAL POLL: The preseason NAIA Top-25 coaches poll was released on February 1, with just one Cascade Conference team in the rankings (No. 15 Oregon Tech). Region I foe, Simon Fraser, was also in the rankings at No. 3. ACI was ranked in the regional top-five for the first-time ever last season, coming in at No. 5 for two weeks.

AROUND THE CONFERENCE: Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech participated in the Easton Classic in Ashland, with OIT winning 3-of-4 games (including a win over Concordia-Irvine), while SOU struggled – losing all eight games. Concordia has opened play with four wins – doubleheader sweeps of Lewis & Clark and George Fox, while Corban went 1-3-1 at the Priscilla Benham Classic in California – including a loss to ACI.

THIS WEEKS OPPONENTS: ACI opens the week at Menlo College in Atherton, Calif. The Oaks (4-2) are a dual affiliated NAIA/NCAA Division III program – having swept a doubleheader from Whittier and split twinbills from Dominican and Bethany. It is the first meeting between the teams. The Lady Yotes will then travel to the Capitol Cup in the Willamette Valley – playing games Saturday in Newberg and Sunday games in Salem. Saturday, ACI meets Division III opponents Pacific University and Whitworth College. The Boxers (23-15-1 in 2006) return junior Caitlin Mastenbroek and shortstop Kelsey Herstad, who each earnedFirst Team All-Northwest Conference honors, along with Kristen Croxford, who led the Boxers in hitting and earned a First Team All-NWC nod as a freshman. ACI and Pacific have met once, with the Yotes winning in 2002, 8-5. The Pirates (26-14) advanced to the D-III Regional Tournament for the first time last season, thanks to the play o f three-time NWC All-Star Heather Case, but Whitworth must replace NWC Pitcher of the Year, Jo Sonnett. The two teams have met three times, the last in 2005, with the Bucs holding a 2-1 series edge. Sunday, ACI opens with former CCC member Western Oregon, now a member of the NCAA Division II. The Wolves (0-5) opened the season with five losses at the D-II Leadoff Classic in Arizona. Trina Dorn leads Western at the plate, hitting .435 with a homer, while Christina Cooke is 0-3 with a 2.00 ERA in the circle. ACI is looking for their first win against WOU, as the Wolves hold a 4-0 all-time series edge. The Yotes close out tournament play with a game against host, Willmatte. The Bearcats (20-17) are led by two-time All-NWC selection, Molly Barnes, who hit .400 a year ago. It is the first meeting between the schools.

BEST START EVER: The Lady Yotes opened up the season with four consecutive wins to advance to the championship game of the Priscilla Benham Classic in Manteca, Calif. It broke the previous mark of three wins to open the season, set in 2003, and also the record for most wins with one loss to open the season, as the 2003 team opened 3-1.

NO STATS: Official statistics from the California tournament were not provided by Patten University, the host school. Statistics will be inputted on Wednesday afternoon and posted immediately to the ACI softball website.

RECAP OF GAMES: The Lady Yotes opened up tournament play with a 6-4 victory over host Patten, as Katie Zillner (Emmett, Idaho / Chicago State U.) went the distance in the win.  The junior fanned ten batters in her seven innings of work.  Heather Kirtley (Eagle, Idaho / Eagle HS) led the way offensively with a 3-for-4 afternoon. Game 2 on Friday saw ACI stop Cascade Conference rival, Corban, 6-4.  Freshmen Chelsey Nokleby (Olympia, Wash. / River Ridge HS) and Brooke Judy (Kuna, Idaho / Kuna HS) combined on the victory, as the Lady Yotes jumped out to a 6-1 lead and held on. "I was pleased with our efforts today," said head coach Al Mendiola.  "The top of our line-up was on base constantly, which was the key to our offense.  We do need better production out of the middle of our order." Saturday, the Yotes opened the day with a 7-4 victory over Dominican, followed by a hard-fought 1-0 decision over Bethany.  Kirtley led the Lady Yote attack with a 3-for-4 effort in the opener, as Zillner notched the win in the circle.  The nightcap saw A.J. Cavanaugh (Covington, Wash. / Kentwood HS) deliver the lone run of the game with a RBI single in the fourth inning.  Judy limited Bethany to just two hits over six innings, with Nokleby getting the final three outs to pick up the save. Monday, ACI dropped the tourney title game to Dominican, 1-0. The Lady Yotes had runners in scoring position the second, fourth, and seventh innings, but could not plate a run against the Penguins. Dominican scored the lone run of the game in the fifth inning on a two-out seeing-eye single up the middle.  ACI used three pitchers - with Nokleby tossing four shutout innings, Judy allowing a run in two innings of work, and Zillner tossing a scoreless seventh.

MORE INFORMATION ON THE COYOTES: For game stories, statistics, and information regarding the ACI softball program, head to the official site Coyote softball: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/fastpitch.htm

INDOOR TRACK: Hopper wins two races at the University of Idaho

LAST WEEK: at Vandal Indoor and McDonald's Invitational - Moscow, Idaho

COMING UP: Idle until NAIA Indoor Championships, March 8-10, Johnson City, Tenn.

HOPPER DOUBLES IN MOSCOW: It was a banner weekend inside the Kibbie Dome for Coyote runner, Tyler Hopper (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS), as the ACI standout won a pair of races against stiff competition at the University of Idaho.  On Friday night, the junior won the marquee event at the Vandal Indoor, winning the mile in 4:17.34 - defeating competitors from Idaho, Washington State, and Eastern Washington.  He followed that up with a win on Saturday in the 3,000-meters - winning a race that down the stretch was more suited for the football field than the track.  It marked the first time that an ACI men's runner had won two individual races indoors on the same weekend in program history.  Hopper's time of 8:41.54 met the NAIA "A" qualifying time for the NAIA Indoor Championships.

EDWARDS WINS 5K: Also getting a win this weekend was senior Shannon Edwards (Sherwood, Ore. / Eastern Oregon U.), who dominated a field in the 5,000-meters.  Edwards took home the win in 19:05.01 - over 17 seconds faster than her nearest competition.  Her time was just three seconds off an NAIA "B" qualifying time.

SCHOOL RECORDS FALL: Two school records fell in Moscow - with Tyler Hopper's 3,000-meter time breaking the school record, as did the time by Jayne Saunders (Emmett, Idaho / Emmett HS) in the 800-meters (2:25.58).

ONLY ONE TO NATIONALS: ACI will take just one runner to indoor nationals this season - as Tyler Hopper was the only Coyote to meet the aggressive automatic standards put in place by head coach Pat McCurry.  Hopper has qualified in three events - the 1,000-meters, the mile, and the 3,000-meters, but will likely compete in just one event.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on the ACI track and field team, head to the official homepage of the Coyotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/track.htm.

WOMEN’S TENNIS (2-4): Lady Yotes win 2-of-3 matches at University of Puget Sound Invitational

LAST WEEK: at University of Puget Sound Invitational, Tacoma, Wash. - vs. George Fox (W 7-2), vs. Puget Sound (L 8-1), vs. Pacific (W 8-1)

COMING UP: Idle, until NAIA Region I Challenge, March 3-4, Lewiston, Idaho

GREAT WEEKEND IN TACOMA: The ACI women's tennis team had a solid weekend indoors at the University of Puget Sound, as the Lady Yotes won 2-of-3 matches against competition from the NCAA Division III's Northwest Conference.  The Coyotes breezed to wins over both George Fox and Pacific, while dropping a decision to Puget Sound, one of the top teams in the Northwest. 

NO. 1 DOUBLES HAS PERFECT WEEKEND: Leading the charge for ACI was the No. 1 doubles team of Kyla Westerberg (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) and Kate Leadbetter (Grand Junction, Colo. / Fruita Monument HS), who were the lone Lady Yote pair to win all three matches in Tacoma.  The duo logged an 8-3 victory over George Fox, an 8-4 victory over Puget Sound (getting ACI their lone team point), and a hard-fought 8-6 win over Pacific.  For the season, the team is 4-0 at the top of the doubles ladder.

STRONG PLAY FROM YOUNGSTERS: Three true freshmen each won two singles matches this weekend, helping ACI to the two wins.  Kate Leadbetter notched a pair of three-set victories - one at No. 3 singles against George Fox, the other at No. 5 against Pacific (winning the final tiebreaker, 10-7), while Kim Clements (Boise, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS) got two victories at No. 4.  Melissa Rowe (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS) rounded out the group, earning a straight-set victory at No. 2 against Pacific, along with a win at No. 5 against George Fox.  Also earning two wins in singles play was Kyla Westerberg, who improved to 4-2 on the season with wins at No. 1 singles against George Fox and Pacific.

ARMSTRONG INJURED: The Yotes did receive a downer on Friday, as typical No. 2 singles player Mariah Armstrong (Sandpoint, Idaho / Sandpoint HS) injured her knee in a first-set tiebreaker during her match against George Fox.  The senior was unable to complete the match and did not return to the court during the weekend.

WEEKEND OFF: After competing each of the last two weekends, the Lady Yotes will take the weekend off - preparing for the NAIA Region I Challenge in Lewiston.  They will meet tough competition in the form of Lewis-Clark State, Alberta, and Southern Oregon in the two-day, round-robin tournament.

ABOUT THE COACH: Head coach Cisco Limbago is in his 22nd year as the leader of the Lady Yotes.  The College of Idaho grad has compiled a 158-110-1 all-time coaching record.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on the ACI women's tennis program, head to the official homepage of the Lady Yotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wtennis.htm.