Yote Notes – Apr. 16,
2007
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Mike Safford Jr. – Sports
Info. Director
msafford@collegeofidaho.edu
ATHLETIC NEWS:
GOLF SET FOR FIRST TOURNAMENT OF
SPRING: The ACI
men’s golf team is currently competing at the Lewis-Clark State Invitational
held at Lewiston Country Club. It will
be the first of two tournaments the Yotes will play in prior to the NAIA Region
I Championships in
WOMEN’S TENNIS (6-7): Lady Yotes host TVCC, head for pair
of matches in
LAST
WEEK: Idle
COMING
UP: vs. Treasure
Valley CC, Tuesday, 4 p.m. (
YOTES
SET FOR "HOME" MATCH: The ACI women's tennis team, which has played their first 13
matches of the 2007 season on the road, will finally play a match in the
Treasure Valley this week. ACI will meet Treasure Valley CC for
the first time this season, this time at the Yotes home away from home, the
River City Racquet Club in
FINAL
ROAD TRIP OF YEAR: The
Lady Yotes (6-7) will make the long trek Friday to
LOOKING
AT THE COYOTE NUMBERS: Three different singles players have recorded 90-or-more game wins this
season. No. 1 singles player, Kyla Westerberg (Caldwell, Idaho
/ Vallivue HS), leads the way with seven match wins and 118 game victories,
with No. 5 singles player, Kim Clements (Boise, Idaho / Bishop Kelly
HS), right at her heels, having won six matches and 115 games.
The third Lady Yote, Kate Leadbetter (
ABOUT
THE COACH: Head
coach, Cisco Limbago, is in his 22nd season as Lady Yote head
coach. During his tenure, he has an overall record of 162-113-1.
FOR MORE
INFORMATION: For
more information on the ACI women's tennis program, head to the offical webpage
of the Coyotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wtennis.htm.
TRACK: Yotes head to both
LAST WEEK: Idle
COMING UP: at
YOTES
SEND TWO SQUADS IN SEARCH OF TOP TIMES: The ACI track team will be traveling in opposite
directions this weekend as the Coyotes compete for the first time since Spring
Break. Five runners will head to
NATIONAL QUALIFIERS AND TIMES: NAIA “A” qualifiers – none. NAIA “B” qualifiers – Jayne Saunders
(400-hurdles), Natalie Hatch
(
FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on the ACI
track team, head to the official homepage of the Coyotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/track.htm.
BASEBALL (24-10): No. 23 Coyotes take nine-game win
streak into three-game series at No. 1 Lewis-Clark State
LAST
WEEK: at
Oregon Tech (W 9-0, W 7-0, W 7-1, non-Region I game postponed)
COMING
UP: at No. 1
Lewis-Clark State, Friday, 6 p.m. (PDT); at No. 1 Lewis-Clark State, Saturday,
2 p.m. (PDT); at No. 1 Lewis-Clark State, Sunday, Noon (PDT).
INTERNET
BROADCAST: Brian
Danner will have the play-by-play of the
YOTES
AT NO. 23 IN LAST WEEK’S NAIA POLL: ACI moved up two spots in the fifth NAIA Top-25
Coaches’ Poll, released by the national office last Wednesday, jumping to No.
23. It is,the fifth-straight week the
Yotes have been in the Top-25.
REGIONAL
STANDINGS A MESS: The
SHUTOUT
RECORD SURPASSED: In the 73 years of ACI baseball record history (dating back to 1934), a
Coyote team had recorded three consecutive shutouts on a pair of occasions –
once during the 1998 National Championship season, the other during the 2002
campaign in which the Yotes placed third at the NAIA World Series. However, both of those teams were trumped
this weekend, as the 2007 Coyotes set a new team record by recording
four-straight shutouts – helping ACI extend their win streak to nine. Last weekend, the Yotes closed out the Corban
series with 9-0 and 6-0 blankings, then opened up the Oregon Tech set with 9-0
and 7-0 victories over the Owls. In all,
the Coyotes threw 41 and a third consecutive scoreless innings, until OIT
scratched a two-run run across in the seventh inning of Sunday’s finale. During the stretch, the ACI team ERA dropped
from 4.02 to 3.49.
TRYING
TO TAKE DOWN #1: Idaho’s top-two collegiate baseball programs will meet again this
weekend, as the Coyotes head to Lewiston for a three-game series against No. 1
ranked
AGAINST
L-C, AGAINST THE REST: The five games against L-C this season have been definitely
hurt the Coyote statistics this season.
Against the Warriors, the Yotes currently hit .179 as a team, having
scored just three runs in five games against the 14-time NAIA champs. In fact, only two Yotes have batting averages
above .250 against L-C. In the 29 other
games this season, ACI is hitting .330, averaging over seven runs a game, with
a team ERA of 2.95. In those games, 14
different players have a batting average of .250-or-better.
ALUMNI
IN PRO BALL: A
pair of former Coyote players are currently playing their second week of the
2007 season in the professional ranks.
Jason Simontacchi, who pitched at ACI in 1996, is on the disabled list
with the Washington Nationals – battling a strained groin. Simontacchi is expended to join the Nats in
late April and serve as their No. 4 starter.
Another former Yote, Branden Florence, is in his first full-season at
AA, playing for the Reading Phillies in the
STREAKY
SEASON: It has
been a season of streaks for the Yotes – some good, some bad. An 11-game win streak was followed by an
eight-game losing streak. ACI broke that
streak two week ago and haven’t lost since, taking a nine-game win streak into
this weekend’s series at
DURING
THE WIN STREAK: In
the last nine games, the Yotes are averaging eight runs per game and have
stolen 30 bases. Even more impressive
has been the job of the starting pitchers, combining to go 7-0 with a 1.96 ERA
in the nine games, with a 3-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio – 42 strikeouts and
only 14 walks.
25-WIN
SEASONS, PLAYOFF SPOT: With one victory, the Coyotes can extend a pair of
longstanding records for the program. A
win would give ACI 25 victories on the season, which would be the
21st-consecutive season that the Yotes have won 25-or-more games (dating back
to the restart of the sport in 1987), with the same win clinching the Coyotes
21st-consectuve playoff berth.
REGIONAL
TEAM STATISTICS: Batting Average – Lewis-Clark State .342, ACI .309, Corban .288, British
Columbia .276, Concordia .266, Oregon Tech .240; Earned Run Average – LC-State
2.42, ACI 3.47, UBC 4.44, CU 5.49, OIT 6.00, CRB 7.29; Fielding Percentage – LC-State
.973, CRB .964, ACI .956, UBC .954, CU .952, OIT .929.
YOTES
SWEEP ASIDE OREGON TECH: Day 1 – ACI 9, OIT O - Jason Roach (Sacramento, Calif. / Sacramento City CC) and
three relievers combined for a three-hitter as the Coyotes blanked Oregon Tech
on Saturday in Klamath Falls. After a
three-hour rain delay, the Yotes ran their win streak to seven straight, as
Roach limited the Owls to one hit in six innings of work. The senior
walked three and struck out eight to run his mark to 7-3. Luke Howarth (Boise, Idaho / Centennial
HS) had a two-run triple and Pat
Burke (Sisters, Ore. / Sisters HS) had a two-run inside the park
home run as the Coyotes built an 8-0 lead after four innings. Jason Cox (
BIG
WEEKEND FOR BURKE, ROACH: Two of the top seniors on the ACI squad had possibly their
best weekend of the 2007 season in
ABOUT
THE SKIPPER: The
2007 season marks the 20th year in the ACI baseball program for head coach Shawn Humberger, his seventh year as
MORE
INFORMATION ON THE COYOTES: For game stories, statistics, and information regarding the
ACI 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 (29-8): Record-setting season continues for
No. 23 Lady Yotes, close out homestand Saturday vs. Northwest Christian
COMING
UP: vs. Northwest Christian (DH), Saturday, 11 a.m.
LAST WEEK: vs. NW Nazarene (W 7-2, W 20-2), vs. Concordia (W
4-0, W 2-1), vs. Corban (W 4-2, W 12-4)
TIME CHANGE: The ACI-Northwest Christian
doubleheader on Saturday will begin at 11 a.m., instead of the original 2 p.m.
start time.
ON THE INTERNET: Saturday’s doubleheader with
Northwest Christian will be carried live on the Internet via the ACI Athletic
Website (www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/caa/radio.htm)
with Mike Safford calling the play-by-play.
Archives of the broadcasts are available via www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/softball/2007RADIO.htm.
LADY YOTES EARN FIRST-EVER NATIONAL RANKING: Last week, the Lady Yotes received
their first-ever NAIA Top-25 ranking, as ACI was ranked No. 23 in the national
poll. The squad received 27 votes in the
poll, the third-straight ranking that the Coyotes had received votes. Regional foe, Simon Fraser, was ranked No. 3,
and Cascade Conference rival, Oregon Tech, was ranked No.1 4. It marks the fourth women’s program at ACI to
be ranked this season – joining the volleyball, basketball, and ski programs.
COYOTES MAINTAIN NO. 3 SPOT IN REGION: The ACI softball team was ranked
third in the fifth NAIA Region I rankings – the fourth-straight week that the
Yotes have been at No. 3. It is just the
seventh time in six years that the
YOTES CLINCH
SECOND WINNING SEASON: With a 29-8 record
heading into weekend play, the Lady Yotes have secured just their second
winning season in the six years of fastpitch softball. Only the 2003 team, which finished 18-17,
finished above .500. The best mark by an
ACI softball team through 37 games prior to this season was 15-22 in 2005.
HIGH WATER
MARK FOR PROGRAM: With an 12-2 mark and sitting atop
the CCC standings, the Lady Yotes have set their highest mark above .500
ever. Following a 6-0 week at home, ACI
moved to 21 games above .500 for the first time, and currently hold a four-game
lead on Oregon Tech in the loop standings.
AVOIDING THE
APRIL SWOON? The fourth month of the calendar year was
not been kind to the Lady Yotes in the first five seasons of softball. During the first five years, ACI has posted a
record of 28-73 during April (.277 win percentage) – with five of those
victories coming at the tail end April 2006.
Last season was the best April to date (9-13), a better mark than the
2002 (3-16), 2003 (7-11), 2004 (6-14), and 2005 (3-19) teams. However, the 2007 team has guaranteed a
winning April with an 11-1 mark so far this month.
HOME COOKING
IS THE TONIC: Helping the
MONSTER
INNINGS DURING THE WEEK: Coming into last week,
the most runs ACI had scored in a inning in program history was nine runs –
recorded against
RECORDS BY THE
WAYSIDE: During the 2007 season, so many
single-game and single-season records have been broken, that keeping track of
it is difficult. So far, ACI has tied or
broke nine individual game records (runs, RBI, doubles, home runs, total bases,
walks, sacrifice hits, putouts, and strikeouts), along with ten team game
records (runs, hits, RBI, doubles, home runs, victory margin, no hitters, one
hitters, consecutive wins, hitting streak).
Also by the wayside are the single-season marks for runs and RBI by a
player and wins and strikeouts by a pitcher, with the team already breaking the
season mark for runs, RBI, home runs, sacrifice flies, shutouts, and strikeouts.
NORTHWEST
CHRISTIAN COMES TO
SENIOR DAY: The
twinbill with Northwest Christian is the final home games for the lone ACI
senior, outfielder Heather Kirtley (Eagle,
HOME RUNS
ADDING UP: The Lady Yotes have hit at least one home
run in each of their last 11 doubleheaders – dating back to their sweep of
Great Falls on March 16. During that
time, ACI surpassed the school record for homers in a season, launching their
21st of the year on Saturday against Corban.
YOTES CONTINUE DOMINANCE OF NNU: The Lady Yotes completed a season
sweep of
ACI EARNS KEY WINS OVER CONCORDIA: ACI completed their
first ever season sweep of a Cascade Conference opponent, taking both ends of a
doubleheader Friday afternoon from Concordia University, winning 4-0 and 2-1,
at Symms Field. The wins for the No. 23
ranked Coyotes helped ACI build a three-game lead in the loop standings and
move to 19-games above .500 for the first time ever. Game 1 saw Amy Rhoades break up a pitchers'
dual with a two-run home run in the fifth, then blast her second longball of
the day, a second two-run shot in the sixth, to give ACI the win. It was
the first-ever multi-homer game for the Yotes in the six-year history of the
program. The runs were enough for Katie
Zillner, who struck out nine batters for the win. The junior scattered
six hits and struck out nine - establishing a new school record for strikeouts
and shutouts in a season. Game 2 saw the
Cavaliers (12-11, 6-6) end a 23 and a third inning scoreless streak against
ACI, as Shalina Morris singled home Casey Middagh, who led the fourth off with
a triple. The Coyotes would rally, getting a Stefanie Gonsalves
(Weed, Calif. /
Coll. of the Siskiyous) RBI single in the fifth to tie the score,
then catch a break in the sixth to bring in the winning run. With Heather
Kirtley at second and two outs, A.J. Cavanaugh rolled a routine grounder to
shortstop Ashley Watson - but the sophomore's throw to first was wild, allowing
Kirtley to score the go-ahead run.
Brooke Judy worked three innings of scoreless relief to pick up her 11th
win of the season.
YOTES STOP CORBAN: Katie Zillner struck out 14 batters
in the opener and ACI scored 12 runs with two outs in the sixth inning of the
nightcap, as the Lady Yotes swept Corban College, 4-2 and 12-4, at Symms Field
on Saturday. The wins gave the No. 23
ranked Coyotes a four-game lead in the Cascade Conference standings with six
games remaining - all on the road. ACI established a new school-record
for home runs in a season as well in the sweep, as the Yotes have now won seven
in a row, 16 of their last 17, and 21 of their last 23 games overall. The
squad is 11-1 so far on their 14-game homestand. Zillner was the
story in the opener, allowing just four hits in picking up her 14th win.
She was staked out to a 3-0 lead, as Amy Rhoades and Haley Butcher had RBI
singles in the first, and Nicole Illias lifted a sacrifice fly in the
second. The Warriors (5-29-1, 2-12) would get to Zillner in the third, as
with two outs a Siriana Guest single was misplayed by the ACI outfield,
allowing a pair of unearned runs to score. However, Zillner struck out
Lindsey Batey to end the threat. The Yotes would tack on a safety squeeze
bunt by Illias in the fourth to score Stefanie Gonsalves to cap the
scoring. Game 2 was much closer
than the score indicated. The Warriors got RBI singles from
Jennifer Childers and Kacie Emerick in the first with two outs to take an early
2-0 lead, then get a Childers two-run homer to right in the third, making it
4-0. Corban starter Erin Sailors
worked out of bases loaded jams in both the second and third, and reliever
Karlee Sisler kept the Warriors no-hit bid alive until the fifth.
However, it unraveled quickly with two outs in the sixth, as Rhoades laced an
RBI single to put ACI on the board. Zillner would rattle the centerfield
wall with a two-run double to cut the margin to 4-3, with A.J. Cavanaugh
launching a two-run homer to right to give the Yotes the lead for good.
Gonsalves would add a two-run double to make it 7-4 - with a three-run homer by
Rhoades, her fourth of the week, ending the game via the mercy-rule. Rhoades was 3-for-8 in the twinbill with five
RBI, while Gonsalves went 2-for-4 with four runs scored for the Yotes.
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.