Yote Notes – April 23, 2009

Mike Safford Jr. – Sports Info. Director

msafford@collegeofidaho.edu

 

 

 

 

 

ATHLETIC NEWS:

 

BUY YOUR COYOTE GEAR ONLINE: Fans of the Yotes can now purchase official C of I athletic apparel and gear online at the Yotes new e-store at http://www.estoresbyzome.com/college_idaho.php - with a portion of every sale supporting Coyote Athletics.  Hats, sweatshirts, jackets, and t-shirts are just the tip of the iceberg on the Yotes e-store. 

 

IDAHO PRESS TRIBUNE FEATURES C OF I/NNU SPORTS BLOG: Fans of C of I athletics can share their thoughts on the Yotes as part of the Idaho Press Tribune’s College of Idaho/Northwest Nazarene Sports Blog.  Beat writer Mike Stetson shares his thoughts and stories, along with pictures and videos, on both the Yotes and Crusaders, with fans having the ability to leave their thoughts on their favorite team.  The blog is linked on the front of The C of I athletic website or can be visited at http://www.idahopress.com/blogs/?blogid=6.

 

DONATE TO THE COLLEGE OF IDAHO ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION: Click here to make your tax deductible gift to assist the CIAA with post-season championships team travel, scholarships and recruiting - https://www.collegeofidaho.edu/media/_secure/makeagift.asp

 

BASEBALL (25-17): Yotes look to get in win column in regular-season finale at home vs. Corban

 

LAST WEEK: vs. No. 6 Lewis-Clark State (L 19-3, L 13-5, L 16-7, L 6-5)

 

COMING UP: vs. Corban (DH), Friday, 1 p.m.; vs. Corban (DH), Saturday, 11 a.m.

 

15 SENIORS TO BE HONORED SATURDAY: Saturday will mark the final home games of the careers of 15 seniors for the Coyotes.  Of the group, three players have been with the program four years – Bryan Champ (Boise, Idaho / Borah HS), Dane McGrady (Boise, Idaho / Borah HS), and Luke Howarth (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS), with four other players – Jacob Garsez (Caldwell, Idaho / Columbia Basin CC), Matt Mejia (Ontario, Ore. / Eastern Oregon U.), Andrew Brock (Burnaby, B.C. / Douglas CC), and Don Bodewig (Brea, Calif. / Cerritos CC) with the team for three seasons.  The remaining eight seniors – Brad Carlsen (Reno, Nev. / Western Nevada CC), Chris Larsen (Vancouver, Wash. / Everett CC), Jake Miller (Idaho Falls, Idaho / Treasure Valley CC), Cody Brubaker (Post Falls, Idaho / Spokane Falls CC), Devin Weaver (Boise, Idaho / Treasure Valley CC), Jason Barry (Castlegar, B.C. / U. of Northern Iowa), Jake Bottari (Wells, Nev. / Western Nevada CC), and Alex O’Brien (Everett, Wash. / Everett CC) have been with the Yotes for two years.

 

25-WIN SEASON STREAK EXTENDED: With a win over British Columbia last Monday, the Coyotes extended their streak of consecutive 25-win seasons to 23.  The Yotes have won at least 25 games in every season since baseball returned to the College in 1987.

 

HOME RUN TOTAL CLIMBING: Despite the struggles, the Yotes hit 4 more home runs, pushing the season total of round trippers to 35.  This season’s total has already surpassed the entire home run count from the 2003 (29), 2004 (17), 2005 (20), 2006 (11), 2007 (16), and 2008 (23) seasons, and just two homers away from the 37 hit in 2002.  In all, eleven different Coyotes have hit homers in 2009.

 

A LAUNCHING PAD?: With just four more games left to be played at Wolfe Field, it has been apparent, despite the windy and chilly temperatures, that the ball will fly out of the Coyotes new home park.  At least one home run has been hit in 17 of the 19 games, a total of 31 long balls overall.  In comparison, in 21 home games at Simplot Stadium last year, the Yotes and their opponents combined for just 14 total round-trippers.

 

TOUGH STRETCH MAY COST YOTES AUTOMATIC PLAYOFF BERTH: Heading into the L-C series, the Coyotes had been ranked as high as No. 23 in the NAIA poll and were sitting at No. 28 last week.  However, after the disastrous four-game stretch, the Yotes fell completely out of the national rankings for the first time this season.  This is unfortunate, as 45 teams will comprise the NAIA National Tournament – with nine five-team sites to be announced in early May.  At their previous position, the Yotes, regardless of their finish at the NAIA West Tournament, would have been in position to secure their first berth to Nationals since 2002.  Currently, the Yotes will need a flawless week against Corban and a solid performance at the NAIA West Tournament to have a chance at a berth.

 

PLAYOFF PICTURE: Two teams have clinched automatic spots in the NAIA West Tournament – North Division champ British Columbia and South Division champ, Oregon Tech.  The remaining two teams will be determined on Sunday night by an oversight committee – most likely the Coyotes and Cal State-San Marcos.  The winner of the four-team tournament at Nat Bailey Stadium in Vancouver will earn one of the 31 automatic berths to the NAIA Tournament.  A total of 24 conference or groupings will earn automatic spots – with seven conferences (Appalachian, Chicagoland, Golden State, Great Plains, Heart of America, Red River, Sooner, and Southern States) earning two berths.  The remaining 14 berths will be determined via the final national poll on May 8.  The winners of the nine sectional tournaments will join host Lewis-Clark State in the Avista NAIA World Series in Lewiston beginning Memorial Day weekend.

 

ABOUT CORBAN: Closing out the regular season, the Coyotes will meet longtime rival Corban College in a four-game series.  The Warriors (10-32, 8-20 NAIA West) have fallen on hard times during the second half of the season, losing 17 of their last 18 games – including seven in a row.  Corban is led offensively by Craig Spicer (.353 4 HR 17 RBI) and Steven Blum (.347 2 HR 19 RBI) – the only two players with batting averages above .300.  On the mound, senior Jason Braun (2-7 3.52 ERA) is solid, despite his record, as is Trevor Winsor (3-5 4.11 ERA).  The two teams have met five times earlier this season, with the Yotes winning 4-of-5, extending their all-time series lead to 78-11.

 

LEAGUE LEADERS: Team Batting – CSU-San Marcos .322, C of I .303, British Columbia .301, Oregon Tech .287, Concordia .278, Simpson .272, Patten .272, Bethany .264, Corban .246; Team ERA – British Columbia 2.99, Oregon Tech 4.74, C of I 4.81, CSU-San Marcos 4.91, Corban 5.24, Concordia 5.44, Patten 6.84, Simpson 7.49, Bethany 8.19.  Individually, five Coyotes rank in the Top-5 various categories – Cody Brubaker is No. 1 in doubles (16), No. 2 in triples (3), and No. 5 in RBI (38); Luke Howarth is No. 2 in triples (3); Ben Rosen (Eagle River, Alaska / Lower Columbia CC) is No. 3 in ERA (2.27); Andrew Brock is No. 4 in ERA (2.90), and Camron Hammond (St. Anthony, Idaho / South Fremont HS) is No. 5 in stolen bases (15).

 

RECORD BOOK: As the regular-season draws to a close, the Coyotes have three players that have cracked the single-season and career record books.  Dane McGrady ranks seventh on the single-season list for hit by pitches (16), while already established the new career record in hit by pitches with 65.  Andrew Brock is in the career pitching Top-10 in two categories – No. 5 in starts (29) and No. 6 in innings pitched (208.2), while Luke Howarth is in the career hitting Top-10 in three categories – No. 6 in sacrifice hits (17), and No. 10 in both games played (183) and stolen bases (41).

 

STRUGGLES WITH L-C STATE: After losing 3-of-4 games to British Columbia the previous weekend, The C of I baseball team ran into No. 6 ranked Lewis-Clark State at the wrong time, as the Warriors swept a four-game home-and-home series with the Coyotes.  L-C outscored the Yotes 54-22 in the series, finishing the season with a 7-1 record against The C of I.  In the eight games, the Warriors had a .370 batting average against the Coyotes, while C of I pitchers struggled to a 10.34 ERA.

 

MOST RUNS ALLOWED IN AN INNNG: The opening inning of the series was a record-setter in a negative sense, as the Yotes allowed 13-runs to L-C, with the first 12 batters of the game reaching base.  It marked just the fourth time in modern program history that the Yotes had allowed ten-or-more runs in an inning – with three against the Warriors.  The Coyotes allowed ten runs in a frame against L-C during the 1987 season, then allowed 11 runs in the first inning of a game in 2003.  The other ten-run inning was a ten-run ninth inning by Concordia in 2006.

 

ABOUT THE COACH: The 2009 season marks the 22nd year in C of I baseball for head coach Shawn Humberger, his ninth year as Coyote skipper.  During his tenure, Humberger has compiled a 291-200-1 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, 2006. 2007, and 2008, 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 C of I graduate, also served as the facilities coordinator for the J.A. Albertson Activities Center for ten years and is a physical education instructor at the College, 

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on The C of I baseball program, head to the official homepage of the Coyotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/baseball.htm.

 

SOFTBALL (24-15): First-Place Lady Yotes have crucial home weekend against Corban and Concordia

 

LAST WEEK: vs. Great Falls (W 10-1, W 2-0), vs. Boise State (W 4-3, L 12-2), vs. Northwest Christian (W 3-1, W 10-2), at Eastern Oregon (W 6-0, W 7-2).

 

COMING UP: vs. Corban (DH), Friday, 2 p.m.; vs. Concordia (DH), Saturday, 11 a.m.; at Northwest Nazarene (DH), 3 p.m.

 

ZILLNER NAMED PITCHER OF THE WEEK FOR FOURTH TIME: For the second-straight week and the fourth time this season, C of I pitcher Jody Zillner (Emmett, Idaho / Coll. of Southern Idaho) was named Cascade Conference Pitcher of the Week.  The junior was instrumental in the Yotes 5-1 week, tossing a four-hitter in a win over Great Falls, along with a two-hitter in a victory over Northwest Christian.  However, her biggest win was against NCAA Division I Boise State, tossing an eight inning complete game, fanning nine, against the Broncos.  Zillner was 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA during the week.

 

BUTCHER EARNS PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR: For the first time this season, senior Haley Butcher (Eagle, Idaho / Eagle HS) was named CCC Player of the Week.  Butcher was solid in the Yotes order, going 9-for-13 with two doubles and three RBI, helping the Coyotes to five victories – thanks to three multi-hit games.

 

COYOTES ALONE IN FIRST-PLACE: With doubleheader sweeps of both Northwest Christian and Eastern Oregon, the Lady Yotes have moved into sole possession of first-place in the CCC with two weeks remaining in the regular season.  The Coyotes sit one-game clear of Southern Oregon and three-games ahead of third-place Concordia, with all teams having eight games left on their schedules.  The CCC regular-season champion will earn an automatic berth to the NAIA Women’s World Series in Decatur, Ala.

 

PLAYOFF PICTURE: With the new direct-qualification model that the NAIA has embraced, the postseason picture has changed as well.  Instead of a 20-team national tournament, the field has been expanded to 32 teams – 25 automatic berths (coming from 24 conferences and scheduling groups) and seven at-large spots.  At the Women’s World Series, teams will be split into eight pools of four, with the eight pool winners moving into the double-elimination bracket.  With no CCC Tournament in 2009, the regular-season champion will earn the automatic berth to Nationals.

 

ALL-TIME AT HOME: In the first seven years of the fastpitch program at The C of I, the Lady Yotes have a combined record of 82-69 at Symms Field.  However, over the past two seasons, the Coyotes have had a substantial home field advantage, winning 46-of-60 games on their home diamond.

 

C OF I CONTINUES TO TOP CCC POLL, CAN’T CRACK TOP-25: Despite winning 5-of-6 games last week, including a victory over an NCAA Division I team, The C of I still cannot crack the NAIA Top-25, let alone record their highest voter point total of 2009.  The Lady Yotes, who outpointed Southern Oregon and Concordia in the CCC poll, were the third team listed in the Others Receiving Votes category, claiming 65 voter points.  Cal Baptist, whom the Yotes dropped a 4-1 decision to in February, is No. 1, followed by Lubbock Christian, Point Loma Nazarene, Dickinson State, and St. Gregory’s, Two other C of I opponents are in the Top-25 – No. 13 Concordia-Irvine and No. 23 Cal State-San Marcos.  Two more national polls will be released (April 28 and May 5) on the next two Tuesday’s.

 

MENDIOLA HITS 100 WIN MARK: With a 6-0 win over Southern Oregon on April 11, C of I head coach Al Mendiola surpassed the 100-win total in his career.  The four-year skipper currently has a 107-72 career record and has led the Lady Yotes to three-straight 20-win seasons.

 

DIXON BREAKS SINGLE-SEASON HOMER RECORD: With her second walk-off home run of the season, a two-run shot against Boise State last Tuesday, Heather Dixon (Boise, Idaho / Idaho State U.) set the Lady Yotes single-season record for home runs.  The senior upped the mark to 13 with a two-run bomb against Northwest Christian on Saturday – tying her for the CCC lead.  Dixon ranks fifth in the NAIA in home runs per game, while ranking seventh nationally in overall homers.

 

BUTCHER, SMITH BREAK CAREER RECORDS: The career record book has taken a hit by seniors Haley Butcher and Stacy Smith (Draper, Utah / Juan Diego HS), as the duo have combined to set six career school records.  Butcher holds the record for career hits (160), doubles (35), and at bats (493), ranking second in RBI (87) and runs scored (94), is No. 3 in games started (172), No. 4 in triples (3), No. 5 in home runs (8), games played (173), and hit by pitches (8), No. 7 in walks (31), and No. 8 in stolen bases (16).  Smith holds the records for RBI (98), home runs (24), and hit by pitches (22), while ranking second in doubles (31), third in games played (174), No. 4 in hits (141) and runs scored (76), No. 5 in triples (2) and games started (161), and No. 6 in at bats (454).

 

OTHER RECORDS: Nine other Lady Yotes find their names in the career Top-10 with two weeks remaining in the regular-season.  Brooke Judy (Kuna, Idaho / Kuna HS) finds her name in nine pitching categories – No. 2 in wins (33) and innings pitched (349), is No. 3 in appearances (71), strikeouts (191), and saves (2), No. 4 in starts (46) and complete games (19), and No. 5 in walks (83) and shutouts (5).  The Coyotes other hurler, Jody Zillner ranks No. 2 in shutouts (5), No. 4 in complete games (19) and strikeouts (186), No. 5 in starts (20), No. 6 in wins (14) and innings pitched (154.1), and No. 7 in appearances (28) and walks (50) – while sitting in the No. 8 spot offensively with five home runs.  Amy Rhoades (Eagle, Idaho / Dixie State Coll.) is in the Top-10 in seven offensive categories – No. 5 in sacrifice hits (16), No. 6 in doubles (21), No. 7 in home runs (7), No. 8 in runs scored (51), No. 9 in RBI (46), No. 10 in walks (24), and No. 11 in hits (74).  Dani Villyard (Kent, Wash. / Kentlake HS) ranks third all-time in home runs (9), eighth in RBI (50), and ninth in hits (76), while Donnae Carrell (Caldwell, Idaho/ Middleton HS) is eighth in both home runs (6) and walks (28).  Stephanie Stover (Caldwell, Idaho / U. of Nevada) is fifth all-time in triples (2) and sixth in sacrifice hits (11), Katy Luetke (Yreka, Calif. / Mendocino CC) is No. 5 in triples (2), with Heather Dixon No. 2 in home runs (13).

 

CORBAN LOOKING TO BE A SPOILER: The Lady Yotes will open up the weekend set on Friday against Corban, who comes to the Treasure Valley looking to snap a seven-game losing streak.  The Warriors (18-20, 6-10 CCC) have recorded 15 games this season with ten or more hits, but have had their bats quieted of late, recording four or fewer hitsin six of their last eight contests.  Offensively, the Warriors are paced by Jessie Jones (.394 8 RBI), Rebecca Franke (.383 8 HR 34 RBI), and Jennifer Kollaer (.345 6 HR 29 RBI) – with the trio combining for 39 stolen bases.  In the circle, Erin Sailors (8-8 2.93 ERA, 135 K) has been solid of late – but has dropped her last three decisions (by scores of 1-0, 1-0, and 3-1).  The two teams have met 27 times previously, with the Lady Yotes holding a 15-12 series edge.

 

TOUGH CONCORDIA HEADED TO CALDWELL: One of the premier teams in the league heads to town on Saturday, as Concordia, who rose to No. 14 at one point in the NAIA poll, makes their annual appearance in Caldwell.  The Cavaliers (23-7, 10-6) opened the season 14-1, but has split their last four games.  Leading the way for CU is stellar right-hander Danielle Pulfrey (15-5 0.87 ERA), who leads the loop with 205 strikeouts.  Offensively, the Cavs are paced by Denise Benedict (.364 1 HR 12 RBI), Becca Gawlista (.352 1 HR 16 RBI), and Samantha Daline (.290 2 HR 20 RBI).  The two teams have met 35 times in the past, with the Coyotes holding a 20-15 series edge.

 

SENIOR DAY: Saturday will mark the final home doubleheader for seven C of I seniors – Stephanie Stover, Haley Butcher, Stacy Smith, Brooke Judy, Heather Dixon, Katy Luetke, and student-assistant Nicole Becvar.  Between those in the group, the seven players have combined for 23 seasons in the Purple and Gold.

 

CANYON COUNTY CLASH IN NAMPA: The Lady Yotes close out their non-conference slate on Tuesday afternoon with their return match-up with rival Northwest Nazarene in Nampa.  The Crusaders (8-35) have struggled of late, having dropped eight-straight games and 17 of their last 18.  NNU is led with the bats by Haley Hevern (.306 7 HR 16 RBI) and Arielle Chao (.304 4 HR 14 RBI), while Cara Duckworth (4-11 4.59 ERA) has been their most consistent pitcher.  The Yotes swept a pair from the Crusaders last month and holds the all-time series lead, 30-8.

 

ABOUT THE COACH: Al Mendiola is in his fourth year as head coach of The C of I softball program, having compiled an 107-72 career record – having won more games than any other softball coach in Coyote history.  The native of San Diego, Calif. has helped the Lady Yotes become a force in Northwest softball, leading The C of I to three consecutive playoff appearances, including the 2007 Cascade Conference championship, the 2008 NAIA Region I championship, and a berth in the 2008 NAIA Women's World Series.  Following the 2007 season, Mendiola was honored as CCC and NAIA Region I Coach of the Year after the Coyotes set a school record with 37 wins.  Under his direction, the Yotes have been ranked as high as No. 14 in the NAIA Top-25 Coaches Poll.  Outside of softball, Mendiola was the head coach of the Caldwell Silver Streaks American Legion baseball team from 1997-07 and has also assisted with the Boise Clippers men's fastpitch team.  He was also an assistant coach for The C of I baseball team for seven years.  A 1994 graduate of The C of I, Mendiola played two seasons of baseball for head coach Tim Mooney, earning honorable mention NAIA All-America honors as a senior.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on the Coyote softball program, head to the official homepage of the Lady Yotes – www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/fastpitch.htm.

 

TRACK: Helm, Troutner head to Eugene, rest of Coyotes set to run at Northwest Nazarene

 

COMING UP: at Oregon Relays (Eugene, OR) and Northwest Nazarene Invite (Nampa, ID), Saturday.

 

LAST WEEK: Idle

 

MCCURRY WINS RACE TO ROBIE CREEK: With the Coyotes taking last weekend off from competition, it allowed head coach Pat McCurry to compete himself – running the Race to Robie Creek, billed as the toughest half marathon in the west.  McCurry didn’t disappoint, as he won the race for the second time, outdistancing himself from the 2,400 other runners on the 13 mile course – winning in just over one hour and 13 minutes.  The Coyote skipper was featured on the front page of the Idaho Statesman along with all three local television stations.

 

HELM, TROUTNER SET TO RUN AT OREGON RELAYS: The Yotes will split their track squads again this weekend, as both Stephanie Helm (Challis, Idaho / Challis HS) and Tegan Troutner (Lake Fork, Idaho / McCall-Donnelly HS) will head to historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., for the Oregon Relays.  Helm, who has the fourth-fastest time in the NAIA this spring in the 5,000-meters, will run late Friday night in the Elite 5,000-meter race, while Troutner, who has the tenth-fastest time in the NAIA in the 10,000-meters, will run the 5,000 on Friday afternoon.

 

COYOTES LOOK TO IMPROVE AT NNU: The remaining members of the Coyotes will compete on Saturday at the Northwest Nazarene Invitational in Nampa.  According to the coaching staff, the emphasis will be focused on relay teams – as the Yotes will be fielding men’s and women’s teams in both the 4x100 and 4x400-meter events.

 

CASCADE CONFERENCE MEET QUALIFIERS: This year, the CCC has implemented qualifying standards in every event for the league meet to try and keep the field to a smaller size.  So far, eight C of I men and 13 women have met the minimum standard for the meet.  Men – Terriel Thomas (Chicago, Ill. / Borah HS)  (200, 400, 110-hurdles, 400-hurdles), J.J. Burk (Bliss, Idaho / Bliss HS) (5,000), Paul Sartin (Meridian, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS) (1,500, 5,000, 10,000), Geoff Williams (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS) (3,000-steeple, 10,000), Mike Tobiason (Boise, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS) (10,000-meters), Oliver Rosales (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) (10,000), Rand Kline (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS) (400-hurdles), Sam Finch (Redding, Calif. / Foothill HS) (long jump), Andre Archer (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS) (400, long jump, triple jump).  Women – Emily McCutchan (Eagle, Idaho / Cole Valley Christian HS) (200, 100-hurdles), Courtney Mitchell (Boise, Idaho / Timberline HS) (100, 200, 400-hurdles), Aurora Torres (Pendleton, Ore. / Pendleton HS) (400), Maggie Miller (Anchorage, Alaska / Lane CC) (800), Ashley Miller (Vida, Ore. / McKenzie HS) (800), Jayne Saunders (Emmett, Idaho / Emmett HS) (400-hurdles, 800), Stephanie Sparks (West Jordan, Utah / Juan Diego HS) (800), Colleen Smith (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS) (800, 1,500), Stephanie Helm (1,500, 5,000), Kayloni Jones (Nine Mile Falls, Wash. / Lakeside HS) (800, 1,500), Tegan Troutner (1,500, 5,000, 10,000), Molli Lee-Painter (Moscow, Idaho / Moscow HS) (1,500, 3,000-steeple, 5,000), Kristine Smith (New Meadows, Idaho / Meadows Valley HS) (5,000), Chantel Varland (Meridian, Idaho / Mountain View HS) (10,000). 

 

NATIONAL QUALIFIERS: NAIA “A” – Stephanie Helm (1,500, 5,000), Tegan Troutner (5,000, 10,000); NAIA “B” – Paul Sartin (10,000), Molli Lee-Painter (3,000-steeple), Chantel Varland (Marathon).

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more on The C of I track program, head to the official homepage of the Coyotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/track.htm.

 

TENNIS: Coyotes close out season with home matches vs. Lewis-Clark State

 

COMING UP: vs. Lewis-Clark State (M/W), Saturday, 10 a.m.

 

LAST WEEK: Scrimmage vs. Treasure Valley CC (Men W 8-1, Women W 7-2), Scrimmage vs. Skagit Valley CC (Men W 7-2, Women W 7-2)

 

NETTERS TO CLOSE OUT SEASON AT HOME: Both The C of I men’s and women’s tennis teams will be in action on Saturday morning to close out the 2009 season, hosting Lewis-Clark State.  The Warrior men (8-11) are currently ranked No. 19 in the NAIA national poll and topped the Yotes, 9-0, last month, while the Warrior women (10-11) are ranked No. 19 in the national poll and also defeated the Lady Yotes, 9-0, last month.

 

YOTES WIN MATCHES WITH JUNIOR COLLEGE’S: Last week, both the men’s and women’s teams met both Treasure Valley CC and Skagit Valley CC in a pair of non-counting matches – one in Ontario, Ore., the other in Payette.  The C of I men picked up a pair of victories – upping their mark to 3-0 against two-year competition, while the Lady Yotes notched a pair of 7-2 wins.

 

LEADING THE LADDERS: On the men’s team, James Collet (Pocatello, Idaho / Pocatello HS) leads the team with three singles victories and 57 games won, while Collet and Joel Hernandez (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS) lead the team in doubles play with three wins and 30 games won.  On the women’s team, Molly Leadbetter (Grand Junction, Colo. / West River Acad.) and Melissa Rowe (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS) each have won five singles matches in 2009, while Amanda McEldowney (Caldwell, Idaho / Linfield Coll.) leads the team with 75 singles games won.  McEldowney has been stellar in doubles play, having won five matches with a combined three different partners.  She and Rowe have combined for a team-high 45 doubles games won.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more on The C of I tennis teams, head to the official homepage of the Coyotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/tennis.asp.

 

 

GOLF: Season Review

 

LAST WEEK: at Cascade Conference Championships, Diamond Woods G.C. – Men 4th, Women 2nd.

 

LADY YOTES COMPLETE SOLID SEASON: The College of Idaho women’s golf team completed their 2008-09 season on Monday and Tuesday at the Cascade Conference Championships, presented by Diamond Woods Golf Club in Monroe, Ore.  The Lady Yotes, just as they had in each of the four league qualifiers, placed second to nationally-ranked Concordia – but more than 200 strokes ahead of their next closest competitor.  Cecilia Garcia (Ontario, Ore. / Treasure Valley CC) capped a quality season with a fifth-place finish (84-84-83 – 251), just three strokes out of third-place, while three other players – Heidi Murphy (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS)), Breanna Pace (Burley, Idaho / Burley HS), and Hannah Maurer (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS), placed eighth thru tenth.  As a team, the Lady Yotes fired a 54-hole score of 1038 – their lowest total of the season, but still 86 shots behind Concordia, who earned the CCC’s automatic bid to the NAIA Championships.

 

MEN STRUGGLE IN FINALE: The Coyote men did not have the same success as their female counterparts in Oregon, as the squad struggled to a fourth-place finish at the CCC Championships.  Only one golfer broke 80 during the event, as Cris Tietsort (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS) was the top C of I finisher in 12th (80-78-82 – 240).  As a team, the Yotes shot a 1003 – their highest 54-hole total of the season, but seven shots ahead of fifth-place Warner Pacific.

 

POINT LOMA TAKES AUTO BERTH: Four other teams from California competed in the event on the men’s side – part of the qualification process for the NAIA Championships.  Point Loma Nazarene claimed the overall title, followed by Cal Baptist, and Concordia.

 

MATLOCK NAMED COACH OF THE YEAR: For his efforts in rebuilding the Coyote golf program, head coach Garry Matlock was named CCC Women’s Coach of the Year, while he shared the Men’s Coach of the Year honor with Concordia’s Ronn Grove.  Matlock is in his ninth season as head coach of the Coyotes.

 

THREE LADY YOTES NAMED ALL-CCC: Although a C of I men’s player was not honored with All-CCC honors, three Lady Yotes were named to the eight-player All-CCC team – Cecilia Garcia, Heidi Murphy, and Breanna Pace.  Also, both the men’s and women’s teams were honored as the Champions of Character teams by the CCC.

 

FINAL NUMBERS: Overall, the Coyote men this season was led by Tyler Thurston (Eagle, Idaho / Eagle HS), who in his 16 rounds had an average score of 78.6 – the lowest total by a C of I men’s golfer since 2006.  Cris Tietsort averaged 80.5 and Ben Coate (Boise, Idaho / Capital HS) averaged 80.9.  On the ladies side, Cecilia Garcia averaged an even 85.0 – the lowest by a women’s golfer since 2005, with Heidi Murphy (88.0) and Hannah Maurer (88.7) both averaging under 90.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on The C of I golf program, head to the official homepage of the Coyotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/golf.htm.