Yote Notes – April 2, 2009

Mike Safford Jr. – Sports Info. Director

msafford@collegeofidaho.edu

ATHLETIC NEWS:

TRACK TEAM TO COMPETE IN ALL-IDAHO COLLEGIATE CUP: The C of I track and field team will compete Friday and Saturday at Bronco Stadium in Boise in the All-Idaho Collegiate Cup – as the four-year institutions in the Gem State converge to determine “State Champions.” The Yotes will compete against Boise State, Idaho, Idaho State, Lewis-Clark State, and Northwest Nazarene in the two-day meet.

GOLFERS HEAD BACK TO PORTLAND: The Coyote men’s and women’s golf teams will compete in their final regular-season tournament on Monday and Tuesday, traveling to Oregon City, Ore., for the Warner Pacific Invitational. The C of I men sit in fifth-place in the CCC standings, while the Lady Yotes are firmly in second-place.

MEN’S TENNIS DROPS TWO IN LEWISTON: The Coyote men’s tennis team dropped a pair of matches last weekend in Lewiston – falling 6-3 to the University of Alberta, and dropping a 9-0 decision to Lewis-Clark State. The Coyotes were helped in the Alberta match with a pair of forfeits, however, only Joel Hernandez (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS) was able to pick up a win – at No. 5 singles. The Yotes had their March 31 match at Treasure Valley CC postponed due to weather, with it expected to be made up following Spring Break.

WOMEN’S TENNIS GOES 1-2 IN LEWISTON: The Lady Yotes picked up a key 5-4 victory over Alberta on Saturday, sandwiched around 9-0 losses to Southern Oregon and Lewis-Clark State. In the win, The C of I took two of the three doubles points, but dropped the top three spots in the singles ladder.  However, Molly Leadbetter (Grand Junction, Colo. / West River Acad.) and Melissa Rowe (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS) notched convincing wins at No. 4 and No. 5 singles, while Tara Wensel (Nampa, Idaho / Vallivue HS) picked up a tough 7-6, 7-5 win over Gabrielle Donoff at No. 6 to secure the win.

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.  Throughout the month of March, use the Promo Code MANIA09 and get 20-percent off your entire purchase. 

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 (20-8, 17-2 NAIA West): No. 25 Coyotes take nine-game win streak to Portland for four-game set with Concordia

LAST WEEK: vs. Patten (W 9-4, W 5-2, W 14-3, W 9-1), at Central Washington (W 27-7, W 13-2)

COMING UP: at Concordia (DH), Saturday, Noon (PDT); at Concordia (DH), Sunday, 11 a.m. (PDT); vs. Central Washington (DH), Tuesday, Noon.

HOWARTH NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK: For the second time this season, outfielder Luke Howarth (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS) was named Cascade Conference Player of the Week, announced Monday. The senior had a monster series against Patten, going 9-for-15 at the plate with nine runs scored, two home runs, three RBI, and three stolen bases, upping his batting average to .458.

BATS HEAT UP LAST WEEK: After struggling at the plate at times this season, the Coyote bats found their rhythm in the 6-0 week – scoring at least nine runs in five of the six victories. As a team, the Yotes hit .427, with the team boasting a .500 on base percentage. The number that had to please head coach Shawn Humberger was the .376 average with runners in scoring position. Nine different players had weekly batting averages above .400.

MILLER AND CHAMP FINDING THEIR STROKE: Keying the offensive surge was seniors Jake Miller (Idaho Falls, Idaho / Treasure Valley CC) and Bryan Champ (Boise, Idaho / Borah HS), who were catalysts in the Yote wins. Miller was a very tough out, going 12-for-17 at the plate (.706 average), with nine runs scored two doubles, four home runs, and ten RBI – upping his season batting average to .333. Champ, back in the regular line-up after missing the first month while playing basketball, had nine hits in 16 at bats, rapping two doubles, two triples, a home run, and 11 RBI, pushing his batting average to .406.

HOME RUN TOTAL CLIMBING: For the week, the Yotes mashed 15 home runs, pushing the season total of round trippers to 28. This season’s total has already surpassed the entire home run count from the 2004 (17), 2005 (20), 2006 (11), 2007 (16), and 2008 (23) seasons, while just one dinger away from the total from the 2003 campaign. In all, eleven different Coyotes have hit homers in 2009.

LAST FIVE HOME RUN GAME?: The Yotes went long ball crazy in Tuesday’s opener at Central Washington, launching five home runs – including two each from Jake Miller and Diego Robles (Caldwell, Idaho / Tacoma CC). The last time the Yotes hit five home runs in a game was on March 4, 2000 in a 15-3 victory over Whitman – as Gavin Gosz hit two HR’s, with Casey Macomb, Chris Luras, and Darren Nannini all recording one bomb.

MOST RUNS AND HITS SINCE?: For the Coyotes, the 27 runs vs. Central on Tuesday marks the second time in as many years that they have recorded 27 runs in a game, as The C of I recorded a 27-spot in a win over Whitworth last year. It equals the fifth-highest run total in a game in program history. However, the 27 hits by the Yotes is the most by the club since 2001 – when the Purple and Gold pounded out 31 hits in a 26-0 win over the same Central Washington club.

A LAUNCHING PAD?: in the first 15 games played at Wolfe Field, it has been apparent, despite chilly temperatures, that the ball will fly out of the Coyotes new home park. At least one home run has been hit in 13 of the 15 games, a total of 24 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.

YOTES PERFECT IN SEVEN INNING GAMES: An interesting statistic for the Coyotes in 2009 comes from the change in doubleheaders in the NAIA West. The Yotes have taken full advantage of every Game 2 doubleheader being seven innings this season, as The C of I is a perfect 12-0 in seven inning games.

YOTES RANKED NO. 25 IN NAIA POLL: For the first time this season, The C of I cracked the NAIA Top-25 Coaches Poll, beginning the week at No. 25. The Coyotes received a season-high 130 voter points in the tabulation, released on Tuesday, finishing five points ahead of St. Francis (Ill.). It marked the first time since the 2007 season that the Yotes have been in the Top-25 – when they climbed as high as No. 12 in the poll. Although the Coyotes have the best record in NAIA West play (13-2) and hold a two-and-a-half game lead in the North Division standings, The C of I does not hold the top spot in the latest NAIA West baseball poll. British Columbia maintains the top spot, followed by the Yotes, Cal State-San Marcos, Concordia, and Corban. In the NAIA Top-25 poll, Lubbock Christian (Texas) sits atop the poll, followed by Oklahoma City, Southern Poly (La.), Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.), and Louisiana State-Shreveport. UBC, despite dropping a game this week, climbed three spots to No. 13. The NAIA West poll is released each Monday afternoon, with the national poll released on Tuesday afternoons.

BIG SERIES THIS WEEKEND VS. CONCORDIA: The Yotes will have a battle on their hands this weekend, as Concordia hosts the Idaho nine in Portland – a place in which the Coyotes have won a series just one time in the last five years. The Cavaliers (11-21, 6-14 NAIA West) are much better than their record indicates – as CU has lost six games in conference play by two runs or less. Offensively, the Cavs are led by first-baseman Jimmy Rudig (.347 3 HR 11 RBI), Jon Houts (.364 1 HR 6 RBI) and Tommy Whalen (.339 5 HR 14 RBI), while Brett Hawley (4-0 3.00 ERA), Ben Rue (1-5 4.6 ERA), and Ross Conway (2-4 5.55 ERA) are all quality arms. The teams will meet for the 100^th time this weekend, as the clubs have met five times this season, with the Yotes winning 3-of-5 – with all three wins in Caldwell, and lead the all-time series, 68-29.

GAMES PLAYED AT PORTLAND: With Concordia on-campus diamond the new site of the new library on the Rose City campus, the four-game series with the Cavaliers will be played at Joe Etzel Field at the University of Portland. Admission will be $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for students.

REMATCH WITH CENTRAL: For the second-straight Tuesday, the Coyotes will meet Central Washington in a non-conference doubleheader, this time in Caldwell. The NCAA Division II Wildcats (7-19) will have two days of rest between their Friday-Saturday series with Saint Martin’s – instead of playing six-straight games as they did over the weekend. CWU is led by outfielder A.J. Gosney (.374 12 RBI), and infielders Kevin Schneider (.341 2 HR 10 RBI) and Frank Donangelo (.301 15 RBI), while pitchers Michael McCanna (2-2 4.72 ERA) and Derek Shoemaker (3-4 5.19 ERA), who did not throw against the Yotes in the first meeting, could see the ball in Caldwell. The two teams have now met 57 times since 1987, with the Coyotes holding a 44-13 series edge.

GAME RECAP – SATURDAY VS. PATTEN: Jake Miller drove in four runs in the opener, while Jared Arehart (Idaho Falls, Idaho / College of Southern Idaho) tossed his second-straight complete game in the nightcap, as The C of I swept a NAIA West doubleheader from Patten University, 13-5 and 5-2, at a wet Wolfe Field. Game 1 opened with a bang for the Yotes, as Alex O'Brien (Everett, Wash. / Everett CC) tripled in a pair of runs in the first, followed by a long Miller home run over the left field wall to make it 4-0.  Patten would battle back, getting an unearned run in the third, then and RBI single from Anthony Phillips and and RBI double from Brett Korporaal in the fourth to cut the margin to 4-3. The Yotes would tack on a four-spot in the home half of the fourth, as a throwing error allowed two runs to score, with Miller capping the inning with a two-run single, all but putting the game away - as a two-run single by Kyle Douglas (Post Falls, Idaho / Lewis-Clark State) in the seventh and a solo homer by Izaac Garsez (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS) in the eighth capped the scoring. Ben Rosen (Eagle River, Alaska / Lower Columbia CC) pitched five solid innings of relief for the win, allowing just one earned run with three strikeouts.  Douglas went 3-for-5 with a triple for the Yotes, while Jermaine Collins went 3-for-4 with a homer and Phillips went 3-for-4 in the loss for the Lions. Game 2 saw Collins open the scoring with his ninth homer of the year, an opposite shot field shot off of Arehart in the second.  The Yotes would come right back, tying the score on a bases-loaded double play, scoring Brad Carlsen (Reno, Nev. / Western Nevada CC) from third. Patten would retake the lead in the third on a sacrifice fly, but the Yotes would score single runs in the next four innings to claim the win.  Cody Brubaker (Post Falls, Idaho / Spokane Falls CC) had an RBI single in the third, then followed with a long home run to right in the fifth to make it 4-2.  Dane McGrady (Boise, Idaho / Borah HS) capped the scoring in the sixth with an RBI single up the middle. Arehart was solid, scattering six hits, allowing just one walk, with six strikeouts.  Brubaker and Bryan Champ were 2-for-3, while Jeremy Wells went 2-for-3 for the Lions.  Chris Duke took the loss for Patten, striking out six in his six innings of work.

GAME RECAP – SUNDAY VS. PATTEN: Luke Howarth went a combined 7-for-8 with a pair of home runs, as The C of I completed a four-game sweep of Patten University with 14-3 and 9-1 victories this afternoon at windswept Wolfe Field. Battling a gale blowing out to right field and intermittent snow showers, the Coyotes extended their win streak to seven – combining for 29 hits in the two wins. After the Lions got a Chris Brigham RBI single in the first and a Jeremy Wells RBI double in the second to take a 2-0 lead in Game 1, the Yotes took control. Bryan Champ had a two-run single in the second to tie the score, with a Jake Miller sacrifice fly in the third giving the Coyotes the lead for good. The C of I would open the flood gates in the fourth – plating seven runs, including a two-run homer from Diego Robles, a solo shot by Howarth, a Miller RBI single, and a Champ three-run double, to push the lead to 10-2. It was enough for Andrew Brock (Burnaby, B.C. / Douglas CC), who went eight innings, striking out a career-high nine men in the win. Howarth had his second career five-hit game, while Champ went 3-for-3 with five RBI. Wells went 4-for-4 in the loss for Patten. Game 2 was all Coyotes, scoring two quick runs in the first, then putting the game away with a six-run second – as Howarth hit a two-run homer, Brad Carlsen hit a three-run shot, and Alex O’Brien added an RBI single. Jason Barry (Castlegar, B.C. / U. of Northern Iowa) survived some control issues to pick up his second win of the season, allowing just two hits and striking out eight men in five-plus innings. Miller, Carlsen, Howarth, and Cody Brubaker all had two hits in the victory, as the Yotes remained unbeaten in seven inning games this season.

GAME RECAP – TUESAY VS. CENTRAL: The C of I had their most prolific hitting day in nine years, taking advantage of a stiff breeze out to right field to hit seven home runs, as the Coyotes swept a doubleheader at Central Washington, 27-7 and 13-2, in Ellensburg. Leading 2-0, the Coyotes broke the game open in the third inning, as Brad Carlsen hit a three-run homer, followed by a Jake Miller long ball - all part of an eight-run frame.  Miller and Diego Robles would both hit home runs in the fourth inning, as the Yotes built an 18-0 lead in the fifth. It was enough for Chad Yeggy (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS), who allowed just two runs in five innings to pick up his staff-high fourth win.  All 14 position players for the Coyotes recorded hits, with Matt Mejia going 3-for-4 with four RBI, Devin Weaver (Boise, Idaho / Treasure Valley CC) going 2-for-3 with three RBI, and Robles going 2-for-6 with two homers, five RBI, and five runs scored.  Dane McGrady became the fourth C of I player in school history to score six runs in a game. Game 2 saw the Yotes plate eight runs in the first inning, as Bryan Champ hit a two-run homer and had an RBI single in the frame.  Miller would hit his third homer of the day in the second - part of a 4-for-5 nightcap, while Jordan Lanman (La Grande, Ore. / La Grande HS) went 3-for-4. Ben Rodwell (Nampa, Idaho / Skyview HS) picked up the win - tossing a pair of scoreless innings, as the Yotes used five pitchers in the victory, limiting the NCAA Division II Wildcats to just five hits.

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 287-191-1 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 (12-9, 4-0 CCC): Lady Yotes set to put eight-game win streak on the line in Willamette Valley against Concordia & Corban

LAST WEEK: at Northwest Christian (W 3-1, W 3-1), vs. Eastern Oregon (W 9-4, W 11-3).

COMING UP: at Concordia (DH), Friday, 2 p.m. (PDT); at Corban (DH), Saturday, 11 a.m. (PDT); at Seattle (DH), Monday, 1 p.m. (PDT)

ZILLNER NAMED PITCHER OF THE WEEK: For the second time this season, C of I right-hander Jody Zillner was named Cascade Conference Pitcher of the Week, released Monday afternoon by the league office in Portland, Ore. The junior was dominant in the Lady Yotes sweep at Northwest Christian, tossing the seventh one-hitter in program history in a 3-1 victory over the Beacons.  Zillner struck out a season-high 15 batters in the win, at one point retiring 16 batters in a row. She also made a relief appearance in Game 2, striking out the final two batters of the game to notch her first save of the season.

JUST MISSED THE SCHOOL RECORD: The 15 strikeouts by Jody Zillner was one off the single-game C of I record of 16, established last season by her older sister, Katie Zillner. It marked the third time that a Coyote pitcher has struck out 15 batters in a game.

NOT THE ONLY PITCHER THROWING WELL: The Yotes have had a solid 1-2 punch in the circle during their eight-game win streak, as Brooke Judy (Kuna, Idaho / Kuna HS) has won her last five decisions. During the streak, the junior has posted a 2.31 ERA, allowing just two walks and striking out 17 batters in 17 innings of work.

BATS HEAT UP IN CCC PLAY: As the Lady Yotes opened up CCC play, the offensive spark that had been eluding the squad all season began to emerge. As a team, the Yotes saw their team batting average climb 15-points in the four games, upping the mark to .247 – the highest of the season, scoring season-highs in runs in back-to-back games against Eastern Oregon. Leading the charge was Dani Villyard (Kent, Wash. / Kentlake HS), who had six hits in 11 at bats (.545 average), with three doubles and two RBI – as her batting average climbed to .356. Haley Butcher (Eagle, Idaho / Eagle HS) broke out of a season-long slump, going 5-for-10 with three doubles and five RBI, with Amy Rhoades (Eagle, Idaho / Dixie State Coll.) going 5-for-11 with two doubles and four RBI.

BUTCHER BREAKS DOUBLES RECORD: With her second double on Tuesday against EOU, Haley Butcher set the career school record with her 32nd two-bagger. The senior is also nearing two other career marks – for hits (143 – needs four to break the record) and at bats (446 – needs 23 to break the record). Also, Stacy Smith (Draper, Utah / Juan Diego HS) needs two more hit by pitches to break the career mark, as the senior has been hit 18 times in her career.

RARE SWEEP OF EASTERN: The doubleheader sweep of Eastern Oregon was something that hasn’t happened often against the Mounties for the Lady Yotes. In the 16 twinbills the two teams have played since The C of I started their program in 2002, the Coyotes have swept EOU four times – all since the 2006 season, including a series sweep in 2007. The two clubs have split a doubleheader three teams, with Eastern claiming nine doubleheader sweeps.

ERROR FREE SOFTBALL: A key to the Yotes success on Tuesday was the fact that the squad did not commit an error in the doubleheader – the first back-to-back games this season without recording an error.

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 74-67 at Symms Field. However, over the past two seasons, the Coyotes have had a substantial home field advantage, winning 38-of-50 games on their home diamond.

C OF I TOPS CCC POLL, RECEIVE VOTES IN NAIA POLL: By virtue of their 4-0 record in CCC play and being the lone league team with an undefeated record, the Lady Yotes took over the No. 1 spot in this week’s CCC Coaches Poll. Concordia is second, followed by Corban, Oregon Tech, and Southern Oregon. In the NAIA Top-25 poll, the Lady Yotes received 77 voter points – 76 more than they received a week ago, finding themselves the third team listed in the Others Receiving Votes category. Multiple C of I opponents are in the poll – including No. 1 Cal Baptist and No. 11 Concordia-Irvine, while Concordia (Ore.), CSU-San Marcos, and Simpson all received votes. The CCC poll is released each Monday with the NAIA poll released on Tuesday afternoons.

CCC NUMBERS: Batting Average – Corban .313, Concordia .301, Southern Oregon .293, Oregon Tech .292, Eastern Oregon .285, Northwest Christian .262, C of I .247; Earned Run Average – Concordia 1.92, Northwest Christian 2.12, C of I 2.22, Oregon Tech 2.3, Southern Oregon 3.14, Corban 4.00, Eastern Oregon 6.02; Fielding Percentage – Northwest Christian .958, Oregon Tech .949, Eastern Oregon .945, Concordia .943, C of I .940, Corban .933, Southern Oregon .923.

CAN THE COYOTES CONQUER THE CONCORDS?: The Yotes will open their six-game Spring Break road trip Friday at Concordia, who had been ranked as high as No. 14 in the NAIA poll. The Cavaliers (14-4, 1-3) opened the season with a 13-1 record, but ten errors in three games last weekend led to three CU losses. The Cavs are paced offensively by Becca Gawlista (.411 1 HR 13 RBI), Denise Benedict (.354 1 HR 8 RBI), and Sam Daline (.310 2 HR 14 RBI), while pitcher Danielle Pulfrey (10-2 0.85 ERA, 122 K in 82 IP) has the best numbers in the loop. The two teams have met 33 times previously, with the Coyotes holding a 19-14 series edge, but the Cavs took 3-of-4 last season.

HOT-HITTING CORBAN SET TO HOST C OF I: The Coyotes will tangle Saturday with Corban, the top hitting club in the league – having recorded ten or more hits in 13 of their 26 games this season. The Warriors (15-11, 3-1) proved they are for real last weekend, sweeping a doubleheader at Oregon Tech, before splitting tight games at Southern Oregon. Leading the offensive attack are sluggers Jennifer Kollaer (.419 5 HR 24 RBI), Rebecca Franke (.383 5 HR 26 RBI), and Jessica Schell (.325 4 HR 24 RBI), while Twyla Baggarley (5-1 3.10 ERA) and Erin Sailors (5-5 4.05 ERA) are the top pitchers. The two teams split doubleheaders last season, but the Yotes hold the all-time series lead, 14-11.

TIME FOR A BATTLE IN SEATTLE: After a day off on Sunday, the Lady Yotes close out their trip with their first-ever games in Seattle, squaring off against first-year NCAA Division I program, Seattle University. The Redhawks (8-15), who moved up after years at the NCAA Division II level, have lost six games in a row – two each to Portland State, Oregon, and Oregon State, but hold victories this season against both Boise State and Utah Valley, teams the Yotes have lost to. SU is led at the plate by Lisa Hill (.383 5 HR 17 RBI) and Jamie Foote (.340 5 HR 19 RBI), while pitchers Kelsey Reynolds (3-9 4.13 ERA) and Hannah Klein (5-6 4.97 ERA) have shared the duties in the circle. The two teams have met twice before – both at the Central Washington Invitational – with the Redhawks winning in 2002, while the Yotes took home a win in 2003.

ALL-TIME VS. DIVISION I TEAMS: The Lady Yotes have played 24 contests against NCAA Division I opponents and have a 6-18 record against the highest division. The Seattle U. doubleheader is not the last D-I match-ups for the Yotes this year, as they will host Boise State on April 14.

GAME RECAP: FRIDAY AT NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN: Jody Zillner tossed a one-hitter in the opener and picked up the save in the nightcap, as The C of I opened up CCC play with a pair of 3-1 victories at Northwest Christian in Eugene, Ore. Zillner retired 16-straight batters at one point in Game 1, striking out a career-high 15 batters, to notch her sixth win of the season. The Coyotes got on the board in the first, as Dani Villyard singled home a run.  The Beacons would get their lone run in the bottom of the frame on their only hit - a Brittany Robles RBI single - and would not have another base runner until the seventh. Villyard jumpstarted the offense again in the fourth, leading off with a double, coming home on a two-out Stacy Smith single.  The Yotes would add a run in the seventh on a Kristen Haugen (Salem, Ore. / South Salem HS) sacrifice fly to cap the scoring. Brooke Judy was solid in the circle in Game 2, allowing just one hit through five innings - as her offense spotted her a 3-0 lead.  Kalie Kurdy (Boise, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS) rapped an RBI single in the second and scored on a Smith single, with Amy Rhoades adding an RBI single in the fifth. NCU got on the board in the seventh on a Brooke Davis home run, but in came Zillner from the pen - striking out both batters she faced to notch the save.  Judy picked up the win, recording a season-high seven strikeouts, without a walk. Smith had three hits on the afternoon, with Kurdy, Rhoades, Villyard, and Haley Butcher all recording a pair of hits.

GAME RECAP: TUESDAY VS. EASTERN OREGON: Haley Butcher drove in five runs in the opener, while Amy Rhoades and Sammy Dodge (Mountain Home, Idaho / Mountain Home HS) each had three RBI in the nightcap, as The C of I swept a CCC doubleheader from Eastern Oregon, 9-4 and 11-3, at a stormy Symms Field. The opener saw the Mountaineers take an early 1-0 lead in the first on a Megan Monaghan RBI double, but Butcher quickly gave the Yotes their first lead with a two-run double in the bottom of the frame.  EOU retook the lead in the third on a long two-run homer by Megan Platz, but after a 30-minute lightning delay, Heather Dixon (Boise, Idaho / Idaho State U.) tied the game with a solo homer to left. The Lady Yotes, who extended their win streak to eight, took the lead for good in the fifth on another two-run double by Butcher.  After EOU drew within a run in the sixth, the Coyotes put it away in their last at bat, as Dani Villyard rapped a two-run double and Butcher laced an RBI single. It was enough for Jody Zillner, who allowed just four hits and struck out 11.  Rhoades went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and Butcher went 3-for-4 for the Yotes, while Monaghan went 3-for-3 for Eastern. The Mounties jumped in front in Game 2, getting a second inning RBI double from Crystal Weseman, but the Yotes came right back to plate three - one on an RBI single from Dodge, with runs scored on both a passed ball and a wild pitch.  The Yotes tacked on five runs in the fourth - as Rhoades lifted a sacrifice fly, Dixon added a two-run homer, with Dodge lacing a two-run double. After EOU cut the lead to 8-3 in the fifth, the Lady Yotes ended the game due to the mercy rule, thanks to an RBI single from Brittany Wenzel (Eagle, Idaho / Eagle HS) and a two-run walk-off double by Rhoades. Wenzel went 3-for-4 with a double, while Dodge went 2-for-3 in the win, as Brooke Judy struck out five to pick up her fifth-straight victory.

ABOUT THE COACH: Al Mendiola is in his fourth year as head coach of The C of I softball program, having compiled an 95-66 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.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (29-5): Season Review

HASTINGS TOO MUCH FOR LADY YOTES AT NAIA TOURNEY: All-American post Lindsay Ducey scored 21 points and had 18 rebounds, as Hastings College knocked off The College of Idaho, 76-64, in a first-round NAIA Division II National Tournament at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa. The Broncos, the three-time national champions, opened the second half on a 20-4 run, holding the Lady Yotes without a field goal for a seven minute stretch, building a 58-41 lead on a Kay Broekemeier three.  The C of I would fight back, forcing six straight Hastings turnovers, with a Christon Vander Esch (Riggins, Idaho / Treasure Valley CC) jumper with seven minutes remaining, pulling the Coyotes within 58-49.  The Purple and Gold would close within 68-61 on a Vander Esch three with 2:17, but would not get closer, as Hastings went 6-for-6 from the foul line to close the game. Unfortunately for the Lady Yotes, the Broncos proved to be too much, using 22 offensive rebounds to create multiple second-chance opportunities - while forcing 25 C of I turnovers. Early on, it was a see-saw game, as Hastings grabbed a 16-8 lead on a Rachel Isherwood jumper, but the Yotes would storm right back, scoring eight in a row to tie the game at 16.  The Broncos would push the lead back out to 26-19 on an Elyse Schlake runner, but the Coyotes got a Nicole Gall (Boise, Idaho / Santa Clara U.) trey and a couple of Meghan Hughes (Eagle, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS) buckets to take the lead for the final time at 31-29. Vander Esch led the Lady Yotes with 18 points and 11 rebounds in her final collegiate game, with Gall adding 16 points, and Whitney Owen (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) 13.  Broekemeier had 16 points in the win for Hastings.

WAS THAT REALLY A NO. 5 SEED: The tournament seeding committee got one wrong when it came to Hastings, which was a No. 5 seed in the Coyotes quarter – or the No. 17-20 team in the tournament. However, the Broncos proved their mettle, taking out top-seeded Shawnee State in the second-round, Concordia (Neb.) in the quarterfinals, and College of the Ozarks in the semifinals, before losing a 68-63 decision to Morningside in the NAIA championship game.

HOW THE REST OF THE CONFERENCE FARED: Southern Oregon did not fare well in their opening game, losing 66-58 to Black Hills State after shooting just 22-percent from the field. Concordia played two of the more entertaining games in the tournament, rallying from nine down in the final three minutes to force overtime, then toppling Iowa Wesleyan 70-68, but falling in the second-round to Dickinson State, 58-55.

VANDER ESCH, GALL EARN ALL-AMERICA HONORS: Following the tournament, two Lady Yotes were honored by the NAIA – as Christon Vander Esch and Nicole Gall were named to the All-America Team. Vander Esch was a second team selection, joining Alyson Pincock as the only player to earned either first or second-team honors. Gall was an honorable mention pick – as the Coyotes recorded multiple All-Americans for the first time since 2001.

FOUR NAMED SCHOLAR-ATHLETES: Also at the NAIA Tournament, four Lady Yotes were named to the Daktronics/NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete team – as Christon Vander Esch, ShaNae Horner (West Jordan, Utah / Snow CC), Kayla Brewer (Arco, Idaho / Butte County HS), and Katee Brewer (Arco, Idaho / Butte County HS) were among the 209 players honors. To earn the distinction, a player must be at least a junior in academic status and maintain a 3.50 cumulative grade point average.

RECORD SETTING SEASON: It was an amazing season for the Lady Yotes, as The C of I set a school record with 29 wins, the highest winning percentage (.853) in program history, while recording the longest win streak (21) and home win streak (14) ever. The Coyotes recorded their most Cascade Conference wins (18) and tied for just their second CCC championship in 14 years of women’s basketball and advanced to the CCC title game for the fifth time, while advancing to the NAIA Tournament for the fourth time.

NEW SINGLE-GAME RECORDS: As a team, the Coyotes set a pair of new single-game records this season – recording 71 rebounds in the win over Northern New Mexico, while blocking 13 shots in the win over Cal Baptist. Individually, Christon Vander Esch etched her name in the book five times – setting new records for points in a game (39 vs. Southern Oregon), field goals made (14 vs. Southern Oregon), field goal attempts (27 vs. Southern Oregon), free throws made (14 vs. Cal Baptist), and steals (15 vs. Willamette). Nicole Gall also set a single-game mark, breaking the record for three-point attempts in a game (18 vs. Southern Oregon).

NEW SEASON RECORDS: As a team, the Lady Yotes set eight new single-season records during the year – scoring average (78.0), rebound average (46.1), field goals made (968) and attempted (2,428), free throws attempted (785), rebounds (1,567), steals (574), and blocked shots (203). Five players also cracked the Top-10 for a season, with three school records established. Christon Vander Esch led the way with ten – No. 1 in steals (109) and free throw attempts (248), No. 2 in scoring average (16.65), No. 3 in points scored (566), field goals made (192), free throws made (154), and blocked shots (75), No. 4 in field goal attempts (447) and rebounds (312), and No. 6 in rebound average (9.18). Nicole Gall made the list in nine categories – No. 1 in field goal attempts (463), No. 2 in three-pointers made (95), No. 3 in three-point attempts (240) and steals (95), No. 5 in points scored (493), No. 7 in field goals made (181) and three-point percentage (.396), and No. 10 in blocked shots (31) and assists (105). Three others were on the list – Whitney Owen, who was No. 7 in field goal percentage (.503), Nicole Bruce (Boise, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS), who was No. 5 in blocked shots (51), and Alexandria Allen (Yakima, Wash. / Columbia Basin CC), who was No. 10 in steals.

NEW CAREER RECORDS: Five Lady Yotes are among those now listed in the Top-10 career record book following the 2008-09 season, including three new school records. Christon Vander Esch is a staple in the book, finding herself amongst the leaders in 14 different categories – No. 1 in rebounds (718), free throw attempts (460), and steals (253), No. 2 in blocked shots (166), No. 3 in games started (92), No. 4 in field goals attempted (984) free throws made (298), and rebounds per game (7.72), No. 5 in points scored (1,141), No. 6 in field goals made (389), No. 7 in scoring average (12.27), No. 8 in assists (208), No. 9 in games played (93), and No. 10 in three-point attempts (183). Whitney Owen and Kayla Brewer are each on the list three times – with Owen No. 8 in both free throws made (190) and attempted (274), and No. 10 in three-pointers made (59), while Brewer is No 6 in games started (83), and No. 9 in both steals (128) and games played (93). Rounding out the list is Nicole Gall and Nicole Bruce, with Gall No. 6 in three-pointers made (95) and No. 9 in three-point attempts (240), with Bruce No. 4 in career blocked shots (58).

A LOOK TO NEXT YEAR: The Lady Yotes will have to replace two starters – Christon Vander Esch and ShaNae Horner, which will be difficult. However, with all-three point-guards returning, along with scorers Nicole Gall and Whitney Owen, with post Nicole Bruce and wing Meghan Hughes having another year under their belt, the cupboard for The C of I is still full.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more on The C of I women’s basketball program, head to the homepage of the Lady Yotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmensbasketball.htm.