GAME COVERAGE: Fans can look for Live Video and Live Stats links for Friday and Saturday on the
ACU
Stretch Internet Portal. The doubleheader against OUAZ on Monday will be broadcast with Live Video on the OUAZ
Stretch Internet Portal. Live Stats will be on the Spirit
SIDEARM Stats Portal. Coverage for the six games in Arizona is subject to change.
COMPLETE MEDIA GAME NOTES
OPPONENT PREVIEW - TAYLOR: In the abbreviated 2020 season, Taylor raced out to a fast start, going 11-3 with seven wins against teams that were either ranked nationally or receiving votes. The Trojans scored over six runs pre game last season and return their top bat in first baseman Lauren Kanai, who hit .413 with a home run and 16 RBI last year. Kanai is also a key arm for Taylor, finishing 5-0 with a 3.30 ERA in the circle. Senior outfielder Taylor Wilson is another major contributor who hit .340 with six doubles and 17 RBI. Wilson also has the ability to play third base.
OPPONENT PREVIEW - ARIZONA CHRISTIAN: The Firestorm finished last year 19-9 and received votes in the NAIA preseason poll for this season. Lani San Pedro (.365 average, 9 2B, 27 runs, 20 SB), Elsy Guzman (.337 average, 4 HR, 31 RBI), Claire Buckley (.325 average, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR) and Kylee Brown (.323 average, 8 HR, 3 2B, 24 RBI) are the key returners for ACU. Top starter Emerald Grijalva has graduated, leaving right-hander Taylor Roberts as the top pitching option. Roberts is a transfer from Marymount California University who threw a complete game while only allowing one earned run in a season-opening win over Taylor.
OPPONENT PREVIEW - OUAZ: The Spirit are coming off a 10-13 mark in the 2020 campaign, which included a split in Surprise against C of I. Senior infielder Kelly Stumper (.379 average, 9 RBI) returns after leading OUAZ in batting average last season. Sophomore infielder Andraya Rhinehart (.338 average, 7 RBI, 18 SB) is a dangerous weapon on the bases. Phoebe Popplewell (1-4, 3.23 ERA) and Alexandra McCutcheon (3-4, 4.01 ERA) each return after starting multiple games last year.
LOCATION INFORMATION: Arizona Christian's home field for the games on Saturday is at the Sandra Day O'Connor High School at 25250 North 35th Avenue in Glendale. Work is underway to secure the same field for the C of I games against Taylor on Friday too. The doubleheader against OUAZ on Monday will be played at Willow Canyon High School located at 17901 West Lundberg Street in Surprise.
YOTES IN ARIZONA: This will be the fifth trip to Arizona for the C of I program, with the Yotes holding a record of 22-9, including a 6-4 trip last year against Park-Gilbert, OUAZ, Hope International, Embry-Riddle and Arizona Christian. The other trips to the desert included 2005 when the Yotes went 4-3 in the Tucson Invitational Games, 2018 where the team went 6-2 playing eight games in four days and 2019 when the Yotes went 6-0 against Arizona Christian, OUAZ and Benedictine Mesa.
JANUARY SOFTBALL: C of I has played in January during four prior seasons, including going 3-0-1 in the Bay Area in 2016, posting a 6-2 mark in Arizona in 2018, finishing 6-0 in the Grand Canyon State in 2019 and going 3-1 last year. The Yotes have an impressive 18-3-1 mark in the month of January in program history.
C OF I ENTERS SEASON RANKED NATIONALLY: For the second consecutive season and the sixth time in program history, The College of Idaho softball program will enter the season ranked in the NAIA Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning the No. 17 spot in the poll. C of I has been ranked in the preseason poll previously in 2008 (No. 14), 2010 (No. 15), 2014 (No. 13), 2015 (No. 21) and 2020 (No. 19) The Yotes received 235 voter points in the poll, while fellow Cascade Conference opponents Southern Oregon and Corban were each ranked as well. SOU took home 15 first-place votes and was the preseason selection as the No. 1 team in the country. Corban earned 118 voter points to slide in at No. 23. Oregon Tech also received votes in the poll.
POSITIONAL PREVIEW - PITCHERS: After finishing the 2020 season with the second-best team ERA in the Cascade Conference, a deep stable of pitchers is once again in place to give The College of Idaho a group that will be tough to score runs against. Five key pieces that helped the Yotes to a 2.35 ERA from a year ago return to anchor the staff, which has added multiple quality arms to provide more depth. Right-hander
Hannah McNerney finished last season 5-2 with a 1.85 ERA in 60 2/3 innings, striking out 38 and walking 26. Opponents hit .225 against the game one starter for the Yotes, helping her to the second-lowest ERA mark in the CCC. Joining McNerney as a starter will be Eastern Florida State transfer
Katelyn Wilfert, a junior who went 14-5 with a 1.32 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 132 innings as a sophomore. Wilfert is also a capable bat who hit .288 with seven home runs and 40 RBI last season. Both McNerney and Wilfert will bring a noticeable presence to the mound that should help C of I remain difficult to score runs against. Additional starting pitching depth is expected to be provided by returner Lexi Navarette and newcomer
Annie Polster, both right-handers. Navarette posted a 3.73 ERA in her first collegiate season, starting three games and working 15 innings. Polster is a 2020 graduate of Hanford High in Washington, where she was named first-team Mid-Columbia Conference as a junior. The quartet of McNerney, Wilfert, Navarette and Polster will give C of I plenty of options as starters or in relief. Versatile right-hander
Loryn Fonger will be a critical component of the success of the Yotes pitching staff as well after going 4-0 with a 2.66 ERA over the course of 11 appearances last season. In a variety of roles, Fonger earned a save, started a game and worked 26 1/3 innings. Three additional pitchers will compete for time in the circle, including right-handers
Brianna Hoffman,
Nichole Giesy and
Reylene Cortes. Hoffman transferred to C of I from Benedictine College before last season and went 1-0 with a 1.83 ERA in four relief appearances. Giesy finished with the lowest ERA on the roster a year ago, going 2-0 with a 0.84 ERA in three appearances, including two starts. In 8 1/3 innings, she allowed just four hits and only one earned run. Cortes did not see game action last season after finishing with a 2-1 record and a 3.23 ERA as a freshman in 2019.
POSITIONAL PREVIEW - CATCHERS: Sydney Zachry,
Mallory Copeland and
Jalyssa Beamer are expected to once again see the bulk of the time behind the dish this season. Zachry saw the most time of the returning catchers as a freshman, appearing in 14 games and starting 11 of them, batting .231 and scoring five runs. Copeland has a strong arm behind the plate and hit .273 over the course of the shortened season, while Beamer threw out a pair of base runners in six games and has some good pop in her bat. Returner
Lauren Gordon joins new faces
Lauren Thomsen and
Daralyn Moura as additional options for the Yotes at the deep catcher position. Gordon primarily saw time as an infielder last year and hit .333 in 15 games. Moura is versatile as well and can play the outfield for C of I. Moura is a 2020 graduate of Pershing County High in Nevada where she hit .421 with 24 doubles, 14 triples and 65 RBI in 79 career games, including an impressive .548 average with 24 RBI and 39 runs scored as a junior on her way to All-State honors. Thomsen is a 2020 graduate of Wood River High who took home Great Basin All-Conference accolades as a catcher in both 2018 and 2019.
POSITIONAL PREVIEW - INFIELDERS: There are plenty of reasons for optimism surrounding the 2021 College of Idaho softball team, with the experienced returning infield ranking towards the top of the list. Within the infield, 16th year head coach
Al Mendiola brings back three of the four primary starters from last season, including
Trystin Crofts at third base,
Haley Loffer at shortstop and
Kylie Smith at second base. Additionally, the Yotes also return first baseman
Lacie Miller, who started seven of the 20 games at first, while serving as the designated player in three others. Crofts has become one of the most productive players in C of I history since she arrived on campus, ranking seventh on the all-time record list for the program with 93 runs scored for her career, fifth with 166 hits, third with 35 doubles, tied for first with 12 triples, sixth with 17 home runs, tied for third with 103 RBI and ranking sixth with 36 stolen bases. The third baseman lit up opposing pitching to the tune of a .460 batting average with two doubles, five triples, two home runs and 15 RBI in just 20 games last season. In addition to Crofts, the dynamic double play duo of Smith and Loffer is among the best that C of I has had in program history. Smith had a breakout season with the bat in the abbreviated 2020 campaign, starting all 20 games and filling the two-hole in the lineup every time. The consistent presence hit .379 with five doubles, two triples and 17 RBI. Smith stole three bases as well. Loffer was also a key contributor on the base paths, converting 13-of-15 stolen base attempts. At first base, Miller will be joined by a wide assortment of options who are all competing for playing time, including pitchers
Katelyn Wilfert,
Hannah McNerney and
Annie Polster, who all have the ability to play the field and hit when not on the mound. Polster, a freshman from Hanford High in Washington, brings a presence as a lefty bat that could prove key. Miller and McNerney combined to start half of the games at first base last season, with Wilfert hitting .288 with seven home runs and 40 RBI in 2020 as a sophomore at Eastern Florida State. Second-year Yote
Lauren Gordon has a bat that will find her a spot in the lineup as well after she hit .333 with eight RBI in 15 games, earning 11 starts as a freshman. Gordon started nine times as the designated player and twice at third base a year ago. The surplus of experience from the trio of Crofts, Smith and Loffer, along with others throughout the lineup, will be a big advantage for the Yotes entering the new year. That character trait is something that exists from top to bottom in the lineup. Freshmen
Kaylee MacDannald,
Kaily Christensen,
Hannah Mikel,
Madison Cowles and
Arika Schenfeld, along with junior transfer
Tanner Higgins have joined the roster as well to add further competition and depth to an already deep C of I team. MacDannald, a graduate of Manteca High in California, hit .429 with three home runs, five doubles and 18 RBI as a junior on her way to being named All-Valley Oak League. Christensen comes from a winning pedigree and won state titles in 2018 and 2019 as a prep at Woodland High in Washington. She was named All-Greater St. Helens League three times and earned All-State honors as a junior. With Crofts a senior this year, Mendiola says that the Yotes have moved Christensen to third base where he sees her and Gordon as the future at the position. Mikel and Cowles are both products of Idaho 4A softball power Middleton High, with Mikel hitting .430 with six home runs, seven doubles and 23 RBI as a junior in 2019 and Cowles hitting .400 with five home runs and 40 RBI in 50 career varsity games. Schenfeld is a 2020 graduate of Pleasant Hill High in Oregon and Higgins is a transfer from Southwestern Oregon Community College. Higgins crushed opposing pitching in 2020, hitting .345 with seven home runs and 20 RBI in just 16 games.
POSITIONAL PREVIEW - OUTFIELDERS: All three primary starters across the outfield return from last year. In right field, the 2020 season was a breakout year for
Aleah Mendiola, who had her best statistical output to date with the bat, hitting .390 with four doubles, three home runs and 15 RBI in just 14 games. As a freshman,
Hattie Hruza joined Mendiola in the outfield as the starter in center, finishing her first year at C of I with a .261 batting average, a double, two home runs and nine RBI. Rounding out the returning starters is
Micha Fortune, who brings good range to left field and provides a threat while on the bases after swiping all 11 of her stolen base attempts last year successfully. There is expected to be strong competition for playing time in left, with returners Lexi Navarette and
Lauren Garman teaming with newcomer
Makenna Luke as some of the multitude of options for head coach
Al Mendiola. Navarette, also a versatile option in the circle for the Yotes, hit .278 with a triple and an RBI last season, starting four games in right and one in left. Garman, a Vallivue graduate, appeared in 11 games as a freshman and is another capable option who will provide depth. Luke is a 2020 graduate of Livermore High in California who will bring a power element from the right-hand side of the plate. With so many options, the Yotes have the ability to go with the hot bat at the time. Notre Dame de Namur transfer
Lysette Villegas hit .318 in her sophomore season that was shortened due to COVID-19. Villegas is a strong fielder who has the potential to become a key situational option for the Yotes immediately. Newcomers
Daralyn Moura and
Paisley Mederios, along with returner
Payton Bates will each provide additional depth. Moura, also a catcher, brings a left-handed option to the plate after hitting .548 as a junior at Pershing County High in Nevada. Mederios, a 2020 graduate of Mountain Home High, hit .487 with eight home runs, 32 doubles, 41 stolen bases and 69 RBI in 72 career varsity games. She was named an All-Conference selection as a junior. Bates started a pair of games last year and is entering her third season with the program.
