2021 Softball Notebook (Week 3)

GAME COVERAGE: Every game this weekend will be covered with Live Video on the Yotes Digital Network. Fans can purchase a single game pass for $7.99, a day pass for $8.99 or a season pass for $29.99. Live Stats will be provided on the C of I Stretch Internet Portal for all C of I games.

COMPLETE MEDIA GAME NOTES
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW - CARROLL: The Fighting Saints have plenty to replace from their roster from last season, as six everyday players that hit above .300 have all departed. Anna Davidson (.483 BA, 5 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI) leads the position players who return, while Abby Hanley (3-4, 5.08 ERA, 31 K, 25 BB) is the most experienced piece back in the circle. Last year C of I and Carroll played a three-game set in Ontario, with the Yotes winning two out of three.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW - EASTERN OREGON: The Mountaineers finished last season 6-15 overall, including a three-game sweep of British Columbia to end the year. EOU brings back two-way contributor Amanda Smith, who hit .400 with a home run and 10 RBI while also appearing in nine games in the circle, finishing 1-5 with a 6.67 ERA in 28 1/3 innings. Jordan Henley (.296 BA, 4 2B, 2 3B, 11 RBI) and Haley Ebner (.283 BA, 2 2B, 7 RBI) are other key returners with the bats. The Mounties will be looking for improvement on the mound this year after posting a 7.67 team ERA a season ago.
 
WEEKEND OVERVIEW: Carroll and Eastern Oregon head to Caldwell this Saturday and Sunday to play four games each. The game schedule on Saturday will feature C of I hosting Carroll at noon, the Fighting Saints playing EOU at 2 p.m. and the Yotes against the Mountaineers at 4 p.m. On Sunday, C of I starts the day against Carroll at noon, with the Fighting Saints battling EOU at 2 p.m. and the Mounties and the Yotes finishing the weekend at 4 p.m.
 
HOME OPENERS: The Yotes are 13-6 in program history in home openers, including a streak of three wins in a row.
 
PROTECTING THE HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: C of I has posted a winning record at home for 14 consecutive seasons, combining for a record of 196-99 over that time span, including a 26-8 mark in the past two years. In four different seasons, the Yotes have finished with 18 or more home wins, including 2007, 2009, 2014 and 2019. The 2019 team set a school record with 23 wins at Symms Field.
 
SEASON STARTING HITTING STREAKS: Over the course of the beginning of the season, Haley Loffer and Kaily Christensen each posted hitting streaks of seven games.

INNING BREAKDOWN: C of I is outscoring opponents in every inning for the season except the second, which has seen the Yotes plate five runs and opponents score five as well. The most success has been found in the fifth inning of games, where C of I has outscored the opposition by a 12-2 total on the campaign.

CLOSE TO HISTORY: Head coach Al Mendiola is the winningest coach in C of I softball program history with 392 wins. In his 15th season, Mendiola is now just eight wins away from 400, which would put him in company with his wife Liz Mendiola - the head volleyball coach - as the only women's sports coaches to eclipse the 400 wins threshold in school history.

450 WINS FOR PROGRAM: With the 9-1 defeat of OUAZ on Feb. 1, C of I won the 450th game in program history.

CHRISTENSEN LEADING CONFERENCE IN HITS: Freshman Kaily Christensen is tied for the lead in the Cascade Conference with Allie Stines of Southern Oregon with 15 hits this season. Christensen also ranks fifth with a .441 batting average and second with 10 RBI.

NAVARRETE PITCHES WELL: Sophomore Lexi Navarrete has not allowed an earned run over 5 2/3 innings to start the season, including going 4 1/3 innings in relief and allowing just three hits last week at William Jessup.

WILFERT AMONG CONFERENCE LEADERS: Junior pitcher Katelyn Wilfert is fifth in the CCC with a 2.58 ERA and third with 23 strikeouts.

CROFTS CAREER UPDATES: Senior Trystin Crofts has become one of the most productive players in C of I history since she arrived on campus, ranking third on the all-time record list for the program with 102 runs scored for her career, third with 176 hits, second with 39 doubles, tied for first with 12 triples, sixth with 17 home runs, third with 110 RBI and ranking fifth with 44 stolen bases.

LOFFER KEEPS RUNNING: Shortstop Haley Loffer has now stolen 48 bases in her career, ranking her fourth on the program record list. Heather Kirtley tops the list, having stolen 78 bases in 90 attempts from 2004-07.

PLENTY OF HOME GAMES ON THE HORIZON: Over the next 20 games, the Yotes will play 16 games on their home field after starting the season with 10 straight road contests.

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.

YOTES PICKED FOURTH IN CCC PRESEASON POLL: The College of Idaho was picked to finish fourth in the 2021 Cascade Conference Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll that was released by the league office. Southern Oregon was picked by the coaches as the preseason favorite for the fifth year in a row. The Raiders finished 2020 ranked No. 1 nationally before COVID-19 shortened the season. SOU took home 100 points in the poll. Oregon Tech was selected second with 88 points and Corban finished third with 80 points. The Yotes were right behind the Warriors in the poll with 77 points. Carroll rounded out the top-five with 64 points.

LOOKING AHEAD: Following this weekend, C of I begins the conference portion of the schedule, starting with a pair of home doubleheaders with Northwest next Friday and Saturday. The Yotes then head to Providence on Mar. 12-13.

KEEP UP WITH THE YOTES: Fans can stay updated on all things related to C of I softball by visiting YoteAthletics.com.