CALDWELL, Idaho – Last season, The College of Idaho softball team featured the deepest pitching staff in the entire NAIA – the only school to feature three 10-game winners. With all three hurlers returning, along with a bevy of depth behind them, the Yotes are among the favorites to contend for a title in the highly-competitive Cascade Conference.
The Coyote arms helped the team to a school-record 44-19 mark, an Opening Round championship and a third-place finish at the NAIA World Series. The staff collectively had a 2.35 ERA, limited opponents to a .236 batting average and tossed nine shutouts – all ranking No. 4 in program history. C of I held opponents to two runs or fewer 32 times and allowed five hits or fewer on 35 occasions.
The anchor to the staff is senior
Katelyn Wilfert, coming off a debut season where she earned All-Cascade Conference and All-NAIA World Series honors. The right-hander led the team with a 19-6 record and a 1.90 ERA, striking out 127 batters in 150.2 innings of work. Wilfert was dominant when it mattered most – winning 10-straight starts from Feb. 27 to April 10 – while allowing two earned runs or fewer in six postseason starts. She picked up two wins over eventual NAIA champ, Southern Oregon – defeating the Raiders in the CCC Tournament semifinals, while tossing four-plus shutout innings in a quarterfinal win at the NAIA World Series.
Fellow senior,
Hannah McNerney, brings a wealth of experience to the circle – having won 28 games in her C of I career. The right-hander finished 2021 with a 14-9 record and a 2.63 ERA – including six straight wins during the month of March. McNerney neutralized Oregon Tech twice during the season – tossing five shutout innings in an April win, while allowing just two hits in a complete game effort against the Owls in the CCC Tournament title game.
Second-year pitcher,
Annie Polster, was key to the Yotes success in 2021 – finishing the year with an 11-2 mark and a 2.36 ERA, while leading the squad with four saves. The sophomore began her career by winning her first eight decisions and allowed five hits or fewer in 13 of her 15 starts. She struck out a season-high 11 in a win over Carroll and became just the second Coyote to toss a perfect game, retiring all 15 batters in a road win at Providence – earning CCC and NAIA Pitcher of the Week honors.
Four other returns will add depth in the circle – as juniors Lexi Navarette and
Natalie Sell are joined by seniors
Brianna Hoffman and
Reylene Cortes. Off the four – Navarette was the lone player to see game action in 2021 – going 0-1 with a 2.55 ERA in 16 innings out of the bullpen. Both Sell and Hoffman pitched during the COVID-shortened 2020 season – Sell finishing 1-2 with a 3.68 ERA in 20 innings, with Hoffman posting a 1-0 mark with a 1.83 ERA in four outings.
Two freshmen will also be in the mix –
Ambrie Jones of Colville, Wash., and
Jiovana Nuanez of San Diego, Calif. Jones was an All-Northeast League selection in high school, but was a standout on the club circuit with the Washington Angels. Nuanez competed for Helix Charter High and was the top pitcher for the Power Surge Softball Club.
The Yotes begin their 52-game schedule next Friday, traveling to Arizona to meet Ottawa University.
