CALDWELL, Idaho – College of Idaho baseball fans will see a lot of new faces on the infield when the 2022 season opens next week, as
Shawn Humberger must replace everyday players at each of the positions around the horn.
Five-year starter
Austin Van Horne is the biggest loss – closing his Coyote career by hitting .307 with six homers and 37 RBI during the 2021 season. Third baseman
Ryan Nolan had a .401 on-base percentage last season; second baseman
Carter Vieira had 16 stolen bases; first baseman
Anthony Pannullo knocked in 16 runs – but all have graduated.
The cupboard is not bare for a team that drew its most walks since 2015 and posted their highest team on-base percentage and batting average in five years.
The Yotes look to move All-Cascade Conference right fielder
Jonah Hultberg to the infield and should lockdown the second base spot. The left-hand hitter posted tremendous numbers in 2021, hitting .346 (with a .421 on-base percentage) with 10 doubles, two triples, three home runs and 19 RBI from the leadoff spot in the order. Hultberg had a team-best 20 multi-hit games and at one point, reached base in 25-straight games.
Four others will battle for the back-up spot behind Hultberg – Western Nebraska transfer,
Rei Kimura, true freshman
Cruz Simms of Meridian High, along with returners in redshirt freshman
Ashton Rhodes and junior
Gerardo Madera.
The left side of the infield will be a battle between returning players, transfers and freshmen – all who impressed during fall workouts.
Transfers
Skyler Sadora and
Kirby Robertson were rivals in junior college, but may play next to each other in the Purple and Gold. Sadora, originally from Hawaii, was a mainstay in the Big Bend CC lineup, hitting .320 with 18 RBI during the 2021 season and will be among the top options at third base. Robertson, who can play either shortstop or third (and will also pitch), hit .353 with 18 RBI last year at Columbia Basin CC.
Two freshmen –
Ben Gaff and
Ryan Blokker – each look to contribute on the left side. Gaff hit .349 with 20 RBI as a senior at St. Mary's High in California, while Blokker, who also is a back-up quarterback for the C of I football team, was an All-Metro League selection at Ballard High in Seattle.
The newcomers will contend with a pair of juniors –
Ben Hansen and
Jake Denison – who have combined to play in 106 games in the C of I careers. Hansen is one of the top defenders on the squad and closed out the 2021 season by going 5-for-13 in his final four games. Denison has been a late-inning replacement at third base over the past two seasons.
Despite being a true freshman, left-handed hitting
Kris Kirkpatrick looks to start the season as the Coyotes top first baseman. The Rocky Mountain High grad helped his team to the 5A state semifinals, hitting .357 with 12 doubles and 32 RBI – and also will be a key component to C of I's pitching staff.
Two returners will also be squarely in the first base mix – junior
Cameron Goetz and senior
Alec Hopkins. Goetz has been used primarily as a pinch hitter during his C of I career, while Hopkins has played in 76 career games – mostly at third and first base.
Two others – junior
Tobey Summers and freshman
Seth Walton – will be battling for playing time, with Summers expected to be a key bat off the bench after hitting .273 in 2021.
The catcher spot looks to be shared by returners
Weston Miller and
Dillon Danner, who combined to catch 42 of the 47 games in 2021. Miller, a senior, had his best offensive season of his Coyote career, hitting .240 with five doubles, three triples, a pair of home runs and 33 RBI. Danner posted a .357 on-base percentage as a freshman and provides a quality left-handed bat in the order.
Four freshmen will contend for playing time –
Darren Smith of Stanwood High in Washington,
Cole Roberts from Rocky Mountain High,
Josiah Shipley of Westview High in Oregon and Mason Hinshaw of Monte Vista High in California.
The Coyotes open the season next Thursday at the Calderone Classic in Phoenix, Ariz.
