CALDWELL, Idaho – The College of Idaho will have a new look to their outfield next week at the Calderon Classic in Arizona, as the Coyotes have a solid group of players looking to take their turn in the grass.
Three-year starting centerfielder,
Matthew Clay, has graduated – following an outstanding 2021 season where he posted career-highs with a .315 batting average and 42 RBI, earning All-Cascade Conference honors and was a part of the CCC Gold Glove Team.
In addition,
Jonah Hultberg, who played the majority of the season in right field, will shift to second base. Overall, the Coyote outfield in 2021 was stellar defensively, committing just six total errors in 315 chances.
C of I returns their everyday leftfielder, two-sport athlete,
Tanner Leaf. The sophomore, who also is a starting linebacker on the Coyote football team, played in 43 of the 47 games in 2021, hitting .242 with six doubles and 16 RBI in his rookie campaign.
Two other returners are in the outfield mix – junior
Ben Dudley and sophomore
Tyler Lehnertz. Dudley spent most of 2021 as a designated hitter or at first base, hitting .261 with four doubles and 11 RBI, while Lehnertz saw limited time as a pinch runner.
Head coach
Shawn Humberger expects three newcomers to contend for positions immediately – transfers
Tristen Garland and
Alex McFarland-Smith, along with true freshman
Trevor Watkins.
Garland provides a quality bat and the speed to play center field – where he was a starter at Big Bend CC. The junior hit .384 with 14 RBI last season, adding a .478 on-base percentage and 11 stolen bases.
McFarland-Smith returns to the Treasure Valley after starting his career at Montana State-Billings. The 6-foot-2 right-handed hitter had a banner prep career at Timberline High, where he and Hultberg helped the team to the 2018 5A state crown.
Watkins, a California native, earned All-Delta League honors as a senior at Consumnes Oaks High, hitting .337 with seven triples and 26 RBI.
Four others will contend for at bats – sophomore
Cooper Leaf, freshmen
Isaiah Castillo and
Jacob Pezonella, along with transfer
Tanner Keener. Leaf, who also plays safety for the Yotes football team, joins his brother on the team; Castillo earned All-Southern Idaho Conference honors at Meridian High; Pezonella heads to Caldwell from Galena High in Reno, Nev., with Keener, a Mountain Home native, joining the squad after playing at Blue Mountain CC.
