2022 Softball Notebook (Week 3)

COMPLETE WEEKLY MEDIA NOTEBOOK

YOTES TAKE HOME CCC POSITION and PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS: On Monday, Haley Loffer and Katelyn Wilfert were named the CCC/WVT Laboratory Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week. The last time that C of I took home both weekly honors from the CCC was Feb. 1, 2021 as Wilfert along with Trystin Crofts earned the recognition. 

WELCOME TO THE CCC: The Knights are in the their third year of a program and its second in the CCC. Last spring, C of I won all three games of the regular season with the series finale being canceled due to rain. The two teams met up again the CCC quarterfinals with the Yotes coming away with an 8-4 win.

NINE STRAIGHT: Currently, C of I is in the midst of a nine-game winning streak - the Yotes pulled off a 18-game winning streak to begin the season in 2021.

CLOSING IN ON 500: With four wins, last week, C of I has 498 program wins and is two shy of the 500 mark.  

CONFERENCE / NATIONAL POLL: The record-setting 2021 season has jump started the preseason accolades for the current C of I team, as the Yotes were picked to finish second in both the Cascade Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll and the preseason NAIA Top-25 Coaches Poll. Defending national runners-up, Oregon Tech sits atop both polls, with the Yotes right behind the Lady Owls. Defending NAIA champion, Southern Oregon, was picked third in the CCC poll and No. 5 in the Top-25 poll. It marks the highest national ranking for C of I in program history.

HOME SWEET HOME: The Coyotes have a 52-game schedule tentatively planned in 2022 – including their Arizona trip and a 6-game California trip to meet Menlo, William Jessup and Antelope Valley. C of I will host 22 games at Symms Field, including home CCC series against Warner Pacific, Northwest, Carroll, Bushnell and Southern Oregon, along with a home-and-home set with Eastern Oregon.

DON'T I KNOW YOU: Senior pitcher Reylene Cortes and sophomore infielder Hannah Mikel were high school teammates at nearby Middleton High School The trio of Hattie Hruza, Alyssa Goff and Lauren Garman all attended Vallivue High School in Caldwell.

OFFENSIVE FIREWORKS: The C of I offense pounded out 17 runs on 16 hits against Benedictine Mesa on January 30. The 17 runs are the most since a 17-run effort against Northwest Nazarene (Mar. 1, 2014). The 16 hits are the most since an 18-hit attack against Arizona Christian (Jan. 30, 2021).

4K: Through the first 12 games and 76 innings of work, C of I pitchers have struck out at least four batters in 11 of 12 games.

INSIDE THE YOTES: Pitching Staff Preview
 
INSIDE THE YOTES: Infielders/Catchers Preview
 
INSIDE THE YOTES: Outfielders Preview