2022 Baseball Notebook (Week 2)

COMING UP: vs. Central Washington (DH), Saturday, Noon; vs. Central Washington (DH), Sunday, 11 a.m.

COMPLETE WEEKLY MEDIA NOTEBOOK
 
START TIME CHANGE: Due to forecasted cold temperatures, Saturday's doubleheader has been move up one hour to a noon start time – to limit time playing under the lights.
 
TICKET INFO / LIVE LINKS: Ticket prices for home games at Wolfe Field are $6.00 for adults, $3.00 for seniors (60-and-older) and juniors (12-to-17), with kids 12-and-under admitted free. For fans unable to make it to the stadium, Live Video and Live Stats will be available via the Yotes Digital Network ($9.00 per doubleheader, $40.00 season pass), with Mike Safford Jr. calling the action.
 
SUCCESSFUL TRIP TO THE DESERT: C of I opened the season with a 3-1 trip to the Coach Calderone Classic in Arizona – picking up tight wins over Embry-Riddle, Oklahoma Panhandle State and San Diego Christian. It is the best start to a season for the Yotes since the 2016 squad won their first eight games of the year.
 
WITH THE STICKS: The Coyote offense had a solid weekend in Phoenix, averaging eight runs and nine hits per game – taking advantage of key opportunities. C of I hit .292 in the four games with men in scoring position, recording a combined 17 2-out RBI.
 
ON THE MOUND: The depth of the C of I pitching staff was evident, as 13 arms saw action in Arizona. The pitchers had a better than 2-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio, striking out 33 batters, while walking 14. The hurlers were hurt by the home run ball, as opponents took advantage of strong winds and a short porch to hit seven home runs.
 
HULTBERG STARTS HOT: A new position did not faze All-CCC pick Jonah Hultberg, who opened 2022 with a big weekend in the desert. The Yotes new second baseman went a team-best 8-for-18 with four doubles, a triple, a home run and seven RBI – posting a .944 slugging percentage. Hultberg ran his hit streak to six games (dating back to last season), recording three multi-hit games – giving him 35 in his C of I career.
 
ROBERTSON AN RBI MACHINE: Two-way player Kirby Robertson was impressive in his C of I debut – leading the team with nine RBI. The outfielder was 5-for-16 on the trip, with a double and solo home run – providing two key 2-out RBI hits in the win over Embry-Riddle and adding four RBIs against Oklahoma Panhandle State. Robertson got the start on the mound in Game 4, picking up the win vs. San Diego Christian, limiting the California team to just two runs on three hits in five innings of work, striking out four.
 
NEWCOMERS IMPRESS: The opening weekend saw the debut of many new C of I players – all contributing to the success in Arizona. Transfer Alex McFarland-Smith hit safely in all four games, going 5-for-13 with two doubles and three RBIs. Freshmen Ben Gaff, Trevor Watkins, Kris Kirkpatrick and Isaiah Castillo all had quality trips – Gaff going 4-for-8 at the plate, Watkins finishing 3-for-13 with a double, triple and three RBIs, Kirkpatrick going 3-for-13 with two doubles and Castillo scoring four runs and stealing a base as the Yotes top pinch runner.
 
WOOD SHARP IN DEBUT: Earning the opening day start was senior right-hander Dimick Wood, tossing five strong innings in a win over Embry-Riddle. Wood limited ERAU to just four singles, striking out seven batters without a walk – pushing his career strikeout total to 99.
 
WISENOR THE STOPPER: The Coyotes turned to Erik Wisenor in the late innings of the three victories, with the second-year player slamming the door to earn saves in each of the wins. The right-hander tossed a combined 3.2 innings in Arizona, retiring 11 of the 13 batters he faced. Wisenor did not allow a run or hit, striking out four – surpassing his season total of saves from the 2021 campaign.
 
HOME OPENER: Since 1987, the Yotes are 28-7 in home openers – including a streak of 22-straight wins from 1987-2008.
 
AT WOLFE FIELD: The 2022 season is the 14th year C of I has played at Wolfe Field, with the Yotes recording a combined 189-138 record at the facility. Since baseball returned to the College in 1987, the Coyotes are a combined 551-252 at home (including games at Simplot Stadium). Last year, the Yotes finished 12-16 on their own diamond.
 
CENTRAL RETURNS TO CALDWELL: Central Washington heads to Caldwell for the first time since the 2017 season, when the Wildcats swept a doubleheader at Wolfe Field. It marks the first weekend series against the Ellensburg, Wash., school since 2003, when C of I won 2-of-3 games. The Yotes hold a 47-16 all-time series lead against the Wildcats, including a 33-10 record in the Treasure Valley.
 
HISTORY VS. DIVISION II: Prior to this weekend, the Coyotes have played 118 games against NCAA Division II opponents, combining for a 64-54 all-time record. C of I has posted a 44-30 record against Great Northwest Athletic Conference teams (Northwest Nazarene, St. Martin's, MSU-Billings, Central Washington – but have not met Western Oregon since they joined the D-II) and a 20-24 mark against California and Midwest Division II squads.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – CENTRAL WASHINGTON: After having their 2021 season shortened due to COVID protocols, Central Washington returns to a full schedule. The Wildcats (16-14) were picked third in the GNAC Preseason Poll and were rated ninth in the D-II West Region Poll. The CWU offense is led by returning outfielder Zach Berryman (.409 1 HR 20 RBI, 6 2B), an All-GNAC pick, along with catcher Austin Ohland (.347 5 HR 25 RBI, 10 2B). The pitching staff returns their top-two arms – Reid Rasmussen (5-2 4.41 ERA, 25 BB, 23 K in 32.1 IP) and Dylan Weese (1-2 3.52 ERA, 25 K in 32 IP).
 
AROUND THE CASCADE CONFERENCE: Three other teams made their debut last week – as Lewis-Clark State started 6-0 against high-caliber opponents in California and Arizona, Oregon Tech won 3-of-4 at Simpson and Eastern Oregon split four games in Arizona (defeating Embry-Riddle and Oklahoma Panhandle State). This weekend, all seven teams are in action, including the season openers for Corban (at Menlo), British Columbia (at Park-Gilbert) and Bushnell (at Simpson).
 
RECORD BOOK: Three Coyotes are currently ranked in C of I's Top-30 career record book, as Connor Root ranks No. 10 in pitching games started (27) and No. 24 in innings pitched (157.1), with Weston Miller No. 18 in hit-by-pitches (26) and Erik Wisenor No. 16 in saves (5).
 
HISTORY: C of I has had a rich history of baseball, dating back to the era when C of I was an academy. In recorded history (since 1934), the Yotes have posted a 1,603-1,290-7 all-time record, including 35 trips to the postseason (including playoff appearances in 30 of the last 35 seasons. C of I won the 1948 and 1949 Northwest Conference titles, with the 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2010, 2012, 2016 and 2017 teams advancing out of conference/regional/grouping tournaments – making five trips to the NAIA World Series – winning the 1998 national title and placing second in 1999. The Yotes have had multiple players drafted and play in professional baseball – with Jason Simontacchi ('96) and Riley O'Brien ('17) both reaching the Major Leagues - Simontacchi with the Cardinals and Nationals, with O'Brien debuting last season with the Reds.