The Day After (off to the Beach and Ballgame)

A day after having the 2010 season come to a close, The College of Idaho baseball team was unable to catch a flight back to the Treasure Valley - instead, having to remain in Southern California. Head coach Shawn Humberger gave the team an opportunity to experience things some have never done before - a trip to Venice Beach, including the famous Muscle Beach (Take a look at Venice Beach). While on the beach, the Yotes had the opportunity to dip their feet in the ocean and check out the boardwalk, which seemed to many of us as a big freak show. One thing that was interesting was a double rope climb near Muscle Beach, in which Bobby Wassmann tried it out (Watch Bobby climb the ropes) .Then, the team had the opportunity to head to Dodger Stadium and catch a game between Los Angeles and the San Diego Padres (take a look at Dodger Stadium) - which was an experience in itself - as the team sat in the right field bleachers, part of the All-You-Can-Eat section (as many Dodger Dogs, Nachos, Popcorn, Peanuts, and Soda you wanted). The LA fans are hardcore - really into their baseball, even more so than I saw at Wrigley Field in Chicago or Safeco Field in Seattle. If there was a Padre fan around - he was "escorted" out by security. Los Angeles won the game, 4-1, with closer Jonathan Broxston striking out Matt Stairs to end the game (see the final out from the bleachers) I was able to snap a bunch of photos from the day - enjoy!!!

A Chat with the Seniors

Today's game vs. Vanguard marked the final collegiate baseball game for five C of I seniors...Ben Rodwell, Ben Rosen, Jared Arehart, Diego Robles, and Ray Santiago.

I had the opportunity this evening to sit down with the group and talk about the game, the season, and their careers. (Listen to my conversation with the 2010 Seniors)

Pictures from today

It was an up and down day to say the least for the Coyotes, the joy of the 4-2 win over Huntington, but the sorrows of an extra inning 13-12 loss to Vanguard, ending the Yotes season with a record of 38-16.

Instead of dwelling on the loss, I thought you would like to see the tournament in pictures - thanks to the Yeggy family, who was snapping shots all afternoon long.

Fly the "W" Flag, Yotes Win

When the Chicago Cubs win, a white "W" flag flies atop Wrigley Field. Well, fly the "W" flag atop Sterry Hall in Caldwell, as the Coyotes staved off elimination with a 4-2 win over Huntington this morning in Riverside, CA at the NAIA National Tournament.

Bobby Wassman worked around two solo homers and ten singles to pick up his seventh win of the year, using his cut fastball to his advantage (Listen to Bobby Wassmann talk about his performance)

The Yotes got some good luck from their new addition to the team (pictured at the left) - a batting dummy in the bullpen that was converted into a Coyote, as The C of I got a Diego Robles RBI single and a Jye Lanphere sacrifice fly to take a 2-0 lead after two innings. They would add a pair of runs in the sixth on two-out RBI singles from Ray Santiago and Jordan Lanman.

Mitch Dame came in from the pen in the late innings and picked up his second save of the season - working out of a one-out, second and third jam in the eighth, then worked around a walk and a hit in the ninth. (Listen to head coach Shawn Humberger talk about the Coyote win)

The Yotes will meet Vanguard University of Costa Mesa, Calif., in a second elimination game of the day at 4 p.m. (MT), with the game carried live on 1450 KIOV-AM.

Tough Loss to Madonna

It was a rough go of it for The College of Idaho baseball team, as the bats fell silent for seven innings, spotting Madonna University an 8-0 lead, only to watch a late inning rally fall short, losing 8-5.

The loss moves the Yotes into an elimination game tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. (MT) against Huntington University of Indiana - one of five loser-out games the Coyotes must win to advance to the NAIA World Series in Lewiston.

Listen to head coach Shawn Humberger's take on the 8-5 loss to Madonna.

A passed ball led to a run in the second for the Crusaders, while back-to-back RBI singles by MU pushed the lead to 4-0, with a four-run sixth blowing the game open.

All the while, the Coyotes did not have a runner reach second until a Jye Lanphere double in the eighth - as two of the three C of I baserunners to that point were erased via a caught stealing and a pickoff.



The Yotes strung together three one-out hits in the ninth, including a Diego Robles RBI single (Watch the RBI single here). Lanphere added a three-run double off the 406 sign in centerfield make the score respectible.

Ben Rosen had an off-game, allowing eight runs, five earned, in five-plus innings to take the loss. Bryan Hildebrand and Jesse Vermillion, however, combined to toss three shutout innings of relief. Jordan Lanman and Lanphere each had two of the Yotes eight hits.

Tomorrow's game will be carried live on 1450 KIOV-AM, as Bobby Wassmann gets the call for the Yotes against the Foresters, who dropped a 6-3 decision this morning to Vanguard.

Banquet Time with Mr. Mariner

The Coyotes had a great afternoon and evening in California, starting with the coaching staff heading to a staple in the region, the famous In N Out Burger (not the same as In and Out Burger in Caldwell). Each of us had a double-double and fries - to this day, I still enjoy watching them cut the potatoes for the shoe-string fries.



It was then off to the NAIA Championships Banquet, hosted by Cal Baptist - where the five teams were treated to a dinner of chicken and pasta, along with chocolate cake (although Coach Mendiola - yes, former C of I All-American, former baseball assistant, and current softball coach Al Mendiola, had the only piece with vanilla frosting). Also during the event, Jared Arehart was named C of I's Champions of Character recipient.



For me, however, the highlight of the night was the keynote speaker, Alvin Davis. Most people reading this (players/students) have no clue who A.D., Mr. Mariner, is, but for someone who grew up in the Seattle Metro area, in the days of the Kingdome and horrible Seattle Mariner teams, Alvin Davis was a hero. The 1984 American League Rookie of the Year, 26 HR 117 RBI, the first player inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame. He spoke of his days at Arizona State, winning a College World Series title in 1981, spoke of playing with a young Ken Griffey Jr., and he talked about his relationship with Jesus Christ. It was a very inspiring speech, and I was very humbled to get the chance to spend a few minutes with him after the event.




The Yotes are headed for bed - but not before the squad is fired up about their new mascots for the trip. Kyle Douglas and Arehart have rescued five snails from the lawns surrounding the Ayers Inn and Suites Hotel and given them residence in their room. (See the official California Mascots of the Yotes) Aren't they cute?

Remember, tomorrow's game will be carried live on 1450 KIOV-AM in the Treasure Valley, while fans can also watch the game online and have live stats via the Cal Baptist athletic website at http://www.cbulancers.com.

Games from California Live on the Radio in Boise

All Coyote games from the NAIA Baseball Championships Opening Round Tournament will be carried live in the Treasure Valley on 1450 KIOV-AM.

Sports Information Director, Mike Safford (the Voice of the Coyotes and Boise Hawks), will have the play-by-play, beginning five minutes before first pitch.

Special thanks to Dave Combes and the staff at KIOV for making these broadcasts possible.

Practice at Cal Baptist

The Coyotes made their first trip to Riverside this morning for the final team workout prior to the start of the NAIA National Tournament, seeing Totman Stadium up close and personal. It was about a 15 minute drive from the hotel (in Corona), with the team once again seeing California traffic up close and personal. (Click Here for a panoramic view of the ball park)

The park, which has about 300 stadium seats and another 300 bleacher seats down the third-base line, is a bit different than the fields the Yotes are used to. It is 330 down the left field line and 365 to left center with an 8 foot high wall. It is 406 to straight-away center, with a short porch of 355 to right-center, with that 8 foot wall. However in right, it is just 313 - but a 20 foot wall keeps balls in the yard. (Click Here to view Diego Robles and Izaac Garsez take batting practice)

The Yotes had some issues at the start with the infield lip, but after infield practice and four rounds of BP, the team had a good idea to what the surface brings. Outfielders talked about the bermuda grass outfield and how it resembled the artificial infield at Wolfe Field.

The Yotes will have the afternoon for studies, prior to a gala for the five teams in the tournament tonight in Riverside.

More pictures from Sunday's trip from Boise to LA

Here are a few more pictures from the trip from Boise to Los Angeles...we'll have some pictures and video from the team practice later this morning, along with the Pre-Tournament Banquet this evening.

When we left Boise, it was 80-degrees and sunny...this morning in Corona, it is in the mid-50s with thick fog and drizzle...muggy, but still cool - especially for a group of guys thinking it would be warm.

Welcome to California

The Coyotes have official arrived in Southern California, preparing for their NAIA National Tournament Opening Round game Tuesday vs. Madonna (Mich.) - after a long trip.

After a pair of uneventful plane rides - Boise to Salt Lake, Salt Lake to LAX, the waiting game began, as it took nearly 90 minutes to get the team vans to transport the 28 persons in the travel party to Corona (just outside of Riverside).

The squad finally checked into the hotel around 10 p.m. - and will be out at 10:30 a.m. for their one practice on the Totman Stadium field tomorrow.

I was able to grab a ton of candid pictures from throughout today, along with a couple videos - one of Jordan Lanman and Brett Ward in Salt Lake City, the other of the Coaches waiting for a shuttle in LA.

Tomorrow, we'll have a look at our hotel and pictures/video from practice at Cal Baptist.