All of the lights: The promising start to the Yotes baseball season
CALDWELL, Idaho (BVM) – March 8, 2020. It’s the fourth and final game of the series between the College of Idaho and Park University Gilbert. On this beautiful Sunday afternoon at Wolfe Field, the tension was running high. In a 1-1 duel, the defensive minded game would go to the bottom of the tenth inning. With the bases loaded, the Yotes just needed one hit to win the game and series.
Junior Ryan Nolan was up for the challenge. A high chopper over the mound would be just enough for freshman Avery Rambur to score and for the Yotes to win 2-1 in extra innings.
The series finale would end the weekend on a high note. But before the Yotes knew it, it would be the final game of the 2020 season. Playing just 29 games, the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the rest of the baseball season.
The sudden loss of the season was crushing for head coach Shawn Humberger and his group, but it didn’t take long before Humberger focused on 2021.
The returning players, along with talented incoming freshmen, provided depth to a squad that hasn’t made the NAIA Baseball Championships since 2017. But the camaraderie between players provides an impenetrable edge.
“This year’s team is a special group of guys, I think the most important thing is that we are all friends on and off the field which makes the chemistry of the team that much better,” sophomore pitcher Luke Brewer said.
Following the completion of fall training and the new year, the Yotes came into 2021 prepared. But with the ongoing pandemic, precautionary measures have had to be made when practicing and traveling.
“During practices, we have to wear masks when around others, limit whole team congregation, and be placed in pods,” freshman catcher Dillon Danner said. “We pretty much continue the pod groups when we travel, but it is with the people you room with. You eat, sleep, and get taken to games in the same van as the people you room with.”
Despite the various pod groups within the team, the Yotes had to prepare themselves for the first batch of games in Arizona. With four games in four days, each game would be a test to see how the 2021 Yotes looked on the field.
325 days after the walk-off win against Park University Gilbert, the College of Idaho’s baseball team officially returned to the diamond and played Midland University in Mesa. Through three innings, the first game back didn’t look strong. A few runs would get the Yotes on the board, but they trailed 12-6 at the end of the seventh inning.
But an unlikely spark reached Gene Autry Park. The Yotes got one hit after another, and pretty soon the bases were getting full. Midland looked to cut off the College of Idaho right then and there, but the spark never burned out. Freshman Tanner Leaf and junior Anthony Pannullo rallied two runs batted in (RBIs) each and suddenly the score was 12-10.
Following a walk by freshman Ben Hansen, the score became 12-11 and the bases remained loaded for the Yotes. The comeback looked to be halted after Midland got an important out, but next up to bat was Danner, who was 0-3 prior to his final at-bat appearance of the day.
“I was telling myself to protect with two strikes. I wanted to put the ball in play and put the pressure on their defense to make a play,” Danner said.
It paid off. In his first collegiate game, Danner’s single to left field drove in two runs, giving College of Idaho a 13-12 lead.
To keep the comeback intact, the Yotes called upon Brewer to save the day. The sophomore relief pitcher would retire six of seven Warriors at bat. In two innings, Brewer preserved the lead as the College of Idaho earned their third season opening win in the last four years.
“Our team as a whole showed perseverance and grit for making that amazing comeback,” Danner said.
In the next two games, the Yotes would play competitive baseball, but ultimately lose to Arizona Christian University and San Diego Christian College. Their final game against Saint Katherine University would be postponed due to rain.
Despite the two losses, the game one comeback got the attention of the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC). The Yote’s offense lit up the Warriors, but Brewer was credited for the defensive hold in the final two innings. On Feb. 1, the Camas, Wash. native earned CCC Pitcher of the Week.
“Getting pitcher of the week was a huge honor and it will just motivate me to go out and work harder,” Brewer said. “I think I will just try to use the positive momentum to go out every time I pitch and try to help my team win.”
On Feb. 5, the Yotes played their home opener at Wolfe Field against CCC rival Oregon Tech University. The Owls, led by first year head coach Jacob Garsez, proved to be an offensive threat early in the season. In game one of the Friday doubleheader, the Yotes and Owls would trade runs back and forth, ending in a 14-10 loss for the College of Idaho.
For game two, and for the first time in Wolfe Field’s history, the Yotes would be playing at home under the lights. With renovations over the summer, the Yotes were finally able to play night games on their own diamond. Despite the game two loss, the lights are something the Yotes are looking forward to for games to come.
But the Yotes needed to regroup and refocus. Following the back to back losses to Oregon Tech, the College of Idaho would play in a Saturday doubleheader against the same opponent. With how much chemistry and talent is on the team, the Yotes felt they needed to bounce back in a big way.
In game one, the Yotes produced another seven run inning to highlight an 11-7 victory. In game two, senior outfielder Matthew Clay went a perfect 4-4 at bat and had three RBIs in a nail biting 8-7 win. The series would end in a 2-2 draw, but the Yotes felt happy with where they’re at.
“After playing the first seven games, I realize that our team can compete with any other team,” Danner said. “We have a lot of depth in every position. So far, we have done a very good job putting runs on the board. We always give ourselves a chance to win putting up 10+ hits a game.”
At a 3-4 record, Humburger’s squad has been right in the thick of things. As the all-time winningest coach in Yote athletics history, he’s looking to elevate his developing team towards the big picture goals of this season.
“The practice before our first game in Arizona, Coach Humberger said our goal this season is to make it to the NAIA World Series,” Danner said. “To get to that point, we have to play scrappy and within our team identity.”
In this strange, socially distanced 2021 season, the Yote’s baseball team has high expectations for the spring. There’s been challenges and obstacles so far, but the Yotes have come to play.
