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Men’s tennis fails to gain win in final conference match

Posted by :jprokop On : April 18, 2013
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Sophomore Lukas Kleinman hits the ball back to his opponent during the match against Willamette University on April 12. Kleinman won his singles match, 10-7. Photo courtesy of Sports Information

Sophomore Lukas Kleinman hits the ball back to his opponent during the match against Willamette University on April 12. Kleinman won his singles match, 10-7.
Photo courtesy of Sports Information

The Linfield men’s tennis team ended its conference season in familiar fashion, losing 7-2 to Willamette on April 12.

Sophomore Micah Roos and freshman Tim Hawkins collected a doubles victory for the ‘Cats with a score of 8-5. This was the third victory of the year for Roos and Hawkins as a duo.

“Tim and I both do a good job of motivating each other and not letting the other person get down,” Roos said.

In singles play, the Willamette No.’s 1-5 dispatched their Linfield adversaries with ease. Linfield No. 6 sophomore Lukas Kleinman did score a 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-7) victory to help the ‘Cats avoid a clean singles sweep.

When asked about his response after dropping the first set, Kleinman said, “This was the first time I have ever lost the first set and come back to win so I had to battle through the thoughts of another comeback cut short.”

“Honestly, I struggled…the entire match, I’d beat him earlier this year so I knew I could beat him…When it came down to the tiebreak, my serve was unstoppable,” he added.

With the loss, the team’s record fell to 0-12 for the year.

The only remaining game on the schedule is against Cal Tech on April 28 in Pasadena, Calif.

With his thoughts on next season, Kleinman said, “We know that nothing is going to come easy. Next season starts April 29, the day after our last match.”

Linfield will lose its No. 1, senior Zach Lyons, to graduation, and sophomore Joel Trousdale will not play next year as he goes to Spain to study abroad. Everyone else on the roster, barring injuries or transfers, should return next season.

“We all had quality wins this season and instead of focusing on our overall record, we should build off what we did accomplish. We all know we have potential,” Roos said.

Kleinman echoed similar sentiments.

“The effort has been there all year…We have a lot of high character guys who have the skill set to be very solid players in this conference, and we definitely have the coaching, he said.

“There will be no excuses for not improving next year.”

 

Tyler Bradley/Sports columnist

Tyler Bradley can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.

 

 

Golf teams take first place spots for 
individual standings in Willamette Cup

Posted by :jprokop On : April 18, 2013
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Men’s and women’s golf took the top spots in the Willamette Cup tournament April 14.

The women’s team was not able to finish the tournament for team results.

Senior Brinn Hovde tied for first with Willamette’s Mckenzie Weinhold. Both players completed the course in 86 strokes, 14 strokes above par.

Freshman Alexandria Smith came in sixth with 89 strokes.

Freshman Maggie Harlow was one stroke behind in seventh, with 90 strokes.

The men’s team finished first out of three teams at the Willamette Cup on April 14, with 295.

Host team Willamette University got second with 313 strokes.

Freshman Adam Ruben held the top spot for the Wildcats, taking first in the tournament. Ruben completed the course in 68 strokes, four below par.

Sophomore Taylor Klopp, freshman Kyle Hargave and junior Tommy Schmitz finished consecutively in third through fifth place.

Klopp finished with 74 strokes, while Hargave was one stroke behind with 75. Schmitz had one of his best finishes of the year with 78 strokes, just six above par.

Both teams will next compete at the Northwest Conference Championships on  April 20 and 21, which will determine who will get an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The men’s team will be fighting to defend its title.

 

Ivanna Tucker/Sports editor

Ivanna Tucker can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.

 

Lacrosse loses final season game against Pacific Boxers

Posted by :jprokop On : April 18, 2013
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In the final game of the season, the lacrosse team lost to Pacific University 19-3 April 12, finishing a 9-0 season for the Wildcats.

All four shots made by the Wildcats were made in the second half, with seven saves throughout the game.

The away game in Forest Grove, Ore., ended a slow season for the ‘Cats, but members are happy with their overall play.

“The thing our team does best is building off of previous games and practices,” senior Lynette Cole said. “Every match we saw improvement all around the field. Even if the scoreboard didn’t reflect it, our team improved immensely since the beginning of the season.”

Due to injuries, the Wildcats only had 13 players, one more than the requirement for play.

“Pacific had around eight or nine substitutes so if someone needed a break, especially in the midfield, they can catch their breath, observe the match and chat with the coach about tips for improvement, Cole said.

“It absolutely affected the game’s outcome because they all had this opportunity.”

Low numbers were nothing new for the team, which dealt with many injured players unable to participate during the season.

“It was really frustrating,” freshman and regular goalie Erika Phillipo said. Phillipo was out for most of the season due to injury.

“I love the sport so it was really hard watching from the sidelines,” Phillipo said.

Sophomore Shelby Duarte scored the three Linfield goals for the relatively young team.

“We had a couple of members who had never even touched a stick before this season, Phillipo said.

“I think we will see a lot of returners next year, which will greatly help the next season picking up where we left off this past season.”

The lacrosse players overcame their challenges in order to achieve the goals they set for themselves.

“Our goals for the season were to lay down the framework for a strong team in the years to come,” Cole said. “We absolutely achieved this.”

 

Olivia Marovich/Staff writer

Olivia Marovich can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.

 

 

Catball clenches 10th conference title

Posted by :jprokop On : April 18, 2013
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Junior Katy Brosig catches the ball from sophomore catcher McKenna Spieth on a stolen base attempt by Willamette’s Amanda Fernandes during the doubleheader against Willamette University on April 10. Tyson Takeuchi/Senior photographer

Junior Katy Brosig catches the ball from sophomore catcher McKenna Spieth on a stolen base attempt by Willamette’s Amanda Fernandes during the doubleheader against Willamette University on April 10.
Tyson Takeuchi/Senior photographer

Linfield softball claims the conference title for the 10th year following the game against Willamette University on April 10 and also earned two additional wins against University of Puget Sound on April 14. The doubleheader against Pacific Lutheran University was cancelled April 13 due to rain.

Catball won both games against the Loggers, winning game one 12-2 and game two 10-2.

Junior Karina Paavola set the mood for the day by pitching five solid innings, only allowing three hits and two runs. Paavola struck out five Loggers until freshman reliever Maddy Dunn closed out the game, only permitting two hits.

Junior Karleigh Prestianni slammed two home runs and a double for the Wildcats.

The Wildcats scored three runs in the first inning of the game and then went on to score two additional runs in the second. Sophomore McKenna Spieth hit the second home run for the Wildcats. Prestianni’s double drove in senior Megan Wallo, making the Wildcat’s lead 5-0.

The two runs for the Loggers were scored in the fourth from a double made by the Loggers’ Shannon Reed.

In the sixth, the Wildcats furthered their lead with six runs scored on Loggers pitcher Megan Campbell. Prestianni’s three-run homer set the Wildcats in a strong lead and runs scored by sophomore Erin Carson, juniors Katy Brosig and Haylie Watson secured the win.

In game two, sophomore Montana McNealy earned her second win of the season, pitching five complete innings. Junior Shelby VandeBergh closed out the game, allowing no runs and hits.

Junior Ashley Garcia, sophomore Lisa Yamamoto and Prestianni all scored home runs for the Wildcats.

In the first inning, Garcia hit a three-run home run giving Catball a strong lead in the beginning.

The Wildcats continued to score two more runs in the second. Garcia hit a single that drove Prestianni and Wallo into home plate.

Both runs from the Loggers were made in the fourth off of a single up the middle from the Loggers’ Lisa Colombo and a throwing error from Brosig.

Catball closed the sixth inning game with Prestianni’s homer and two runs scored by freshman Kristen Vroom and Garcia.

The Wildcats split games against Willamette on April 10, winning game one 8-0 and losing game two 2-1.

Paavola had eight strikeouts in her five innings, only allowing three hits.

By the end of the second, the Wildcats had a six- run lead over the Bearcats. Two more runs from senior Rachelle Ridout and Prestianni secured the Wildcats their title.

In game two, the Wildcats only got one hit off of Bearcat pitcher Victoria Bradshaw. Brosig scored the only run off of a field error.

Both of the Bearcats’ runs were scored in the fourth.

The Wildcats remained hitless the remainder of the game. Bradshaw struck out Spieth, while sophomore Chelan Guischer got a walk in the seventh.

Catball will next compete at the Northwest Conference Tournament on April 20 to secure an automatic spot in the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Ivanna Tucker/Sports editor

Ivanna Tucker can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.

 

 

Wildcat baseball brings home sweep after California trip

Posted by :jprokop On : April 18, 2013
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The Linfield baseball team swept a three-game series against Pomona-Pitzer and exacted revenge for a loss earlier in the season against La Verne on April 14.

With the four victories, the No. 2 Wildcats improved their record to 26-5.

On April 12, Linfield defeated Pomona-Pitzer 6-2 behind sophomore Chris Haddeland’s (8-1, 1.14 ERA) fifth complete game of the season and timely hitting from the heart of the batting order.

Junior Kramer Lindell gives a high five to the coach after hitting a two-run home run against Pomona-Pitzer College on April 11. Kramer hit two doubles and scored four runs for the Wildcats. Photo courtesy of Sports Information

Junior Kramer Lindell gives a high five to the coach after hitting a two-run home run against Pomona-Pitzer College on April 11. Kramer hit two doubles and scored four runs for the Wildcats.
Photo courtesy of Sports Information

Haddeland struck out five and walked just one in his nine innings of work. He did give up his first home run of the season. Ironically, it was to the opposing pitcher, Jake Bruml, his second home run of the season.

The heart of the order — juniors Jake Wylie, Kramer Lindell and Nick Fisher — combined to go 5-9 at the plate with two walks, scoring all six Linfield runs and driving in four RBI. Lindell added two stolen bases and Fisher added one, as well.

“It’s always fun to get the opportunity to play in California and in nice weather, so I just went up to the plate and had fun at each bat,” Lindell said.

Pomona-Pitzer, ranked No. 22 in the country entering the weekend, committed a staggering 14 errors during the April 11 doubleheader (it committed two in the game on Friday).

Game one, a 15-4 Linfield victory, was highlighted by a seven-run fourth inning where Linfield sent 12 men to the plate.

Game two ended 9-3 in Linfield’s favor, highlighted by an eight-run second inning.

“That was…the most errors I had seen in a day. Their infield played really fast and had some strange hops…luckily for us, we caught a lot of breaks,” Lindell said.

The breaks were accompanied by the consistent hitting. The second inning featured two errors from the Sagehens, seven Wildcat hits and two home runs—a three-run bomb by senior Clayton Truex and a two-run shot from Lindell.

Senior catcher Kyle Chamberlain crushed his first home run of the season in the sixth inning to round out the Linfield scoring.

All-American second baseman senior Tim Wilson went 5-10 during the doubleheader with five runs scored, two RBI and four stolen bases. Lindell went 5-11 with the home run, two doubles, four runs scored and five RBI, while Fisher went 4-9 with two runs scored, three RBI and a stolen base.

Sophomore Aaron Thomassen (8-0, 1.08) and junior Zach Brandon (5-2, 2.98) started the doubleheader games.

Thomassen struck out six in five innings of work, giving up one unearned run.

Brandon threw seven innings, giving up three runs on eight hits and a walk.

On April 14, the ‘Cats destroyed La Verne 13-1.

Freshman Cody Erraut made his first career start and got the victory, going five innings and giving up just one hit.

Juniors Justin Huckins and Garett Speyer both threw two innings out of the bullpen to complete the game.

The ‘Cats racked up 20 hits on the day. Some standouts included Wilson and Fisher, who both went 4-6, and junior Nate McClellan, who went 3-5 and drove in three runs.

Linfield returns to conference play April 20 and 21 with the most important series of the season.

George Fox University (24-9, 17-4 NWC) will travel to Roy Helser Field for a three-game series. George Fox trails Linfield (26-5, 15-3) by one game in the NWC loss column.

 

Tyler Bradley/Sports columnist

Tyler Bradley can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.

 

Wildcats attend NWC Spring Classic, rain halts competition

Posted by :jprokop On : April 8, 2013
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Rain washed out the Wildcat golf teams April 7, ending the Northwest Conference Spring Classic a day early.

The men’s team fought through the rain and was able to earn itself third place during the first day of competition. All of the Wildcats on the men’s team finished in the top-25.

The top ranked golfers for the men’s teams were sophomore Ryan Nolan, who tied for fourth with Pacific Lutheran University’s Seth Nickerson and Whitworth University’s Oliver Rudnicki. The score for fourth place was 73 strokes, only one stroke above par.

Freshman Adam Ruban tied for ninth place and only out-scored sophomore Taylor Klopp by one stroke. Ruban only had 76 strokes, four strokes above par, while Klopp finished with 77 strokes.

Tommy Schmitz finished eighth with 80 strokes and Kyle Hargrave finished one stroke behind Schmitz but finished 24th.

While the men’s team finished close to the top, the women fell into seventh place.

The ‘Cats’ top performer for the women’s team was senior Brinn Hovde, who finished ninth with a score of 83, which is only 11 strokes above par.

Freshman Maggie Harlow tied for 16th with 87 strokes.

Junior Alexandria Smith came in 25th and sophomore Malika Reynolds tied for 36th place.

Both of the Wildcat golf teams will compete at the Willamette Cup Tournament on April 14.

Kaylyn Peterson / Copy chief

Kaylyn Peterson can be reached at linfieldreviewcopy@gmail.com.

 

Wildcats fall in tight match against Loggers

Posted by :jprokop On : April 8, 2013
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Tyson Takeuchi/Senior photographer Freshman Alex Mangan returns a hit against the Lutes’ Jake Yannello. Mangan fell to Yannello with a score of 6-1, 6-0. Pacific Lutheran won overall with a score of 8-1.

Tyson Takeuchi/Senior photographer
Freshman Alex Mangan returns a hit against the Lutes’ Jake Yannello. Mangan fell to Yannello with a score of 6-1, 6-0. Pacific Lutheran won overall with a score of 8-1.

The Linfield men’s tennis team lost 9-0 and 8-1 on April 5 and 6, and it remains winless on the season (0-11 NWC record).

The team faced Lewis & Clark College (6-11, 5-7 NWC) on Friday and lost every single match. The Pioneers won the three doubles matches by the same score of 8-4. The closest singles match was a matchup of Linfield No. 4 sophomore Joel Trousdale and Lewis & Clark No. 4 Ryotaro Tokura. Tokura won the match 6-4, 6-3.

“My serve was spot on for both of the matches and that definitely helped…given the same matches again the results could be reversed,” Trousdale said.

Linfield No. 1 senior Zach Lyons lost his singles match in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.

Pacific Lutheran University (10-5, 8-1) entered the weekend ranked No. 14 in the latest Division III West Region rankings. Lyons and sophomore Lukas Kleinman won their doubles match by a score of 8-5 to give the ‘Cats their lone weekend victory. With the win, Lyons and Kleinman improved to 4-2 on the year as a doubles duo after making the switch in the middle of the year.

The other two doubles matches ended with the familiar score of 8-4 in favor of Pacific Lutheran. The Jason Bower/Taylor Dickey duo defeated sophomore Micah Roos and freshman  Tim Hawkins, while the Mitch Yanello/Jake Yannello duo defeated Trousdale and freshman Alex Mangan.

Despite Pacific Lutheran being the better team, the ‘Cats put up more of a fight in their singles matches compared to the day before against Lewis & Clark. Lyons and Kleinman pushed their matches against Pacific Lutheran’s Luke Olson and Sam Angel to three sets respectively.

Lyons won his first set 6-2 but dropped the last two sets by scores of 6-4 and 6-3. Kleinman won his first set as well, with a score of 6-3, but fell in the final two sets 6-2, 6-1.

When asked about the team’s attitude, Trousdale said, “Team morale isn’t at it’s greatest. It’s definitely hard to keep morale up after losing so much.”

He added, “I’ve definitely seen improvement so I try to focus on the positive. Grumbling about the past doesn’t help anybody.”

The ‘Cats are running out of time to score a team victory this season. They have just one remaining conference game on the schedule, and it’s against Willamette University (6-9, 6-4 NWC) at 4 p.m. April 12  in Salem. Linfield also has a match versus California Tech University on April 28.

Willamette defeated Linfield on March 2, 6-3, which is one of the closest contests the Linfield team has had this season (it also lost 6-3 to Puget Sound and George Fox). Lyons and Kleinman won their singles matches and their doubles match during the Willamette contest.

Tyler Bradley / Sports columnist

Tyler Bradley can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.

 

 

’Cats split conference matches

Posted by :jprokop On : April 8, 2013
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Tyson Takeuchi/Senior photographer Freshman Kwynn Ecton serves in doubles against Lewis & Clark opponents Lisa Oespyan and Isabella Borris en route to a 8-4 victory.

Tyson Takeuchi/Senior photographer
Freshman Kwynn Ecton serves in doubles against Lewis & Clark opponents Lisa Oespyan and Isabella Borris en route to a 8-4 victory.

Women’s tennis, in matches April 5 and 6, first lost a home-court match to Lewis & Clark College, 8-1, then redeemed itself in an away game against Pacific Lutheran University, winning 6-3.

Inside, due to bad weather on Friday, the ’Cats lost two of their three doubles matches early on, leaving sophomores Kelly Watanabe and Kaila Nip on the No. 3 court to win the only point of the afternoon for Linfield in their doubles match against the Pioneers.

Linfield recently lost a match to Lewis & Clark in a 7-2 match March 22.

“We played very well,” sophomore Katie Krieger said. “We weren’t really expecting to win against a team ranked second, but we did our best and we were happy with our level of commitment.”

At the Pacific Lutheran campus Saturday, women’s tennis was ready to make up for the loss of the day before and played its hardest, winning by the three points it needed to compete for the No. 4 position in the Northwest Conference.

“I knew it was going to be a close match,” said sophomore Gretchen Jernstedt, who won her singles match on Saturday. “I tried not to think too much while I was playing because putting more pressure on myself might have affected how I was playing.”

The team, which was down 2-1 after the doubles matches, did not let the score discourage it going into the singles matches, when Jernstedt, Watanabe, Nip, junior Caroline Brigham and senior Lexi Thomas all won against Pacific Lutheran.

“The bus ride back was really fun. It’s always good bonding with the team, and it was even better since we were excited that we accomplished our goal,” Jernstedt said.

Next up for the Wildcats is a home match against Willamette University on April 12.

“Right now we’re in the number four spot,” Krieger said. “We still haven’t played Willamette, but we’re excited and confident going into that match.”

Linfield played Willamette earlier this season, winning 7-2 against the Bearcats.

After the match against Willamette, the Northwest Conference Tournaments will begin the weekend of April 20 and 21, and they will continue the weekend of May 10 and 11.

Olivia Marovich/Staff writer

Olivia Marovich can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.

 

Celebrate the first Division III week on campus

Posted by :jprokop On : April 8, 2013
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April 8 is on the short list for best sports days of the year.

The men’s NCAA championship game between Louisville and Michigan, two fantastic and dynamic teams, will bring a wild, unpredictable and fabulous college basketball season to a close. Plus, the Seattle Mariners play their home opener (with Joe Saunders on the mound for the M’s. Joe Saunders! Feel the excitement).

But do you know what else happens tomorrow (who knew Mondays could be this exciting)? NCAA Division III week begins.

Did you know NCAA Division III week existed before I just told you now? I did not know about it until I received an invite via Facebook to attend. It turns out that this is the first Division III week in history.

According to Jeff Copeland from NCAA.org, “Division III week is a time to celebrate the accomplishments of student-athletes.”

More than 30 percent of Linfield students are student athletes so it is no secret that athletics are important to this school. If the school is to follow Copeland’s advice, the amount of celebration should be substantial all week long.

But at first glance, I felt that Division III week was not fair to the students at the school who do not play sports. After all, the majority of students, in fact, do not play sports here at Linfield. How come student-athletes should be celebrated while student-musicians, for example, should not?

Well, no specific week has been created for student-musicians or any other group. That is the simple answer. But the other answer is because of how deeply ingrained athletics are in our culture.

Although there are many things in life that are more important to survival than athletics, athletics give people an outlet for energy, passion and competitive spirit. Athletics can uplift a massive population, while inspiring an individual at the same time.

Athletics are also one of the only effective ways to connect different generations. Although athletes are bigger and stronger now, the games are played in the same manner. Time travel is begrudgingly impossible at the moment, but you could go to a baseball game in 1913 and the basic on-field rules would be the same as what you see today.

Athletics can be an engine for social change and political discussion. Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in 1947, and the black power salute on the medal podium by Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos in the 1968 Summer Olympics, come immediately to mind.

Athletics also give opportunities to people to have fun and build relationships and have experiences they never thought possible.

Copeland says that the NCAA national office will be focusing on its partnership with the Special Olympics during the week. Linfield will be exhibiting this partnership at 1 p.m. April 13 in the Ted Wilson Gymnasium. A Special Olympics basketball tournament will be held in the gym, and it costs just $3 to attend.

If you can, go and spend that $3. The people participating will be enjoying themselves through the power of athletics.

Although we should appreciate every student at Linfield at all times, NCAA Division III week makes more sense than I thought. It’s no wonder it is starting on one of the best sports days of the year.

Athletics are powerful so take a second this week if you can to appreciate the work our athletes put into their craft.

 

Tyler Bradley/ Sports columnist

Tyler Bradley can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.

 

Wildcats continue to top off competition

Posted by :jprokop On : April 8, 2013
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Tyson Takeuchi/Senior photographer Freshman Clay Monohan races in the 110-meter high hurdles at the Jenn Boyman Invite. Monohan finished the race in 18.54 seconds.

Tyson Takeuchi/Senior photographer
Freshman Clay Monohan races in the 110-meter high hurdles at the Jenn Boyman Invite. Monohan finished the race in 18.54 seconds.

It was a day for the record books for the women’s track and field team at the Jenn Boyman Memorial Invitational held at Maxwell Field on April 6.

Sophomore Hannah Greider set the 10th best 5,000-meter time in Linfield history with a time of 18:12.99, and freshman Rachael Gernhart posted the eighth best mark in Linfield history in the triple jump, spanning 35 feet and one and three quarter inches.

Leading the way for the women were the relay teams, with the 4×400 meter and 4×100 meter relay teams both taking first place. In the other sprinting events, sophomore Halsie Peek finished second in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.43 seconds and third in the 200-meter, running a 26.24 seconds.

In the throwing events, junior Anna LeBeaume finished second in the discus, throwing for a mark of 35.63 meters, and first in shot put, 12.65 meters and hammer throw, 45.52 meters. Junior Courtney Alley finished third in the discus with a throw of 34.54 meters.

Junior Siena Noe finished out the top-three finishes for the women’s team in the 5,000-meter, finishing third with a time of 19:02.61.

For the men, senior Lester Maxwell placed first in the 800-meter. Maxwell ran the fastest time recorded for any Northwest Conference competitor, running the two laps in 1:55.28.

“All of those boys work really hard and have had a lot of external influences, like injury, that have kind of been holding them back so it’s great getting to see them compete well,” Alley said.

The ’Cats showed their dominance in the throwing events with senior Drew Wert and freshman Stephan Hordes taking the top two spots in the shot put with throws of 13.31 and 12.96 meters. Sophomore Morgan Ewing took the top spot in the javelin, throwing 51.50 meter and senior Kyle Pfeifer placed third in the hammer throw, tossing the object 48.91 meters.

The next meet for the Wildcats is the Pacific Luau meet scheduled for April 13 in Forest Grove, Ore. The first event starts at 10 a.m.

“Its always impressive to see people post qualifying standards or season’s best times or distances when the weather is not conducive to competing,” Maxwell said.

Chris Haddeland/ Senior reporter

Chris Haddeland can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com