The men’s golf team headed to Greensboro, N.C., for the Division III National Championships on May 10-11.

Junior Alex Fitch won his first tournament on April 22 at Canyon Lakes Golf Course in Richland, Wash., and ranked first with a score of 70, two under par,  helping the team place first with a score of only 19 over par.

Once in Greensboro, N.C., Linfield golfers’ season ended on May 11. The team started the tournament in 25th place on May 10, but it dropped to the 30th rank the next day.

Despite ending the journey to nationals early, the team had a rewarding season placing first in three of its tournaments during the season.  While the team has three players graduating, it will prepare for next season with a good mix of returning members.

~Compiled by Kaylyn Peterson/Sports editor

Conference games have come to a close, but the Wildcats prepared for regionals with extra games in Lewiston, Idaho, May 6-8.

Linfield won two of three games against Lewis-Clark State College, George Fox University, and Pacific Lutheran University.

The first game of the series was against Lewis-Clark State on May 6, during which Linfield lost 6-3.

Senior second baseman Eric Evenson said that Lewis-Clark State proved to be a challenge.

“Lewis-Clark State had some of the best arms we’ve faced all season so that game was a great challenge for us,” he said.

The Wildcats faced off against Pacific Lutheran for the second game of the series on May 7. Linfield won this game 10-4. Evenson and sophomore center fielder Tim Wilson scored the first runs of the game for Linfield during the first inning.

Linfield scored five runs during the second inning. Junior shortstop Kevin Allan scored first. Seniors right fielder Gunnar Cederberg and first baseman Kevin Coleman, Wilson and Evenson also scored during the second inning.

Starting out the fourth inning, Linfield’s senior third baseman Dustin Smith and Wilson scored at the start of the fourth inning. Allan scored Linfield’s last run of the game during the seventh inning.

Freshman Zach Brandon started on the mound for the Wildcats; senior K.C. Wiser replaced him after five innings. Juniors Spencer Crepeaux and Jacob Nolte also pitched during the game.

The Wildcats played against George Fox University for the final game of the series. Linfield won against the Bruins 6-4. George Fox freshmen Derek Dixon and Derek Blankenship tallied the first two fourth-inning runs. Linfield’s senior catcher Cole Bixenman hit a home run, scoring the first run of the game for the ‘Cats. Linfield pulled farther ahead when Cederberg, Evenson and Smith scored during the fifth inning. The bats were swinging strong for the Wildcats during the eighth inning. Senior first baseman Kevin Coleman made it on base, and freshman Kramer Lindell subbed in as a designated runner for him. Then Lindell and Cederberg scored the final two runs of the game for the Wildcats.

Some of the players reflected  on how the  season prepared them for what lies ahead.

Brandon said that a great deal of their preparedness came from the strong teams they faced during the course of the season.

“I think our schedule has prepared us well for the regional. We faced solid competition in the preseason including games against teams outside Division III,” he said. “Each series we had in conference challenged us in its own way and our ability to win every conference series should give us a lot of confidence heading into regionals.”

Bixenman also said that a strong lineup prepared the team for regionals.

“I think we play a very competitive schedule and get to see a lot of quality opponents throughout the year. Our non-conference games were almost all against tough opponents, some of which we will see again at regionals,” he said.

“I think our games in Arizona against California and Texas schools, along with our series against Chapman prepares us well for our competition at the regional,” he said.

Freshman Nate McClellan said that the bond has helped the team grow. He also said that having teammates who were able to step up in times of need helped as well.

“I think over this season we have not only played many good teams, including a couple that we may play in the regional, but we have grown a ton as a team,” he said.

“Having to deal with several big injuries has helped us because we know that any player can
step up if we need them to, which is a big help going into regionals.”

The Wildcats will have a weekend to rest and practice before leaving for Texas on May 16. Regionals are scheduled for May 18, however, it has not been determined which team the Wildcats will play first in Texas.

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Kaylyn Peterson/Sports editor
Kaylyn Peterson can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.

Junior Jordan Mixsell pursues a ball against Anderson University at Central College in Pella, Iowa on May 12.

Emilee Lepp hits a home run in Pella, Iowa on May 12.

The softball team opened regional tournament play at Central College in Pella, Iowa with a 10-0, six-inning win against Anderson University on May 12. Senior pitcher Claire Velaski held the ’Cats’ opponent to one hit and struck out six batters.

Three ’Cats hit home runs including junior outfielder Jaydee Baxter, juniors first baseman Staci Doucette and catcher Emilee Lepp who brought her season total to 28 home runs.

This game brings the end nearer for five senior softball players. With just the regional and national tournaments left, these players will say goodbye not just to Linfield, but to Wildcat softball as well.

Head coach Jackson Vaughan said this group of girls was essential to maintaining a strong program after 2007’s national championship-winning team.

“They really helped in the transition from our 2007 championship team and were highly involved in keeping the program at a high level,” he said.

He added that this group has more than just skills on the field.

“They’ve always done things the right way on the field and in the classroom and the bonus has been that they are great players,” Vaughan said.

Senior shortstop Emily Keagbine hit 16 home runs this season with a .455 batting average. She finished third place in the Northwest Conference in both categories behind her teammates Lepp and Doucette. However, Vaughan commented on more than just her offensive power.

“She brings an element of fun but is also very competitive,” he said. “She’s very talented defensively and is someone who loves the game.”

Keagbine’s performance throughout the season earned her a spot on the all-Northwest Conference first team.

Velaski has led the ’Cats’ pitching staff for two years. Her 19-1 record, including eight complete games with two shut-outs, 106 strikeouts and 2.00 ERA led her to receive a first team all-Northwest Conference selection this year.

Vaughan said she is reliable, hard working and a great teammate.

Velaski talked about what softball has meant to her.

“Having a group of people that are there with you through success, heartbreak and pain is something you don’t get  in a lot of places,” she said. “I am going to remember everyone’s hard work, effort and the time they committed this year.”

Fellow pitcher, senior Elise Karscig also commented on the team’s dedication and success.

“Everyone has been really motivated throughout the whole year,” she said. “I will remember how well we did this year only losing two games, and that we never really backed down throughout the season.”

Karscig made four appearances on the mound this year, one of which concluded with a memorable complete game shutout on Senior Day against Pacific University.

“She is super team-oriented and a great supporter. She is always there to take care of everybody,” Vaughan said about Karscig.

Senior outfielder Kayla Hubrich joined Keagbine and Velaski on this year’s first all-NWC team. She led the team in stolen bases with 14 and led the NWC in triples with four. She was also second in the NWC in runs scored and hits behind Lepp in both categories.

“[Hubrich] is super hard working and gives her absolute best at everything she does, and she has improved a lot,” Vaughan said.

Hard work is something all the players are familiar with. Senior second baseman Alex Hartmann said that is one thing she will take away from her experiences in softball.

“The time we commit teaches you how to work hard and how to have good time management,” she said.

Hartmann earned her fourth all-NWC honor this year, nabbing a second team selection. Vaughan said she has been a key contributor during each of her four years as a Wildcat. This year she had 41 hits and 31 RBI with a .328 batting average.

The seniors weren’t the only Wildcats recognized in the all-NWC voting. Vaughan, who received the Coach of the Year award, and Lepp, who was voted Player of the Year, topped the list of recipients.

Doucette, junior outfielder Jaydee Baxter and sophomore third baseman Karleigh Prestianni were selected for first team honors. Junior pitcher Lauren Harvey joined Hartmann on the second team and freshman pitcher Karina Paavola rounded out the team’s selections with an honorable mention.

In addition, six players were selected for the 2011 Division III All-West Region first team. This included Prestianni, Lepp, Doucette, Hubrich, Keagbine and Velaski.

Besides hard work, Velaski, Karscig and Hartmann all agreed on the mentality that the team is taking into the regional tournament.

“It’s out there for any team to win, but we just have to be aggressive and put everything we have done over the past four months out on the field and take it,” Hartmann said.

The ’Cats’ next opponent is Washington University in St. Louis, the same team the Wildcats defeated in the national championship in 2007. The game will take place at 2 p.m. on May 13 at Central College in Pella, Iowa.

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Rae Smith/Staff reporter
Rae Smith can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.

The baseball team is heading to regionals May 18 with the majority of the Northwest Conference all-league team. Leading the team are head baseball coach Scott Brosius, coach of the year,  and senior catcher Cole Bixenman, player of the year.

Not only did Linfield earn two top awards, but the team won 14 awards in the NWC selection. Bixenman also won first team all-league, along with junior shortstop Kevin Allan, freshmen Clayton Truex and Tim Wilson; and pitchers junior Ryan Larson and seniors Robert Vaughn and Evan Hilberg.

“I think it was just a combination of being in the right place at the right time and being a senior. I have been around the league for a few years now and just having that experience under my belt I think really helped me out this year,” Bixenman said. “I could have never accomplished any of it if it weren’t for my teammates surrounding me. Baseball is a team game and I have great teammates.”

Bixenman has played baseball all four of his years at Linfield, starting his freshman year on the junior varsity team.

“I feel I have grown a lot as a person first, in my time at Linfield. Going to college to play sports is exciting because you have to start back at the bottom of the totem pole and work your way back up again. It’s been fun to go through that growth to being a senior now,” Bixenman said. “I definitely think being a senior now I have been much more comfortable and relaxed. Just being completely comfortable and at ease with your surroundings and teammates makes a big difference.”

Not only was Bixenman a baseball player for the Wildcats, but he played quarterback as well. He also balances school as a finance major with an outstanding 3.78 GPA. According to Linfield’s athletic website, Bixenman was named to the CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-District DIII Baseball Team for academic honors. He was named part of the team, along with junior infielder Kevin Allan.

Bixenman is one of two players who has started all 40 games this season. He also is tied for Linfield’s home run career mark with 32 runs. He has proven himself as a leader on the team.

Senior Gunnar Cederberg agreed that Bixenman is a leader.

“He leads by example and gets the job done during our games,” Cederberg said. “I think he has grown in the understanding of how the other team is going to get him out, and he has worked hard at turning that knowledge into productive at bats, which has led to his success.”

After graduation, Bixenman has an internship at R.V. Kuhns, an investment consulting firm in Portland, Ore., working as an analyst in the Investment Manager Research division.

As for playing baseball, Bixenman’s Linfield career is quickly approaching an end as the team heads to Texas next week, and possibly to Wisconsin the following week.

“I would love to continue playing baseball. Who wouldn’t want to play a game and get paid for it,” Bixenman said. “We will see where it might take me. For now we have a few big goals to accomplish as a team first though.”

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Corrina Crocker/Sports editor
Corrina Crocker can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.

The Linfield men’s and women’s track and field team competed in the fourth annual Pacific Twilight meet in Forest Grove, Ore., on April 29 and 30. The meet was a last-chance qualifier for the NCAA Division III Championships. A total of 25 teams competed in this meet with a total of 996 athletes.

Top performers on the women’s side included junior Catherine Street, placing second in the women’s pole vault and breaking the school’s pole vault record for the third time this season.

“I could not have asked for a better season so far,” Street said. “I still feel like I’m on the way up, and my personal record breaking is not done yet. I’m extremely excited about nationals this year.”

Senior Chelsea Machida tied for first place in the women’s high jump. Freshman Kate Shear won third place in the javelin throw.

“I want to break the school record, and next season, I want to break that record,” Shear said. “I also want to make it to nationals.”

On the men’s side, freshman Michael Moreland landed in third place in the men’s high jump. Sophomore Lester Maxwell finished sixth place in the men’s 800 meter.

Other athletes competing for the Wildcats included freshman Anna LaBeaume, who took fifth place in the women’s shot put. Freshman Mimi Seeley finished in 10th place in the women’s 5000 meter run. Sophomore Melany Crocker placed 13th in the women’s 100 meter dash, and senior Cory Parrish finished in 16th place in the men’s 300 meter dash.

The team has seen some positive changes with its new coaching staff.

“I love vaulting for [head coach] Travis [Olson],” Street said. “He’s one of those coaches who can talk you down when you are nervous, and I find that extremely important. He has done an amazing job his first year as head coach.”

Although some will continue on to nationals, the season has come to an end for the track team.

“Overall, we had a really successful season for boys and girls,” Crocker said. “Many of us had rough starts to the season but the peaking cycle had great results, and we finished with great marks.”
Select athletes will compete in the Oregon Twilight meet on May 6 in Eugene, Ore., in preparation for the NCAA championships later in the month.

Kelsey Sutton/Staff reporter
Kelsey Sutton can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.

Baseball began the month of May with in three victories against Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash., on April 30 and May 1, as the team prepares for regionals.

Senior second baseman Eric Evenson said the Wildcats went up against tough competition.

“PLU is always a tough team to play because they are well coached and competitive. You know that any time you play PLU, you will have to beat them,” he said. “They won’t give you anything easy.”

The ’Cats took the first game, 9-4, against the Lutes with three runs in the fourth inning when senior catcher Cole Bixenman and sophomore center fielder Tim Wilson were on base and sophomore first baseman Clayton Truex hit a home run down the left field line.

Keeping up with their strength at the plate, Linfield brought in three more runs during the fifth inning. Truex hit a home run and brought in Bixenman and Wilson.

The next run brought in by the Wildcats happened in the sixth inning and was scored by senior right fielder Gunnar Cederberg.

Bixenman and freshman left fielder Kramer Lindell finished off the ninth inning of the first game with two final runs.

Junior Ryan Larson pitched strong in the first eight innings, and junior Jacob Nolte relieved him in the last inning.

The Wildcats pulled out another win on April 30, 3-0. Wilson had Linfield’s first run during the fourth inning. The team brought in two final runs when Wilson and Bixenman were at bat in their last inning.

Freshman Zach Brandon pitched for the game’s first eight innings before being replaced by senior Evan Hilberg.

Refreshed and ready to play, the ’Cats came out May 1 to compete in the third game against the Lutes.

Not waiting to start things off, Linfield scored the first two runs in the first inning. Wilson and senior third baseman Dustin Smith scored the first runs. Bixenman scored the next run in the sixth inning with a home run.

Trying to make a comeback in the sixth inning, Pacific Lutheran scored a single run. Linfield came back in the seventh inning, with Cederberg and Smith scoring two more runs.

The game ended with three final runs during the ninth inning. Cederberg scored the first of three runs on a wild pitch from Pacific Lutheran senior pitcher Bret Handy. Wilson and Smith scored the last two runs after a hit by Truex. Pitching for their final game in Tacoma were sophomore Zach Manley and junior Spencer Crepeaux. Only eight hits came off of the two of them.

Brandon reacted positively after going up against Pacific Lutheran’s strong pitching staff and coming out with three wins.

“I think overall we played really well in all phases of the game. All of our pitchers did a great job, and our defense was great in backing them up all weekend,” he said. “Offensively, we were able to get some timely hits which was big also.”

Evenson also positively responded to the game.

“The highlight of the weekend had to be our focus. Having already clinched a spot in a regional tournament it could have been easy to lose focus,” he said. “We wanted an outright conference championship. More importantly, we want to continue playing good baseball heading into regionals, so getting a sweep is one step closer to our goals.”

After four years of playing for Linfield, Evenson has come out with an experience that is hard for him to explain.

“These four years have been unbelievable. It’s really hard to put it into words. The relationships I’ve built and the memories I will be able to take away are invaluable and something I wouldn’t trade for anything,” he said. “We are all really blessed to be part of this program. I couldn’t have asked for a better four years.”

The Wildcats will travel to Lewiston, Idaho, for a final series that will prepare them for regionals in Texas on May 6-8. The team will compete against familiar teams such as PLU, Lewis-Clark State College and George Fox University.

Kaylyn Peterson/For the Review
Kaylyn Peterson can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.

Several Wildcat tennis players were tested against the top singles players and doubles teams in the west during the 111th Ojai Valley Tournament on April 27-30.

Senior Sarah Click and junior Abby Olbrich represented the women’s team in singles and doubles. Both lost first-round singles match-ups but then beat juniors Katie Thaxton and Abbie Zaretsky of Master’s College in the first round of the women’s doubles tournament, 6-1, 6-1. That was as far as the pair advanced.

The duo lost to the top-seeded Point Loma Nazarene University in the second round, 1-6, 1-6. Point Loma became the women’s doubles champions.

Olbrich said the tournament was a valuable experience.

“It was good preparation for regionals and was a good learning experience to have in general,”she said.

Men’s head coach Carl Swanson also noted the value of the tournament.

“For the women, it was basically preparation for the team regional tournament. It was a chance to go down to southern California, play in that environment and play top players because it’s a similar type of environment that we’re going to see at regionals,” Swanson said.

Click and Oblrich, along with the rest of the women’s team, will play in the NCAA Division III regional tournament May 13-15. The location and opponent have yet to be determined.

The tournament provided an opportunity for singles players and doubles teams to play their way into the NCAA national championship. However, none of the Linfield men’s singles players or doubles teams advanced beyond the second round.

Seniors Tal DeWitt and Mark Magdaong both fell in the first round of singles action. Senior Brent Kingzett defeated Chapman University sophomore Dylan Tevlin, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, in the first round but followed that with a 0-6, 0-6 loss to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps College’s senior Russel Brocket.

Kingzett did not finish as well as he anticipated, but he reflected positively on the season and the team’s work ethic.

“Despite losing several close matches and not achieving the success we were used to, the way we prepared for matches and battled to win never wavered,” he said.

Kingzett and Magdaong competed in the men’s doubles tournament, but the team lost in the first round.

DeWitt and senior Tim Wagar edged out California Institute of Technology freshmen Devashish Joshi and Luka Mernik, 9-8, in the first round but also lost in the second round against sophomore Parker Larsen and senior Brian Pybas of the University of California, Santa Cruz, 4-8.

Swanson said he was happy with the mens’ performances, especially since no men’s singles player from the Northwest Conference advanced past the second round.

“It’s the experience of being there, knowing they belong and being a part of it and enjoying some success,” he said. “In terms of how we performed relative to our peers, we did a good job.”

As the tournament marked the end of the road for the men’s players, Swanson noted a few of the mens’ attributes that will be missed.

“As a program, you are going to miss their experience, you are going to miss their leadership, and you are going to miss their competitiveness,” he said.

Kingzett said he hopes to have instilled some of these qualities with the underclassmen.

“I hope to have left them with a sense of motivation and a will to win and to make the best of these years that they can, because it goes by quickly,” he said.

Rae Smith/Staff reporter
Rae Smith can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.

Intramural sports are a popular extra-curricular activity on campus. They are a fun way for students to get exercise, socialize and participate in sports if they are not involved in athletics at the collegiate level.

A new intramural sport starts every season, giving athletes and students who have never played before an opportunity to show what they’ve got and hopefully improve.

“They are fun and give people a chance to play sports without having to put in the time others do on a [collegiate] team,” senior Intramural Sports Commissioner Kaddar Elhabbassi said.

Associated Student of Linfield College Intramural Sports Director junior Daniel Teater agreed with Elhabbassi.

“I think that people play because they are either interested in trying new sports or because they played before and want to pick up where they left off,” he said in an email. “It’s also a good way to relieve the stresses of school.”

The sports students can choose from are touch football, co-ed volleyball, co-ed bowling, basketball, soccer and co-ed softball.

As some sports are more popular than others, a competitive side naturally follows.

“Basketball is probably the most competitive sport because many people play it and are just trying to be the best,” Elhabbassi said. “People always play basketball, so an organized league is where everyone gets to see who is the best.”

Senior Michel Camacho agreed.

“Basketball is the most intense intramural sport,” he said. “The competition is high, and there are a lot of teams.”

Camacho played on the men’s soccer team here at Linfield and knows about competition.

“It’s nice to play in other sports than the ones you actually play,” he said.

Camacho is involved in intramural volleyball, bowling, basketball and softball when he is not in season for soccer.

“People aren’t messing around. People take it seriously and try and get good teams together. There is a pride to winning,” he said.

The sports are divided into different leagues depending on the level of competition the team will compete with.

“The more competitive, or better, teams go to the ‘A’ league, and the teams that are just having fun go to [the] ‘B’ league to not be as competitive,” Elhabbassi said.

The intramural sports is almost over as softball is midway through the season. For some, this will be their last chance to play in IM sports, but for those returning next year the season will start off fresh with touch football in September.

Corrina Crocker/Sports editor
Corrina Crocker can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.