photo by Jeff Primozich/Photo Edito

Justin O’Connell

For the Review

Blending an array of musical styles that span 300 years of history, senior Jeff Hays will exhibit his vocal and piano talents for students and faculty, Sunday.

Hays will perform styles ranging from classical opera and musical theater, to jazz and pop. He will accompany himself on piano for two songs, and will be later joined by the jazz band and Debra Huddleston.

“I am equally looking forward to all of them, but I’ll be honest, I have a lot of fun with the jazz,” Hays said.

Originally a computer science major, Hays soon found himself studying music. Competent at playing instruments as far removed from one another as the valve bone, guitar and clarinet, it was not until Hays arrived at Linfield that he took up voice, he said.

“Dana Libonati of the jazz choir took me aside one day and told me I was talented and should really pursue this,” Hays said.

Hays is grateful that he fell into music here at Linfield, and praises the music program as an awesome experience.

“The music department has been phenomenal at Linfield,” he said. “It is really classically geared, so it is more oriented toward preparing you for grad school.  But I think everyone should have that influence in music anyway.”

Many students will be surprised by his recital, Hays said, as few have seen him perform classical numbers.

“I’ve performed here before and there has been a good response to it,” Hays said. “(I am) going to sing classically (at the recital) and then take that and morph it into what I usually do. I am going to end with
a real, real big bang.”

At  his CatCab performances, Hays has focused on his own compositions, but Sunday’s recital will be geared  toward demonstrating his skills as a musician.
However, Hays will premiere a piece of his own.

“Go there, have fun, and if you want to go to an awesome after party, come up and talk to me about it,” Hays said. “That’s all I’ve got to say.”

Hays’ will perform May 25 in Ice Auditorium
at 8 p.m.

Photo by Rachael Palinkas/Features Editor

Attention to details adds beauty to Linfield campus

Septembre Russell/Copy Editor

You’ve seen how great campus looks in print; the lush green trees, the carefully coifed grass, free from leaves, trash and debris. Everything appears surreal, inviting and, unlike the fast food we see in commercials, what you see is what
you get. 

Our campus isn’t gorgeous just because we live in Oregon, there are several individuals dedicated to the maintenance and preservation of Linfield’s sprawling green fields and landscaping.

The grounds crew at Linfield puts in painstaking work to ensure that campus stays in top condition.

It is almost a guarantee you will spot a member of the  grounds crew hard at work outside for the majority of the day despite the weather.

Summer is upon us, and it is hot enough out there to make birds drown themselves instead of just cooling down with a bath.

Imagine mowing and toiling the grass in last week’s 98-degree heat, donning closed-toed shoes, long pants and gloves, as these ensure workers’ safety. Despite the heat, uniform requirements can be menacing.

“That nice, crisp edge along the grass and pathways—they’re responsible for that,” senior Sara Burgoyne said.

That’s not all they contribute.  Grounds crew staff pull weeds, mow and edge the fields and lawns, trim trees, hedges and plant flowers all over campus. 

Their job isn’t complete when school ends for the summer; grounds crew staff work year-round, looking after campus while students are away enjoying their time off.

 While getting to know some of the crew off the field, some of the wisdom imparted included the disclosure that olive oil works wonders for split ends and that it isn’t a great idea to hang tight ropes up in the trees.

In the crew’s break room, you might find a South Park sticker along with a peg-board album hanging on the wall filled with pictures of student crew members, families and friends. Each member is known for his or her different quirks and talents, and they all work together to keep campus easy on the eyes. 

Groundskeeper Rick Knutz, who has been a grounds crew member for a decade, said that his favorite thing about working the grounds is pruning trees while everything else is “dreadful.” 

Sophomore Christina Michael has worked for the grounds for two years.

“I like being outside, and the crew is fun to work with,” Michael said.

Knutz and Michael bring up a common annoyance among crew staff: students tanning while the grass is being mowed.
     “(You) would think that they would notice a mower coming, sometimes not,” Michael said.

Members of the grounds crew work tirelessly, just like the rest of us—but in comparison, students barely make
the grade.

Classrooms  with windows that face an open field or sector of grass merely warrant a glimpse of what grounds crew work truly is.

The next time you pass one of grounds crew staff while on the way to take a test inside of an air-conditioned classroom, don’t take their hard work for granted, and try to place yourself in their closed-toed shoes. 

Linfield students learn the harsh realities of homelessness in Yamhill County

For the Review by Kelly Copeland, Ashley Hollenbeck, Janelle Levesque and Elizabeth Schwinck

As students of the Sociology of Community class, we have learned about rural homelessness
and housing instability in Yamhill County. Before this class we had limited knowledge of the local homeless epidemic, but through research and service experience we now understand the harsh reality of housing distress in rural communities such as McMinnville.

In light of our learning experience, we interviewed Linfield students and asked about their perceptions of local poverty.

Of 13 students, administrators and faculty interviewed, most said when they think of homelessness words such as dirty, beer, old, men, greasy-haired, sad, unnecessary, camping and Wal-Mart came to mind.

These words describe the harsh stereotypes people carry about the homeless. This is a visual of typical urban homelessness that we are constantly exposed to through the media and in our daily lives.

Next, we asked students whether they thought homelessness was an issue in McMinnville. While many students said they are sure it is a problem, they were unaware of the extent of the issue. Some assumed it wasn’t a problem, because of
the climate.

One student who was surveyed said: Homeless people usually move to warmer areas, and because McMinnville experiences frequent rain and cold winters, homeless people are less likely to
live here.

Another question asked
was whether or not students
were aware of local service organizations in McMinville, and if they knew of any resources that are available
to help those who are homeless or homeless-affected.
Of those surveyed, most said they were aware of resources such as the St. Barnabas Soup Kitchen and religious-based organizations that help
the homeless.

While students are somewhat aware of homelessness and know there are services available, it is possible to attribute the overall ignorance of the issue to the fact that most students spend little to no time off campus and in the McMinnville community. This reality, that the distinct separation between the Linfield bubble and the outside community, is the overarching reason most students are uninformed.

One issue we are more aware of is the majority of Americans who buy into the stereotype that homeless people are the bums and throwaways of society. That is not true for many people who find themselves without a place to stay.

The majority of families simply fall on hard times, such as losing a job or having a medical emergency that leaves them in debt. However, many students have not had the opportunity to look beyond the stereotypes.

Another student reported: To help the homeless, I would become a motivational speaker and tell them to get off their lazy asses and go to work at McDonald’s.

Comments such as these highlight the general perception that homelessness is purely a product of laziness and lack of income. But, as the Sociology of Community class has studied this semester, the problem is much more than that. Howie Harkema, the operations director for the St. Barnabas Soup Kitchen, said this is not the case for the majority of those who come in for a free meal. More often than not, he
said, most people have homes but simply cannot afford to buy food after their rent has been paid.

It  can often be a balance between having a warm bed to sleep in or a hot meal for some, and many have to choose the bed. These
people, while they may not be
homeless at the time, are dangerously close to losing
their homes.

In order to gain a better
understanding of the issues of homelessness, it is necessary to know that it is not just the result of poor decision making. Sophomore Samantha Jordan is one student who is
more cognizant of the broader scope.

“I do understand that homelessness means exactly what it says: without a home,” she said. “A person who is kicked out of their home and is living with friends, passing time in multiple houses without a fixed permanent place of his or her own is also homeless.”

In contrast to the general views of the Linfield community, homelessness in Yamhill County is an increasingly dramatic problem. The first step to solving this problem is to raise awareness and to break the stereotypes.

Our generation can help solve the homeless epidemic, and as college students, we have the power to make
change and influence society.

Brianne Ries, assistant editor

Sophomore Sallie Katter’s and senior Kasey Kuenzli’s season ended during the first round of the NCAA Division III Championships May 18 at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn.

Going into the championships with a record of 16-4, Katter and Kuenzli could not capture a win against sophomore Lauren Caire and junior Katie Tabb of Washington and Lee University, losing 6-1, 6-2. Caire and Tabb fell during day two of the quarterfinals to senior Amy Staloch and freshman Jennifer Chui of Carnegie Mellon University, ending their season with a 28-1 record.

“We knew what to expect,” Katter said. “They just hit it harder, they’re more consistent and that’s not really something we could have prepared ourselves for.”

Kuenzli and Katter were awarded with NWC All-Star recognition. Katter, along with senior Kelli Sides, were awarded second team honors, and Kuenzli was awarded first team honors.

“The whole experience, for me, as a sophomore at least, and still having two more years, it was really motivational to see these that I can take advantage of if I am willing to put the time and work in to improve my game,” Katter said.

The women’s championships ended with sophomore Brittany Berckes and senior Alicia Menezes of Amherst College walking away with the title for the second consecutive year.

– Nicole Bennett, for the Review

The fat lady has sung for this softball season, but the team proudly salutes another successful year.

After several triumphant years and a national championship in 2007, the ’Cats say goodbye to five senior starters and major assets to the team. Head coach Jackson Vaughan said he will miss them.

“They have been a huge part of our success the last four years,” Vaughan said. “I will miss the friendships and good times I have shared with all of them. The practices, games, road trips and playoff experiences are fond memories.”

The team is not at a loss for talent next year, though. Junior pitchers Brittany Miller and Kendra Strahm contributed dozens of strikeouts throughout the season. Several freshmen stepped up to the plate, also.

Freshmen Kayla Hubrich and Alex Hartmann contributed great plays throughout the season.

The underclassmen said the seniors will leave a lasting impression.

“The seniors have shown me the real reason why softball is amazing,” sophomore Jessica Popiel said. “They are the definition of Catball, and their legacies will always live throughout this program.”

The team shares many memories outside the softball field as well.

While in Texas, Vaughan ran over a center barrier in the road and the car’s hubcap fell off. Senior Meredith Brunette and Popiel said that is their favorite memory of
their coach.

The team has proven it is a force to be reckoned with.Past and present, the team has shown it can dominate the field and have fun by making lifelong friendships when the games are over.

“This was by far one of the most valuable experiences I will ever have,” senior outfielder Stephanie Rice said. “I will never forget it or any of the wonderful people I shared it with. Man, I don’t want to leave.”

The ‘Snake’ charms the Review one last time – Jacob Peterson, for the Review

As much as I thought this day would never come, it is time for my farewell rant.  With graduation looming in the future, this will be the last edition of Jake the Snake.

During the last two years, I have been wrong about a few things. Being wrong is the chance a columnist takes throwing his opinions out for everybody to read week after week.  The following are my final thoughts and words of wisdom:

To my predecessor, Aaron Chantler, nice prediction about how the Seahawks should have let Shawn Alexander go after winning the NFL’s Most Valuable Player Award. I apologize for riding you so hard about it. The man took our money and lost his heart. How many times do we see this happen? If someone knows the key to getting professional athletes to always play to their fullest potential, please let me know.

To the Notre Dame football team, you have been a wonderful arch nemesis. I hate everything about you.  In fact, I hate you more than I hate Linfield’s ITS. From your false sense of tradition to your overrated positions to your fat, liar of a coach Charlie Weis, the mere thought of this team makes me sick.  Brady Quinn will fail as an NFL quarterback, Weis will fail as a head coach and the team will continue to reap the benefits of being independent of a league.

To the team I love to hate, the Los Angeles Lakers, you will lose to San Antonio in six games. The way Kobe Bryant gets a foul called on everyone of his missed shots is ridiculous. Stop bailing this guy out. The league needs to keep the officials from being influenced by these huge superstars. Call it even. Spurs will win this year’s NBA title.

To baseball, you are no longer America’s favorite pastime.  I’m sorry, but the nation loves the NFL. Maybe if you spiced the game up a bit or updated for the 21st century, people would be able to bear it. How much longer until one of these blown calls costs someone a game?

Put in instant replay already. And get rid of the steroids. That would be nice, too.

To the University of Oregon football program, stop toying with my heart. You have the ability to influence how I feel for an entire week. Stop teasing me and win a
National Championship. Finish a season.

To America, get into Major League Soccer already. This sport and league is highly entertaining and just fun to watch. We need to build a respectable soccer team on the world level. The last World Cup was unbearable.

To the Seattle Mariners, I have just two words for you—holy cow. You are that bad. Well, I’ll look on the bright side, at least you aren’t the Cubs.

To NASCAR, I don’t care how much heat you take. I love you.

To college football, give us what we want. I have spent many a column venting my soul about implementing a playoff system in place of the Bowl Championship Series. Do something quick before I do something drastic.

To women’s basketball coach Robyn Stewart, thanks for letting me work with your team this season.

It was a valuable learning experience, and you did a terrific job. I look forward to seeing how next season turns out.

To head football coach Joe Smith, next year you will win the division. The Wildcat defense is always good and hints of a well rounded offense were showing near the end of the season.

The kinks are worked out and you will return this team back to the top where it belongs.

To Linfield baseball, congratulations. We are all behind you 100 percent. You have already achieved so much this season and are making everyone proud to be a Wildcat. No matter the outcome, we are all proud. But don’t get me wrong, another national championship would be great.

Finally, I just want to say this: I love Linfield Wildcat athletics.

I have always been proud to support all the teams at as many events as possible.

  With that said, I never meant to offend anybody with negative comments pertaining to the men’s basketball and
football programs.

All of my opinions were just conclusions drawn from watching a number of competitions throughout the year and were never fabricated or fictional, simply an
outside opinion.

Linfield, it has been a good run. It’s time to say goodbye. Thanks to everyone who supported throughout the years.

If you have any lingering  questions or concerns, email me
one last time at jpeters1@linfield.edu. 

Jordan Jacobo, Sports editor

On May 20, head baseball coach Scott Brosius stood on Roy Helser Field knocking ground balls at his infielders during practice.

The baseball team, which plays in the NCAA Division III Finals for the first time in its history today, benefited on the field from $350,000 in renovations for its facilities this season.

Brosius, a former New York Yankees third baseman who was named World Series MVP in 1998, declined to say whether or not he thinks his fame has helped the team gather fundraising efforts with greater ease.

“The people who support our baseball, and Linfield athletics in general, have done so for quite a while,” Brosius said. “We have many supporters who have always been generous in giving, and that’s why we have the facilities we do.”

The money, privately fundraised and donated in part by Brosius, went to the latest series of venue renovations that have transformed the allure of Linfield athletics in the past five years.

This year the installation of an artificial FieldTurf infield and covered batting cages allowed the baseball team to spend more time practicing on the field.

On-field practice, rather than time spent training in the fieldhouse, means players can get used to the fielding of live ground balls without space constraint in situational play,
Brosius said.

“Defensively, we’ve been able to do a lot more,” Brosius said. “There’s no question it’s been a huge benefit.”

Next on the upgrade wish list for the team: a new scoreboard and a batter’s eye, which is a visual aid behind center field that helps keep distractions at a minimum when batting.

In 2004, Linfield completed a $1.4 million upgrade to the Maxwell Field football stadium and the surrounding track and field facilities.

The field’s grass was replaced with synthetic turf, the track surface was torn up and replaced with a polyurethane, stadium lights were installed
and the press box and scoreboard were upgraded as part of the project.

“Without a doubt, it’s made us a much more effective team,” head football coach Joe Smith said. “We’re able to film our practices and hold our practices later. But the field is used much more by the student body, so it’s been very good to the school
as well.”

Smith said that many of the elite national football programs that Linfield competes against in the postseason have facilities that far exceed the Maxwell Field renovations.

He said the weight room is one of the facilities in need of the most improvement. There often isn’t enough room because it’s used by all sports and the student body.

The danger in lavishly upgrading is that some teams get left in the dark, but Smith said that athletic director Scott Carnahan is careful never to let that happen. He said the donations to the general athletic venue funds have also gone to upgrades in other sports, such as soccer, softball and lacrosse.

Smith said that Carnahan’s efforts have led to high quality athletic facilities across all sports, regardless of fanfare or popularity.

Carnahan said the key to building new facilities or improving existing ones is finding multiple uses.

For example, the Health, Human Performance and Athletics Complex is home to a variety of athletic events, social events, institutional gatherings and four academic majors.

The next major project for Carnahan is the building of a new HHPA fitness center. Currently, there is $1.8 million pledged for the $5.2 million construction project.

Because funding is not finalized, the plan has not been approved by the Board of Trustees. The building would be located between Lever Street and the football field, on the grassy area south of
the gym.

“When you’re fundraising for facilities, you want to look at how it will impact the entire campus,” Carnahan said. “It’s a question of
overall benefit.”

Jordan Jacobo, Sports editor

With the Northwest Conference title out of reach, the final game of the football season against Lewis & Clark College on Nov. 11 was the debut for the future of the passing game and two young quarterbacks.

Senior quarterback Trevor Scharer, a poised two-year starter, bowed out after the team’s playoff hopes were dashed in a 10-6 loss to Whitworth University the prior week. It was time for the future of Wildcat football to make its mark.

The two quarterbacks gunning for the No. 1 spot, sophomore Aaron Boehme and freshman Cole Franklin shared their first shot at substantial playing time.

Boehme played the entire first half, completing 14 of 17 passes while throwing five touchdowns.

Franklin played in the second half as the ’Cats wrapped up with their strong running game. He threw one touchdown and managed 40 yards on the ground as Linfield completed a 66-0 onslaught of Lewis & Clark.

Now, as spring practices wind down and players prepare for their summer training schedules, a quarterback battle for the top spot on the depth chart is heating up.

“The goal of the spring was to try and see what they are capable of,” head football coach Joe Smith said. “I think we did that. It’s definitely still a competition between the two.”

Smith said the practices have shown him the leadership qualities that both quarterbacks possess. Boehme and Franklin offer a different skill set than Scharer had, and the offense is evolving to match the quarterback change, Smith said.

“He was a very natural passer, very prolific when throwing on the run,” Smith said. “Boehme and Franklin are a little more fleet of foot and have better pocket presence.”

Smith has not yet set a time table for deciding who will be next year’s starter.

Boehme, who played in six games this season and holds the edge in experience, said the competition has pushed him to improve.

Watching Scharer, who started during Boehme’s first two years at the school, helped him learn about what it takes to be a successful quarterback, he said.

“(Scharer) had a real fearlessness about him,” Boehme said. “He exuded confidence. Players looked to him and knew he would get the job done.”

Franklin, who came to Linfield after quarterbacking an option-based attack in high school, said being faced with a spread offense and pass-heavy playbook was a big change.

Franklin said the possibility of a tandem quarterback offense to start the season, where both players share responsibilities of the position, is a likely solution for the quarterback conflict.

Whatever the outcome, Smith said the choice will be what’s best for the team

“They are very positive guys,” Smith said. “They have the ability to inspire confidence in their teammates. They want each other to do well, which creates an extremely healthy
environment.”

Tyler Morrill, for the Review

Like every spring at Linfield, the football program kicks off its new season with spring practice.

Out on Maxwell Field, you will see the team working on getting used to playing with each other all over again. Many positions are open with the seniors moving on and young players using spring practices as a way to impress the coaches.

After one of the toughest seasons to swallow, the ’Cats have to rebuild from the ground up.

Linfield was 6-3 overall last season and had some disappointing losses. Although the Wildcats lost to Willamette University earlier in the year, they still landed in the conference championship deciding game against Whitworth University. Whitworth forced the ’Cats into five interceptions, one of which Whitworth returned for the game’s only touchdown.

Practicing in the spring is intended to give the team a chance to work on replacing the graduated seniors and give the coaches a chance to evaluate the young talent.

“It’s a chance to do a little research and development,” head coach Joe Smith said. “We’ll certainly try some different schematic ideas out and that’s what most coaches do. Secondly, you want to get a good feel for the younger kids maybe you didn’t get to see a lot of in the fall. You’re trying to get a good evaluation of the talent you have returning.”

Next season’s playmaker positions will have some fresh faces in the fall and a lot of off-season work will is necessary to get this team ready for its first game September 13 against Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas.

The most obvious offensive change is that Linfield’s two-year starter Trevor Scharer will no longer be at the helm.

Sophomore Aaron Boehme is the frontrunner to step in behind center next year.

“I think everyone is wondering how good our quarterback play is going to be,” Smith said. “I think it’d be foolish not to wonder about that. We definitely wanted to tailor the practices to get a view to see what the quarterbacks were capable of.”

The starting position for running back is wide open now.

Last season, the Wildcats never had a solid starter and this coming season could have a similar situation. Junior Dan Lever is the only back returning who notched more than 100 yards last season.

Linfield is losing all the leaders of its receiving corps,  the major source of production from last season. Two receivers are returning from last year that had more than 10 catches, as all-conference receivers Tyler Kaluza and Josh Vierra graduate.

The Wildcats’ most proven offensive returner is senior Travis Masters. Last year, he led the Wildcats in all-purpose yards. Masters started the season sharing a receiving position before being moved to starting running back. The coaches still aren’t sure where to put him, but know he needs the ball.

“We don’t know exactly where he’ll play yet,” Smith said. “He’ll play at running back and slot receiver like he did last year. He’s a great player with the ball in his hands. Wherever he is we have to try to get him the ball.”

The Wildcats bring back a lot of young talent up front, but filling all the holes in the secondary may prove to be a challenge

They have the task of replacing the entire secondary defense, including three all-conference players. Sophomore Bubba Lemon will be the most experienced cornerback.

“We kind of saw that void coming up the last few years with the guys that were graduating ahead of them,” Smith said. “When they were all freshmen, we were preparing for that. They got a lot of extra attention as freshmen and it worked out great.”

Last season the linebacker crew was young but caught on quickly, making several big plays.

Three sophomores started as linebackers for the ’Cats. Jaymin Jackson, Paul Partlow and Alex Tkachuk all stepped in and performed well for the ’Cats. Combined, they contributed 123 of Linfield’s 656 tackles.

“It’s a great trio of linebackers and I think they’ll be the strength of our defense. They took their lumps and had a learning curve along the way like every body,” Smith said. “By midseason, they were playing very well and that’s what we hoped for given their ability.”

The coaches are also looking forward to the new crop of freshman recruits.

With all the new faces, the Wildcats have a lot to work on, but it should be exciting to watch as the team grows up together.

– Dominic Baez, managing editor

Three track and field athletes will put a year’s worth of practice in action as they participate in the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh today.

Sophomores Josh and Jeremy Lovell are competing in the decathlon at nationals, held at J.J. Keller Field
at Titan Stadium.

Josh totalled 3,598 points on the first day of competition, placing second in the high jump and fourth in the 100-meter dash and the long jump. He is in second
place overall.

Josh ranks second in the the decathlon with 6,798 points, and Jeremy Lovell, who earned All-America honors at last year’s decathlon, ranks seventh in the division this season with 6,630 points.

Jeremy kept pace with his brother, finishing sixth overall after placing fifth in the 100-meter dash and third in the long jump.

The two-day, 10-event competition for the Lovell brothers started yesterday at noon and continues through Saturday afternoon.

Senior Casey Stepan competed in a qualifying heat of the 1,500-meter run, but her efforts were not enough to earn her a bid to the next day of competition.

Stepan took a brief lead,  then broke free of the pack on the second lap, but was passed by runners on the closing lap. Her seventh-place finish was three spots short of what was needed to advance.

For Stepan it was a race that marked the end of her illustrious career as a
Wildcat. She finishes her time at the school with nine varsity letters and ranks third on the all-time list for the 1,500.

Several Linfield athletes fell short of reaching provisional marks for nationals.

 Freshman Brooke Carstensen broke the school record twice in the pole vault, first at the Oregon Twilight meet and again at the John Knight meet the next night, and met the NCAA provisional mark. Though she was able to meet the qualifying height in her event, she was unable to outjump the rest of the competition, setting her just behind the cutoff point.

“I was half an inch off,” Carstensen said. “I’m kind of disappointed. I’m never completely happy with myself until I completely annihilate everybody. Overall, I am happy with
the year.”

Along with setting a new Linfield record, Carstensen was also awarded most outstanding female track athlete by the team, and she has already started training for next year’s nationals.

Senior Harrison Wilson also came close to making the provisional ark, just two seconds shy.

However, he did run the 5000 with a time of 14:50.18, number eight all-time, at the Oregon Twilight meet.

“It was a fast year,” Wilson said. “There are no more meets left for me; it’s kind of crazy. (It’s) a good thing because you don’t want to be in college forever, but (it’s) bad because I will miss my teammates.”

For Josh and Jeremy Lovell, the second day of the decathalon today brings the last five events.

They will compete in the 110-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1,500-meter run.

– photo courtesy of Kelly Bird

Nicole Bennett, for the Review

The men’s golf team finished in the top 20 at the NCAA Division III Championships on May 16, just two strokes behind Washingtion and Lee University.

Sophomore Joel Rychard and senior Jeff Nigro each shot 74 to improve the ’Cats’ standing from 30th to 17th.

“I think we all did outstanding at the championship,” Rychard said. “Jeff Nigro is our guy who is hilarious. I really think it is important for a team to have a guy like that.”

 This year, for the first time since 1964, the ’Cats won the conference title and went to the championship. Sophomore Tyler Nelson and junior Andrew Fitch tied for 44th place and Rychard grabbed 57th place.

“My reaction when I knew we were going to nationals was pure joy and happiness,” Rychard said. “I felt like we deserved it because we had worked so hard, and I was happy we made it for the seniors to finish their career on a good note.”

The ’Cats were ranked number one last year but could not clinch the title.

Senior Kyle Henderson shot a 72 to secure the 2008 conference victory. Fitch hit his best game this season at conference with a score of 69.

“It was really nice to get over the hump and win it this year,” Henderson said. “Since this is my last year, it was even more special.”

The team said its success is a reflection of each player’s hard work. Although some players did better at conference and nationals than others, the wins leading up to the end were a result of all the men putting in their best effort.

“It is hard to say one person did the best at nationals because we have such a deep team,” Fitch said.

Winning the conference was expected by the team. head coach Greg Copeland scheduled additional tournaments to prepare the team for the stiff competition they would meet at nationals.

“We knew we were the best team and didn’t expect anything less,” Fitch said. “There was also a lot of excitement for what (winning conference) meant and the fact we were going
to nationals.”

The seniors helped the team at the championship with Henderson placing 110th and Nigro 118th.

Henderson contributed significantly to the ’Cats successful season, proving to be a consistent team player.

Of the 11 men on the team, only five were invited to compete at the championships.

“Kevin Duerr didn’t get to go,” Henderson said. “But he was every bit a part of our success. They are going to be looking really strong
next year.”

The ’Cats will lose four seniors this year: Henderson, Nigro Nick Pagenkopf and Drew Fogg.

“Overall, we had a great year and it was an honor to go over to Georgia and compete with the top teams in our division,” Rychard said. “I am very proud of our team and really feel like we accomplished some great things this year.” 

– Julia Long, review staff writer

A haphazard dog pile of enthusiastic, purple-shirted men resulted after the Linfield baseball team pulled off a difficult win over Webster University May 17 at the NCAA Division III Central Regional.

The team competed in Moline, Ill., May 14 through 17 with heartening results, trouncing all five of its competitors and winning its first regional title in 37 years.

The ’Cats’ victory over Webster in the final game of the tournament proved to be a nail-biter. Linfield trailed its opponents, 0-2, for the first seven innings of the game and only managed a tie, 3-3, by the start of the ninth.

Junior outfielder Stew Davis and sophomore third baseman Rhett Fenton each had two hits in the game, while Davis, senior catcher Drew Van Cleave and senior outfielder Kevin Mills all sacrificed RBIs, which allowed for senior second baseman Shannon Chung, senior shortstop David Bachofner and sophomore outfielder Gunnar Cederberg to cross home plate in the eighth.

To end the tie, Linfield capitalized on errors by Webster’s shortstop in the 10th inning which allowed for Chung to bring in his second run of the game.

“It’s hard to explain the feeling of watching Shannon come across the plate for the winning run,” senior first baseman Ty Stanley said. “All year, we have been able to come from behind and pull out some wins, and being able to perservere late in the ball game was really
exciting.”

Sophomore Garret Dorn pitched for the first eight innings and struck out seven of Webster’s batters before three relievers, ending with freshman Evan Hilberg, finished the game. Hillberg kept the Gorlocks at bay through the 10th inning, sealing the deal for the Wildcats. 

The team battled its way to the Webster game after defeating both Augustana College, 10-1, earlier in the day and Wartburg College, 7-5, May 16.

Bachofner, Mills, Davis and junior second baseman Cory Ellis each had a multi-hit game against Wartburg, contributing to the ’Cats’ six-run lead by the end of the third inning. After Wartburg closed the gap to 6-3 in the seventh, Bachofner nailed his sixth home run of the season. Wartburg logged in two additional runs in the eighth but could not overcome Linfield’s lead in the end.

The crushing victory over Augustana boosted the team morale for the subsequent game against Webster. Senior Joshua Guterman made his debut on the mound for six solid innings with four strikeouts and only five hits. The 10-run triumph included two home runs by Fenton and Davis managing three hits for four times at bat.

In response to on his success through the regional tournament, Fenton said a change in attitude has significantly supported his positive performance.

“I have looked at the playoffs as a second season,” Fenton said. “It is a chance to re-prove myself and boost my confidence. I took the pressure to perform off myself and focused on having fun, playing loose and trusting that the results would come if I continued to work hard.”

A great team dynamic was the key factor in the team’s success, Chung said.

The initial loss against University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point at the beginning of the regional tournament placed the Wildcats in the consolation bracket, but they were able to turn their frustration into gumption and overcome their loss.

“After losing the first game, we knew we had our work cut out for us,” Stanley said. “We approached elimination no different than any other game. We felt like we were the best team in the region and as long as we focused on the fundamentals, good things would happen for us.”

The Linfield ballplayers will have the chance to put their abilities to the test when they grace Appleton, Wis., for the NCAA Division III Finals today, when they
face University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

The team will join eight others as it contends for a win to kickstart the tournament.

This is the Wildcats’ first trip to the national championship since 1971.

“As the team puts it, the regional tournament was one of the pieces of the puzzle, and winning the national championship is our last piece,” Chung said.