THE LINN-BENTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE VOL. 51 EDITION 16 FEB. 26, 2020 SPRING IN THEIR STEP Coach Peterson and His New Squad Carry Last Season’s Success into Opening Weekend INSIDE THIS STORY AND PHOTOS BY CAM HANSON EDITION It was a bright and beautiful weekend at Dick McClain Field, where WOMEN IN TRADES the Roadrunners had no issue taking care of the new competition. Second year Head Coach Andy Peterson made sure to let his men know that their field was their home, and to defend it, and they did. LBCC started the weekend off with a double header against the Yakima Valley College Yaks, where they started slow each contest but used a solid five runs to secure the wins. Yakima finished last season 30-19 with a 19-9 record in division, so the competition is nothing JJ Hoover winds up for a practice swing. In top photo, assistant Coach Mike to scoff at. Takamori jogs to the dugout. SEE PAGE 4 Centerfielder Ian Mcintyre nailed two hits in the early innings that fielded the diamond first in the NWAC north last season, set up the bases for success, and brought “This is a special group of with a 39-11 overall record and a 19-5 the energy for it, giving a quick flex to the players and coaches, and I just want to record in division. Nobach and his WORD MOB dugout whenever he stopped at second bring a lot of energy to the field each Trojans get their chance at payback on base. His energy and commitment was and every time I get the chance to play,” their own turf, as LBCC looks to play something that stuck out any time he said Mcintyre them in a four game series on the road The Centerfielder took a break next weekend. from school to work on his game in “Being the first weekend, I Kent, WA, and the success will be was very impressed with how the guys measured as the season goes on. showed up competitive and confident. After a successful series on The little mistakes are expected this Saturday, LBCC went on to play the early in the season, but are great for the Everett Community College Trojans. younger guys to learn from,” said Coach Coach Peterson and his history with Peterson. the Trojans goes beyond baseball, After the Beaks finish up on the SEE PAGE 5 as he coached Everett's head coach, road against Everett they’ll head down Kyle Nobach, during his tenure as an to Yakima Valley to not only play the undergraduate at Oregon State. Nobach Yaks, but to play in two games against played for Everett before heading to the Southwestern Oregon Community BLOWIN' SMOKE Oregon State, eventually taking the HC College Lakers for their first in division job at his alma mater. match-up of the year. “I plan on beating Petey’s “Seeing the freshman compete (Coach Peterson's) butt,” said Nobach for the first time was fun to see. The light heartedly. whole lineup was competitive top to Nobachs plans didn’t go the way bottom, and they showed up believing he planned, as the Beaks let the offense in their stuff. Everyone has something rip, scoring nine runs in both contests to work on ahead of Everett. It’s a long on the day, led by an impressive eight season, so who knows whats ahead,” total runs from Trey Hagerman and added Peterson. The Roadrunners run to the outfield Maxwell Long. The Trojans finished at the start of a new inning. SEE PAGE 8 2 CAMPUS NEWS FEBRUARY 26, 2020 LBCOMMUTER.COM Dear LBCC Colleagues: It is with deep and heartfelt sadness I share the news of the passing of Part-Time LB English Instructor, Peter Bañuelos. Peter passed away February 15, in Corvallis. For three years Peter taught in the LBCC English Department. He was a dedicated servant to students and an amazing colleague. It was not uncommon for people to see Peter working with students in the Learning Center, the Writing Center, the Library, CFAR, and in the EDI Department in addition to teaching classes. The Commuter is the weekly student-run newspaper for LBCC, -Javier Cervantes financed by student fees and advertising. Opinions expressed in I taught with Peter in the LBCC English The Commuter do not necessarily department as a fellow writing teacher. reflect those of the LBCC Peter was a very talented teacher and administration, faculty and students someone I always looked forward to of LBCC. Editorials, columns, letters, Learning Center staff who worked with chatting with and hearing from and and cartoons reflect the opinions of Peter in his developmental writing class the authors. department events. Every term when we thought that Peter was an incredible, all gathered to grade our students' final LBCC is an equal opportunity compassionate instructor. We always looked educator and employer. exams, Peter would share keen insights forward to opportunities to work with Peter. to help me better assess my students' Letters Welcome I am deeply saddened to hear about his The Commuter encourages writing, appreciate their experiences, and readers to use its “Opinion” pages passing, and hope that these brief words value them as individuals. I am grateful to express their views on campus, about him let you know his impact endures in for having shared a part of his life. My community, regional and national many hearts. deepest condolences. issues. The Commuter attempts -Chareane Wimbley-Gouveia -Stephen Rust to print all submissions received, but reserves the right to edit for grammar, length, libel, privacy concerns and taste. Opinions expressed by letter submitters do not represent the views of the Commuter staff or the College. Deliver letters to: COUNCILMAN SPEAKS Address: The Commuter Albany City Councilman Alex Johnson Held a Town Hall-type Talk in the IEDI Forum 222 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW Albany, OR 97321 encouraged Johnson to run for his seat. Web Address: At-A-Glance The town hall style discussion LBCommuter.com STORY BY then meandered towards the importance Phone: KAREN CANAN of getting involved in local politics. 541-917-4451, 4452 or 4449 IEDI Departmental Events, “I’m really interested in local taking place in Forum 220 Email: The overarching theme of Albany politics,” said LB student Brionna North. [email protected] City Councilor Alex Johnson II’s talk unless otherwise noted. “I think it’s a lot easier to help directly, with Twitter last Wednesday in the IEDI was one of • Unity Celebration Thursday a group of less than a hundred at once, like @LBCommuter community outreach. At the beginning Feb 27 5-6:30 p.m. in the Fireside he [Johnson] was talking about getting Facebook of the meeting, Johnson, sporting his Room, CC-211 “With literature, the lights fixed in two weeks.” Johnson The Commuter Councilor of Albany’s Ward 2 hat, speeches and food, LBCC had told of a situation where one of his celebrates community diversity.” Instagram announced, “This is your meeting, what constituents in Ward 2 had noticed quite a @LBCommuter would you guys like to talk about?” few streetlights were out. Johnson was able • ”Think Outside the Johnson was the fourth out of Classroom” Wednesday, March to call PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric), Our Staff five speakers for LBCC’s Black History 4- Noon-1 p.m. “Interdisciplinary and using the book the constituent had Month Speaker series. Johnson is Albany’s panel of staff and students talk made for him, located the specific lights Adviser first black city councilman, and his talk at Rob Priewe about the value of attending and got them fixed, as well as many others the IEDI approximated more of a Town conferences in their field.” Food Johnson had identified from driving up Editor-in-Chief Hall style meeting than a formal speech. and down all the streets. Caleb Barber provided. Johnson led the meeting as an “I really liked hearing the process Layout Designer opportunity to meet and hear from his • Latina Empowerment event, of how involved he was before becoming a Rebecca Fewless constituents, as well as a chance to talk Monday, March 9 at 1:30 - 3 p.m. councilman and then what he deals with Managing Editor: with them about the beneficial connections “Celebrate the contributions of now as a councilman,” said North. “I love Davis Ihde between LBCC and Albany. He talked Latina women with presentations hearing about him doing the town halls. I and food.” All are welcome. A&E about past successes of partnerships he loved hearing about the invisible people, Steven Pryor has fostered with LBCC, and encouraged and about needing businesses to come Photography Editor political involvement from the audience here and create jobs. A lot of cool stuff, Jakob Jones members. Also, at the end of the meeting, who worked at HP before becoming an like wanting people to stay in Albany and Web Master he announced that he was running for insurance broker for True Life Financial create jobs and thinking about Albany as a Marci Sischo mayor. Solutions, was at one point tasked with community.” hiring new folks for a more diverse Web Editor Johnson’s talk was hardly political, Afterwards, both Johnson and Katie Littlefield despite Johnson being clearly willing department over at HP. As a veteran, he IEDI Director Javier Cervantes gave and capable of discussing controversy. put up recruitment posters in military encouragement and advice to North for Advertising “I started a firestorm last night,” said locations, and was able to hire people of Vicki Ballestero how to get involved with politics.