The wait is finally over for the Chico State baseball team. One week after nearly every other West Region team played its lid lifter and more than eight months after a spectacular 2012 season ended with two straight losses at the NCAA Division II College World Series, the Wildcats will play their season opener Friday against Academy of Art University at Laney College in Oakland.

Friday’s first pitch is scheduled for noon. The series continues with a doubleheader beginning Saturday at 4:30, and concludes with a single game Sunday at noon. Hear every pitch locally on FOX Sports Radio 101.7 FM and 1340 AM or listen to the online audio stream at www.chicowildcats.com.

2013 Chico State Baseball Roster

Head Coach Dave Taylor has 19 players returning from last season’s California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and West Region Championship team that finished 40-19 overall. The Wildcats enter the season ranked between Nos. 7 and 12 in the nation in the various national preseason polls. They’re also picked to repeat as conference champions (CCAA Preseason Coaches’ Poll) and West Region champs (National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association).

Chico State moved up two spots to No. 9 in this week’s Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Poll. Academy of Art opened its season last weekend with a three-game series at Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Urban Knights (1-2) dropped the first two affairs but won the finale 2-1.

The Wildcats will be looking to keep two streaks alive. They’ve won six straight and 16 of their past 17 season openers and they’re 5-0 all time against Academy of Art.

Chico State will play its first eight games of the season on the road (the Wildcats are at Cal State Dominguez Hills for their conference opener Feb. 15-17) before opening the home portion of their season with a four-game series against Northwest Nazarene Feb. 20-22.