RIVERSIDE – The Chico State baseball team just did something it rarely has during its storied two-decade run as one of the nation's most successful programs last weekend by winning the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament.
 
Now the Wildcats will attempt to do something they've done with shocking regularity: win the NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional.
 
The Wildcats' CCAA Tournament title was their fourth all-time and first since 2006. But during that same timeframe they have dominated the West. They enter the six-team, double-elimination tournament at California Baptist University in Riverside in search of their 10^th NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional title in the past 20 seasons.
 
Chico State is 41-19 all-time in regional play, including 41-15 over the past 20 seasons.
 
The Wildcats will open NCAA Championship play Thursday at 7 p.m. against a familiar opponent in Cal Poly Pomona. The Wildcats beat the Broncos 6-2 last Wednesday in the opening round of the CCAA Championship Tournament.
 
Chico State's Clayton Gelfand outdueled CCAA Pitcher of the Year Michael Koval in that game as the Wildcats evened the season series at two games apiece.
 
The rubber match is the biggest yet, however. The winner will face Dixie State or Cal State Monterey Bay in a winners' bracket game Friday at 7 p.m. The loser will play in an elimination game Friday at 3 p.m. and will need to win four straight games to claim the title.
 
Chico State enters the tournament with a record of 35-20. Cal Poly Pomona is 36-17 and claimed the CCAA's South Division title.
 
Chico State is 6-2 all-time in the postseason against Cal Poly Pomona, but this will be their first NCAA Championships matchup. The Wildcats have winning postseason records against each of the other five teams in the field. They're 1-0 against California Baptist and 4-1 against Dixie State (all West Regional matchups), 2-1 against Cal State Monterey Bay (1-0 in regional play), and 2-0 against Cal State East Bay. They beat Cal State East Bay 4-2 and 10-9 in their final two games of the CCAA Championship Tournament.
 
The Wildcats are making their 16^th NCAA Championship appearance in the past 21 seasons.
 
The Wildcats are the No. 3 seed; Cal Poly Pomona is No. 4. Host Cal Baptist (39-11) is the top seed; Dixie State (38-12) is No. 2, Cal State Monterey Bay (33-19) No. 5, and Cal State East Bay (33-20) No. 6.
 
In Thursday's other first-round matchups, Dixie State will take on Cal State Monterey Bay at 11 a.m. and California Baptist will face Cal State East Bay at 3 p.m.

Every Chico State postseason game will be broadcast live locally on AM-1290 KPAY, online at www.ChicoWildcats.com, and video-streamed via the CBU Lancers Game Day Portal.

The winner of the six-team, double-elimination tournament will advance to the Division II College World Series May 28-June 4 in Cary, North Carolina.
 
2016 NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional
James W. Totman Stadium on the campus of California Baptist University – Riverside, California
 
Thursday, May 19
Game 1 – 11:00 a.m.: No. 2 Dixie State vs. No. 5 Cal State Monterey Bay
Game 2 – 3:00 p.m.: No. 1 California Baptist vs. No. 6 Cal State East Bay
Game 3 – 7:00 p.m.: No. 3 Cal Poly Pomona vs. No. 4 Chico State
 
Friday, May 20
Game 4 – 11:00 a.m.: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 (elimination game)
Game 5 – 3:00 p.m.: Winner Game 2 vs. Loser Game 3 (possible elimination game)
Game 6 – 7:00 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 3
 
Saturday, May 21
(if four teams remain)
Game 7 – 11:00 a.m.: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6
Game 8 – 3:00 p.m.: Loser Game 6 vs. Winner Game 4 (elimination game)
Game 9 – 7:00 p.m.: Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 (elimination game)
(if five teams remain)
Game 7 – 11:00 a.m.: Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6 (elimination game)
Game 8 – 3:00 p.m.: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 (elimination game)
Game 9 – 7:00 p.m.: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 6 (possible elimination game)
 
Sunday, May 22 or Monday May 23*
(if two teams remain)
Game 10 – 2:00 p.m.: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9 (possible elimination game)
Game 11 – 6:00 p.m.: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9 (if necessary)
(if three teams remain)
Game 10 – 2:00 p.m.: Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 9 (elimination game)
Game 11 – 6:00 p.m.: Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 9
 
*If California Baptist advances beyond Saturday's play, the final day of competition will take place on Monday, May 23. If California Baptist does not advance beyond Saturday, the final day of competition will take place Sunday, May 22.
 
California Baptist Tournament Central