The Chico State softball team may be taking a brief break from California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) conference play this weekend, but the Wildcats will still log plenty of on-field time Friday through Sunday. The 'Cats will be among 26 teams from throughout the West Region taking part in the 16th annual Tournament of Champions, taking place at Pedretti Park and the Turlock Sports Complex in Turlock.
 
The Wildcats will play six games during the three-day tourney, hosted by Stanislaus State. Friday Chico State will take on Notre Dame de Namur at 2 p.m. and Hawai'i Hilo at 4:30 at Pedretti Park. Saturday the Wildcats face Azusa Pacific at 9 a.m. at Pedretti Park and Chaminade at 12:30 p.m. at the Turlock Sports Complex. Sunday the 'Cats wrap up the Tournament of Champions by going head-to-head with Saint Martin's at 9 a.m. at Pedretti Park and Western Washington at 12:30 p.m. at the Turlock Sports Complex.
 
Fans can follow the action of all six Chico State softball games online via Live Stats, available through the Wildcat Athletics website.
 
While this weekend's action won't affect the Wildcats' conference record, the games still carry considerable importance. How Chico State fares at the Tournament of Champions will figure in to where the 'Cats fall in the first NCAA West Region rankings, scheduled for April 19th. The top eight teams in the West at the end of the season will earn berths in May's NCAA Championship Tournament.
 
Chico State, the No. 7 team in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) top 25 poll, enters the Tournament of Champions 20-5 on the season and 15-5 in CCAA play. The Wildcats have won five of their last six contests, and earlier this week took three out of four in their home series against conference rival Cal State San Bernardino.
 
The 'Cats are batting .318 as a team (the second best average among CCAA teams), averaging 5.3 runs and 8.3 hits a game. Chico State boasts the top pitching staff in the CCAA with a 1.62 team earned run average while holding opponents to a conference-best .214 batting average.
 
Chico State, making its 15th appearance at the Tournament of Champions, is hoping to repeat its success of last season, when the Wildcats won six games without a loss in Turlock. All-time, the 'Cats are 50-36 in the annual tournament and 27-18 since Angel Shamblin took over as head coach in 2010.
 
Here are brief thumbnails for each of the Wildcats' Tournament of Champions opponents:
 
Notre Dame de Namur (Friday, 2 p.m., Pedretti Park, Field 5)

• The Argonauts are 8-13 on the year and in seventh place in the Pacific West Conference with an 8-10 record.
• Notre Dame de Namur enters the Tournament of Champions having lost six of its last nine games. This week the Argonauts split a Monday doubleheader against Hawai'i Hilo and a four-game set Tuesday and Wednesday versus Chaminade.
• Notre Dame de Namur is batting .252 as a team, averaging 3.4 runs and 6.8 hits a game.
• The Argonauts' pitching staff's team ERA is 3.75.
• At last season's Tournament of Champions, Chico State beat Notre Dame de Namur 2-1 in eight innings.
• The Wildcats lead the all-time series with the Argonauts 19-3.

 
Hawai'i Hilo (Friday, 4:30 p.m., Pedretti Park, Field 5)

• The Vulcans are 14-16 overall and in eighth place in the Pac West with an 8-12 conference record.
• Hawai'i Hilo has won five of its last eight games. This week the Vulcans split a twin bill versus Chaminade, then Tuesday scored a combined 34 runs in a doubleheader sweep of Holy Names.
• Hawai'i Hilo has averaged nearly 10 runs a game over its last eight contests.
• The Vulcans are batting .296 as a team, averaging 5.6 runs and 8.3 hits a game.
• The Hawai'i Hilo pitching staff enters the weekend with a 4.00 team ERA.
• Chico State topped the Vulcans 8-0 in five innings at last year's Tournament of Champions.
• Hawai'i Hilo leads the all-time series with the Wildcats 9-5.

 
Azusa Pacific (Saturday, 9 a.m., Pedretti Park, Field 5)

• The Cougars are 21-12 on the season and tied for fourth place in the Pac West Conference with a 13-7 conference record.
• Azusa Pacific enters the Tournament of Champions on the heels of a Wednesday doubleheader split against Concordia Irvine.
• The Cougars are hitting .291 as a team, averaging 4.9 runs and 8.4 hits a game.
• Azusa Pacific's pitching staff boasts an impressive 2.16 team ERA.
• This will be the first meeting between Chico State and Azusa Pacific since 2013.
• The Cougars have won the last two head-to-head matchups with the 'Cats.
• The all-time series between the two teams is tied at three wins apiece.

 
Chaminade (Saturday, 12:30 p.m., Turlock Sports Complex)

• The Silverswords are 5-23 on the year and in 11th place in the Pac West with a 3-15 conference record.
• After suffering through an 18-game losing streak, Chaminade has won three of its last six contests, including a split of a four-game set Tuesday and Wednesday against Notre Dame de Namur.
• The Silverswords are batting a collective .223, averaging 2.8 runs and 5.6 hits a game.
• Chaminade's pitching staff has a team ERA of 4.96.
• Last season Chico State beat Chaminade 7-1 at the Tournament of Champions.
• The Wildcats have won the last four meetings and lead the all-time series 6-2.

 
Saint Martin's (Sunday, 9 a.m., Pedretti Park, Field 5)

• The Saints are 11-7 overall and in second place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) with a 6-4 record.
• After reeling off five straight wins in early March, Saint Martin's last lost five of its last seven games. Last Saturday the Saints split a doubleheader with Concordia (Ore.).
• The Saints are batting .340 as a team, averaging over seven runs and close to 10 hits a contest.
• Saint Martin's pitching staff possesses a 4.32 team ERA.
• This will be the first meeting between the Wildcats and Saints since 2015, when Chico State topped Saint Martin's 6-4 in the NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional.
• The 'Cats lead the all-time series 5-1.

 
Western Washington (Sunday, 12:30 p.m., Turlock Sports Complex)

• The Vikings are 12-10 on the year and tied for fourth in the GNAC with a 5-5 conference record.
• Western Washington has dropped four in a row, including a Tuesday doubleheader loss to Stanislaus State. Prior to the Tournament of Champions, the Vikings play a single game Thursday in Turlock against Sonoma State.
• Western Washington is batting .305 as a team, averaging 4.3 runs and 8.4 hits a game.
• The Vikings' pitching staff owns a 3.84 team ERA.
• This is the first meeting between Chico State and Western Washington since 2015, when the Vikings edged the 'Cats 3-2 at the Tournament of Champions.

The Vikings have won the last three matchups, but the Wildcats lead the all-time series 15-10.