The long wait is over and the excitement is just beginning, as grueling fall and winter workouts give way to the hungrily-anticipated "games that count." The 50th season of Chico State softball officially gets underway this weekend, when the Wildcats wing their way to Las Vegas to take part in the Montana State Billings-hosted Desert Stinger, a huge 28-team tournament at the Majestic Park softball complex.
Chico State will play a total of five games during the three-day tournament. Friday the Wildcats take on Eastern New Mexico at 2 p.m. and Academy of Art at 7 p.m., followed by Saturday contests at 4:30 p.m. versus Azusa Pacific and 7 p.m. against Western Washington. The 'Cats conclude the Desert Stinger Sunday with an 11:30 a.m. game against Concordia (Oregon).
Fans can follow the action online with Live Stats, available through the Wildcat Athletics website. Additional tournament information can be found of the official Desert Stinger website.
The Wildcats are hoping for the same success they enjoyed at last year's Desert Stinger. Making its first tournament visit to Las Vegas, Chico State won five games without a loss to kick off the 2017 campaign.
There's a whole host of reasons to get excited about Chico State softball in 2018. Take your pick: besides the program reaching the half-century mark, Angel Shamblin is just 27 wins shy of becoming the winningest head softball coach in Wildcat history. But perhaps the biggest reason to get fired up about this year's edition of the 'Cats: the chance to do something that has never been done over the previous 49 springs—earn a postseason berth for a fourth consecutive season.
Shamblin has high expectations for her 2018 squad, which brings back 10 players from last year's Wildcat squad that finished 39-18, came within one win of capturing the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament, and was the host team for the NCAA West Sub-Regional.
So do a lot of other people around college softball. Chico State is picked to finish second in the just-released CCAA preseason coaches poll. The team is also ranked 21st in Division II in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) preseason poll.
The Wildcats offer a tantalizing mix of pitching, quality hitting up and down the lineup, and an improved defense that Shamblin feels can potentially make Chico State among the best softball teams in the West Region—and beyond.
Haley Gilham returns for her fourth and final season as a Wildcat, coming off a 2017 campaign that saw the right-hander win a Chico State record 23 games last season, post a miniscule 1.31 earned run average, and named Third Team All-America, as well as the CCAA and West Region Pitcher of the Year.
In addition to Gilham, a trio of 2017 All-CCAA selections—sophomore Kristin Worley, and juniors Ari Marsh and Claire Wayne—highlight a batch of 10 returners. Seniors Karli Skowrup, Cyrena Taylor and Mia Quintero, juniors Megan Bowley and Amanda Flores, and sophomore Sam Mulock are all expected to play key roles in the Wildcats' on-field success.
Wendy Cardinali and Annie Weiss, redshirts for the 'Cats last season, will be in uniform and ready to contribute during the 2018 campaign.
The 'Cats also welcome in seven new players, including junior transfers Naomi Monahan (University of Hawaii) and Bailey Akins (Simpson University), and true freshmen Angel Lopez (Oxnard High School), Breanna Martin (Fresno's Central High School), Reilani Peleti (Rancho Cotate High School in Santa Rosa), Sara Mitrano (Royal High School in Simi Valley), and Shelby Burdette (San Diego's San Pasqual High School).
Below are thumbnail descriptions of the Wildcats' season-opening opponents:
Eastern New Mexico (Friday, 2 p.m.)
The Greyhounds were 20-36 overall in 2017, and finished in a tie for eighth place in the Lone Star Conference. This marks the first time that Chico State and Eastern New Mexico have met in softball.
Academy of Art (Friday, 7 p.m.)
The Urban Knights finished 25-25 last season and in a tie for seventh place in the Pacific West Conference. Chico State won the last meeting, beating Academy of Art 4-1 at the 2016 Tournament of Champions in Turlock. All-time, the Wildcats hold a 6-2 edge over the Urban Knights.
Azusa Pacific (Saturday, 4:30 p.m.)
The Cougars turned in a solid 2017 season, going 32-18 overall and 23-9 in the PacWest, good for a third place conference finish. As a result, Azusa Pacific has been picked to finish third in the 2018 PacWest preseason poll. Chico State beat the Cougars 2-1 in last year's Tournament of Champions, and holds a 4-3 advantage in the all-time series.
Western Washington (Saturday, 7 p.m.)
The Vikings were 34-19 in 2017 and 19-9 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC), finishing second during the regular season. Western Washington went on to win the GNAC Championship Tournament and reach the NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional. The Vikings have won the last four meetings with Chico State (including a 4-0 victory at last season's Tournament of Champions), but the Wildcats lead the all-time series 15-11.
Concordia (Oregon) (Sunday, 11:30 a.m.)
The Cavaliers are looking to bounce back from a 2017 season that saw Concordia finish 19-28 overall and 11-17 in the GNAC.
