The Chico State softball team takes a break from California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play this weekend, traveling to Turlock to take part in the 17th annual Tournament of Champions, hosted by Stanislaus State. The Wildcats will go up against other West Region teams from the Pacific West Conference and Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC), with two games scheduled each day Friday through Sunday at the Pedretti Sports Complex.
 
The 'Cats begin play Friday at 4:30 p.m. against Chaminade, followed by a 7 p.m. tilt versus Notre Dame de Namur. Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Chico State goes head-to-head with Montana State-Billings, then face Hawai'i Pacific at 7. The Wildcats conclude the Tournament of Champions Sunday with games against Simon Fraser at 11:30 a.m. and Western Oregon at 2 p.m.
 
Fans can follow the action online via Live Stats, available through the Wildcat Athletics website.
 
Chico State, which moved to No. 3 this week in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) top 25 poll, enters the Tournament of Champions 26-3 on the season and leading the CCAA with a 21-3 conference record. The Wildcats have won seven of their last eight contests, and last week took three out of four in La Jolla against No. 22 UC San Diego.
 
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 18th. The top eight teams in the West at the end of the season will earn berths in May's NCAA Championship Tournament.
 
The 'Cats are batting .305 as a team, averaging 5.5 runs and 7.8 hits a game, and their school-record 32 home runs ranks 12th among all Division II schools. Chico State boasts the top pitching staff in the CCAA, ranking seventh in the nation with a 1.63 team earned run average while holding opponents to a conference-best .205 batting average.
 
Chico State is making its 16th appearance at the Tournament of Champions. Last year the Wildcats went 5-1 in Turlock, and since 2015 have won 15 of 18 tournament contests. All-time, the 'Cats are 55-37 in the Tournament of Champions and 32-19 since Angel Shamblin took over as head coach in 2010.
 
Shamblin enters the tournament with 281 career victories. The next Wildcats win will make her the winningest coach in Chico State softball history.
 
Here are brief thumbnails for each of the Wildcats' Tournament of Champions opponents:
 
Chaminade (Friday, 4:30 p.m., Pedretti Park, Field 1)

• The Silverswords are 8-17 on the year and in 10th place in the Pac West with a 5-13 conference record.
• Chaminade enters the week on the heels of a series win against Dominican, taking three of four from the Penguins. The Silverswords split a doubleheader Wednesday versus Notre Dame de Namur.
• The Silverswords enter the week with a .231 team batting average.
• Chaminade's pitching staff has a team earned run average of 5.93.
• Last year at the Tournament of Champions, Chico State beat Chaminade 8-5.
• The Wildcats lead the all-time series with the Silverswords 7-2.

 
Notre Dame de Namur (Friday, 7 p.m., Pedretti Park, Field 2)

• The Argonauts begin the week with a 7-19 season record and occupy seventh place in the Pac West with a 4-7 conference record.
• Notre Dame de Namur has lost three of its last four games, dropping a pair to Humboldt State last week prior to Wednesday's doubleheader split against Chaminade.
• The Argonauts are batting .256 as a team.
• Notre Dame de Namur's pitching staff has a 4.48 team ERA.
• Last year, Chico State downed the Argonauts 8-0, as Sam Mulock registered a no-hitter for the 'Cats.
• The Wildcats hold a 20-3 advantage in the all-time series between the two teams.

 
Montana State-Billings (Saturday, 4:30 p.m., Pedretti Park, Field 1)

• The Yellowjackets are 10-14 overall so far in 2018, and in eighth place in the GNAC with a 2-6 conference record.
• Montana State-Billings has lost six of their last seven contests, and was swept in a four-game series March 10-11 by conference-leading Central Washington.
• The Yellowjackets offense is batting a collective .315, with 25 home runs on the season.
• The Montana State-Billings pitching staff has a team ERA of 4.79.
• Last year, Chico State blanked the Yellowjackets 9-0 at the season-opening Desert Stinger Classic in Las Vegas.
• The Wildcats lead the all-time series with Montana State-Billings 5-3.

 
Hawai'i Pacific (Saturday, 7 p.m., Pedretti Park, Field 5)

• The Sharks are 9-9 thus far in 2018, and tied for eighth place in the Pac West with a 4-8 conference record.
• Hawai'i Pacific has lost three straight entering the Tournament of Champions. Last week the Sharks split a doubleheader with No. 6 Dixie State (at the time ranked third in the nation), but dropped both ends of a doubleheader to No. 23 California Baptist.
• Hawai'i Pacific has scuffled offensively, averaging less than three runs a game while batting .248 as a team.
• The Sharks' pitching staff boasts an impressive 2.12 team ERA—third best among the 12 Pac West teams.
• Saturday will mark the first time Chico State and Hawai'i Pacific have gone head-to-head since the Wildcats beat the Sharks at the 2016 Tournament of Champions.
• Hawai'i Pacific leads the all-time series with the 'Cats 6-3.

 
Simon Fraser (Sunday, 11:30 a.m., Pedretti Park, Field 5)

• The Clan are 11-4 on the season and in second place in the GNAC with an 8-4 conference record.
• Simon Fraser enters the Tournament of Champions having won five of its last six games. Last weekend the Clan won three out of four against conference rival Western Washington.
• Simon Fraser carries a .294 team batting average.
• The Clan pitching staff has posted a 3.73 team ERA.
• Sunday's contest is the first time Chico State and Simon Fraser have met on the softball field since the Clan scored a 5-2 win over the Wildcats at the 2015 Tournament of Champions.
• Simon Fraser leads the all-time series with the 'Cats 5-4.

 
Western Oregon (Sunday, 2 p.m., Pedretti Park, Field 5)

• The Wolves are 13-11 on the year and in fourth place in the GNAC with a 3-4 conference record.
• Western Oregon has lost four of its last five games entering the Tournament of Champions. Last weekend the Wolves split a doubleheader against Saint Martin's, then dropped a 7-1 decision to Central Washington.
• Western Oregon's team batting average is .303.
• The Wolves' pitching staff has compiled a 4.47 team ERA.
• Last year, the Wildcats beat Western Oregon 7-4 in eight innings at the Tournament of Champions.
• Chico State leads the all-time series with the Wolves 10-3.