The 50th season in the history of the Chico State softball program has been a memorable one indeed—the 2018 edition of the Wildcats has won more games than any of the 49 Chico State teams that preceded it, and numerous records have not only been broken, they've been obliterated. But every Wildcat player, coach and fan will tell you that there's plenty more to be done to make this a truly magical year. It's time for the postseason, and it officially begins Friday at 5 p.m. when the 'Cats take the No. 1 seed into the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament to face No. 4 Cal State San Bernardino at the University of the Pacific's Bill Simoni Field in Stockton.
Fans unable to attend can follow the action on the Internet with Live Stats, available through the Wildcat Athletics website. All tournament games will be available for viewing online via Eleven Sports USA and the Bay Area Online Sports Network.
Chico State used a program-record 22-game winning streak to close out the regular season with a 47-3 record and capture the CCAA title. In addition to finishing at the top of the conference standings, the Wildcats scored a regular season trifecta by leading all CCAA teams in batting (.326), pitching (a 1.87 earned run average—13th in the nation) and fielding (a .971 fielding percentage—14th among all Division II teams).
The 'Cats' offense was also No. 1 in the conference in runs scored (312), hits (428), extra-base hits (135), slugging percentage (.514—20th in Division II), walks (211), and on-base percentage (.427—14th in the nation). Chico State pitchers combined to strike out 251 batters and toss 20 shutouts while holding opponents to a .219 batting average—all CCAA bests.
The Wildcats fashioned a 27-3 road record this season, including a perfect 10-0 mark at neutral sites.
As glittering as those numbers are, however, they're all tossed out the window as postseason play gets underway. The four team, double-elimination CCAA Tournament will determine the conference's automatic berth in the NCAA Championship Tournament and possibly affect the final West Region rankings to decide which eight teams will continue on to compete for the national title.
Chico State has reached postseason play for the fourth consecutive year—another program first—and enters the CCAA Tournament ranked No. 1 in the West and No. 2 in the nation.
This season marks the seventh time the Wildcats have reached the CCAA Tournament in Head Coach Angel Shamblin's nine years at the helm. The 'Cats will be shooting for their first-ever tournament title, though Chico State has reached the finals each of the last two years.
The other three teams in the CCAA Tournament are all talented squads that will pose a sizeable challenge to the Wildcats this weekend. UC San Diego (34-15 overall, 27-13 in the CCAA), the No. 2 seed, and No. 3 Stanislaus State (32-20, 23-15 CCAA) are the only teams which can claim a win over Chico State this season.
The Wildcats are a combined 9-3 against their three CCAA Tournament opponents.
Cal State San Bernardino, the Wildcats' first round foe Friday, finished the regular season with an overall record of 28-18 and 18-16 in conference play. The Coyotes reached the postseason by winning five of their final seven games, including three out of four last weekend against Cal State San Marcos.
The only other time Chico State and San Bernardino met this season, the Wildcats swept a four-game series from the Coyotes February 9-10 in Southern California.
The winner of Friday's Wildcats-Coyotes clash will advance to the tournament's winner's bracket game, set for Saturday at 12 noon. The losing team will face the loser of Friday's UC San Diego-Stanislaus State contest in a tournament elimination game Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
Here are brief descriptions of Chico State's CCAA Tournament opponents:
No. 4 Cal State San Bernardino (28-18 overall, 18-16 CCAA)
-- .309 team batting average (second in the CCAA)
-- Second in the conference in home runs (35) and third in stolen bases (99)
-- Pitching staff posted a 3.64 team earned run average
-- vs. Chico State this season: the Wildcats swept a four-game series with the Coyotes February 9-10 to kick off CCAA conference play
-- Key players: senior catcher Jessica Brown (.377 BA, 14 HR, 44 RBI); junior outfielder Morgan Ratliff (.355 BA, 7 HR, 29 RBI, 28 SB); junior righthanded pitcher Amanda Ramirez (16-13, 3.04 ERA) and freshman righthander Kendra O'Cull (11-5, 4.56 ERA)
-- Since 1983: Chico State holds a slim 46-43 edge over San Bernardino; the Wildcats have won seven of the last eight meetings between the two teams.
No. 2 UC San Diego (34-15, 27-13 CCAA)
-- Finished the regular season on a six-game winning streak, including a series sweep of Cal State Dominguez Hills last weekend
-- .306 team batting average (third in the CCAA)
-- Third in the conference in home runs (26) and second in stolen bases (111)
-- Pitching staff ranked second in the CCAA with a 2.24 team ERA
-- vs. Chico State this season: the Wildcats took three out of four from the Tritons March 15-16 in La Jolla
-- Key players: Senior outfielder Kelsi Maday (.374, 6 HR, 31 RBI, 28 SB); freshman catcher Bobbi Aguirre (.372 BA, 8 HR, 48 RBI); freshman designated player Sherriah Harrington (.423 BA, 5 HR, 24 RBI); freshman lefthander Robyn Wampler (23-7, 1.32 ERA, CCAA-best 169 strikeouts)
-- The Wildcats have won four of the last five meetings, but UC San Diego holds a 46-30 advantage against Chico State since 1983
No. 3 Stanislaus State (32-20, 23-15 CCAA)
-- Finished by winning eight of its last 10 conference games (splitting a four-game set last weekend against Cal State Monterey Bay) to earn the program's first trip to the postseason since 2009
-- .279 team batting average
-- Pitching staff ranked third in the CCAA with a 2.77 team ERA
-- vs. Chico State this season: the Wildcats and Warriors split a four-game series March 4-5 in Turlock; the losses were the 'Cats' first two of the year
-- Key Players: Freshman utility Aliyah Garvin (.339, 3 HR, 35 RBI); senior catcher Ruby Quiralte (.310, 5 HR, 25 RBI); sophomore righthanded pitcher Megan Stacy (11-4, 2.46 ERA); junior righthander Kylie Ragsdale (9-8, 2.68 ERA)
-- Since 1983: The Wildcats have won seven of the last 10 meetings and have won 92 of 155 games vs. the Warriors
2018 CCAA Championship Tournament Schedule:
Friday, May 4
Game 1: 5 p.m. – No. 1 Chico State vs. No. 4 Cal State San Bernardino
Game 2: 7:30 p.m. – No. 2 UC San Diego vs. No. 3 Stanislaus State
Saturday, May 5
Game 3: 12 p.m. – winner of Game 1 vs. winner of Game 2
Game 4: 2:30 p.m. – loser of Game 1 vs. loser of Game 2
Game 5: 5 p.m. – loser of Game 3 vs. winner of Game 4
Sunday, May 6
Game 6: 10 a.m. – winner of Game 3 vs. winner of Game 5
Game 7: TBA – if necessary, 30 minutes following Game 6
Tickets are available at the main entrance of Bill Simoni Field on event days with general admission seating for $8. Students with a valid ID and seniors enter for $5, and tickets for kids aged 3-12 are priced at $3.
