After working hard during the fall and putting in an intense three weeks of practice since returning from the holiday break, the Chico State softball team is ready to officially lift the lid on the 2019 season. The Wildcats will be among 24 teams competing this weekend in the 10th annual Desert Stinger Tournament, hosted by Montana State-Billings. The three-day tournament gets underway Friday at Majestic Park in Las Vegas.
Chico State will play a total of five games at the Desert Stinger Tournament. The Wildcats will make their season debut Friday at 2 p.m. versus Azusa Pacific, followed by a 7 p.m. matchup against Western Washington. Saturday, the Wildcats face Northwest Nazarene at 11:30 a.m. and Concordia Irvine at 4:30 p.m. The 'Cats wrap up the tournament with a single game on Super Bowl Sunday, taking on Western Oregon at 11:30 a.m.
Fans unable to attend the Desert Stinger Tournament in person can keep up with the play-by-play throughout the weekend on the Internet with Live Stats, accessible via the Wildcat Athletics website. Live video streaming will be available for Chico State's Saturday contest against Concordia Irvine.
This year's edition of the Wildcats features 14 players returning from last season's team that went 55-6, captured the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) regular season and conference tournament crowns, and won the NCAA West Regional for the first time since 2002 to reach the national championship finals.
Chico State has been installed as the favorite to repeat as CCAA champions, receiving 10 of 11 first place votes in the conference's annual preseason coaches' poll. The 'Cats are also ranked No. 7 in all of Division II in the just-released National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 preseason poll.
Seniors Ari Marsh, Claire Wayne, Bailey Akins, Naomi Monahan, Amanda Flores, and Wendy Cardinali lead the Wildcats into the 2019 campaign, as head coach Angel Shamblin—the winningest coach in the program's 50-year history—begins her 10th season at the helm.
Marsh was an First Team All-CCAA selection for the second straight year in 2018, with Cardinali, Flores, and Monahan earning All-CCAA and All-West Region honors during the 'Cats' record-breaking season. Akins was a CCAA All-Honorable Mention on the strength of her single-season school record 16 home runs.
Complementing the seniors are junior shortstop/outfielder Kristin Worley (a two-time First Team All-CCAA and All-West Region selection), and sophomore pitcher Brooke Larsen. A freshman at Academy of Art last season, the talented righthander earned All-America honors with a 22-5 record, 217 strikeouts and 1.42 earned run average.
Other Wildcat returners include junior pitcher Sam Mulock, sophomore outfielders Breanna Martin, Shelby Burdette, and Annie Weiss, sophomore catcher Sara Mitrano, and sophomore infielders Reilani Peleti and Angel Lopez.
In addition to Larsen, the 'Cats welcome five new players to the 2019 roster. Catcher/utility player Ana Hayes is a junior transfer from Visalia's College of the Sequoias, while sophomore pitcher Megan Krause comes to Chico after spending a year at Kansas Wesleyan. The Wildcats will also utilize the services of a trio of true freshmen: outfielders Rachael Atkins (Liberty Ranch High School in Galt) and Amanda Metzger (Oakmont High School in Roseville), and infielder Karli Dugger (Roseville High School).
Freshman infielder Molly Brown (Escalon High School) and sophomore pitcher Courtney Springman (a transfer from Division I Army) are also members of the Wildcats, but will redshirt this season.
Chico State has enjoyed quite a bit of success at the Desert Stinger Tournament. Since joining the multi-team field in 2017, the Wildcats have won 10 straight games in Las Vegas, taking top team honors last season.
Chico State's five-game Desert Stinger schedule should prove to be a challenging one. Two of the Wildcats' opponents are preseason picks to win their respective conferences, while two others are expected to finish in the upper reaches of the standings.
Below are thumbnail descriptions of Chico State's season-opening opponents:
Azusa Pacific (Friday, 2 p.m.)
The Cougars were 22-28 overall in 2018, and finished in eighth place in the Pacific West Conference. Azusa Pacific is expected to contend for the PacWest title this season, with the Cougars picked to finish third in the conference's preseason coaches' poll.
Azusa Pacific lost to Chico State 7-2 in last season's Desert Stinger Tournament. The Wildcats lead the all-time series with the Cougars 5-3.
Western Washington (Friday, 7 p.m.)
The Vikings finished 15-32 last season and in seventh place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC). In the conference's 2019 preseason coaches' poll, Western Washington is picked to finished fourth overall.
The Vikings fell to the Wildcats 8-0 at last year's Desert Stinger Tournament. Chico State leads the all-time series 16-11.
Northwest Nazarene (Saturday, 11:30 a.m.)
The Nighthawks (31-23, 19-19 GNAC in 2018) reached the NCAA Championship Tournament for the first time in the program's history by taking top honors in the conference tournament. They are expected to do likewise in 2019—Northwest Nazarene is picked to finish first in the GNAC's preseason coaches' poll.
The Nighthawks lost to Chico State 5-2 in last year's NCAA West Sub-Regional. The Wildcats hold a 2-0 lead in the all-time series.
Concordia Irvine (Saturday, 4:30 p.m.)
The Eagles finished 46-14 in 2018, winning 23 of their final 24 games to win the program's first-ever PacWest title. Led by last year's conference Freshman and Pitcher of the Year, Callie Nunes (25-4, 0.74 ERA, 289 strikeouts in 190 innings pitched), Concordia is once again the favorite in the GNAC's preseason coaches' poll.
Saturday will mark the first time the Chico State and Concordia have met on the softball field since 1996. The Wildcats won the only previous meeting 4-3.
Western Oregon (Sunday, 11:30 a.m.)
The Wolves posted a 28-25 record in 2018 and tied for third place in the GNAC. Western Oregon is picked to finish third this season in the conference's preseason coaches' poll.
The Wolves bowed to the Wildcats 2-0 in last season's Tournament of Champions in Turlock. Chico State leads the all-time series 11-3.
