The Chico State softball team has not stepped onto the field of competition in nearly two years, but as far as California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) coaches are concerned, the Wildcats still rank as the conference's elite program. The 'Cats have been officially installed as the team to beat—garnering nine of 10 possible first place votes—according to the 2022 CCAA preseason poll, released Tuesday.
 
The Wildcats collected 99 of a possible 100 points in the poll, determined by voting of the 10 CCAA softball head coaches. Sonoma State placed second in the poll with 81 points, and Cal State Dominguez finished third with 72 points. San Francisco State grabbed the remaining first-place vote to rank fourth with 69 points.
 
Chico State returns nine players, including seven starters, from the 2020 team that boasted a 19-2 record, and ranked No. 2 in the nation before the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly ended play in early March of that year. The Wildcats, along with every other CCAA school, did not play in 2021.
 
The Wildcats enter the 2022 campaign looking to run its streak of consecutive postseason appearances to six, while also setting their sights on winning the program's first conference championship since 2018.
 
All 10 conference teams will be vying to earn one of the six available berths in the CCAA Softball Tournament, hosted by Cal State Monterey Bay May 5-8 in Seaside.
 
Chico State officially lifts the lid on the 2022 season Friday, February 4, when the Wildcats travel to Southern California to compete in the Concordia Kickoff Classic. The 'Cats will face five non-conference opponents at Concordia and five more February 11–13 at the Desert Stinger Tournament in Tucson, Arizona, before opening CCAA play February 18 with a four-game series at Cal State Monterey Bay.
 
The Wildcats play their first home games of 2022 February 25–26, when they host Cal State San Bernardino at University Softball Field.
 
2022 CCAA SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL 
(first place votes in parentheses)
 
  1. Chico State (9) —99 points
  2. Sonoma State — 81 points
  3. Cal State Dominguez Hills — 72 points
  4. San Francisco State (1) — 69 points
  5. Cal State Monterey Bay — 67 points
  6. Cal State San Bernardino — 52 points
  7. Humboldt State — 33 points
  8. Cal State San Marcos — 28 points
  9. Stanislaus State — 25 points
10. Cal State East Bay — 24 points