Every season at this time, the Chico State softball team takes a break from California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play to participate in a three-day tournament known as the Tournament of Champions. This year marks the 20th edition of the three-day event, presented by the city of Turlock, and provides the Wildcats with the annual opportunity to see how they measure up against several non-conference opponents from the NCAA West Region. The 'Cats are hoping the Tournament of Champions will also serve as an excellent chance to break out of its recent teamwide hitting doldrums before resuming conference play.
Chico State will play two games on both Friday and Saturday, with a single game scheduled on Sunday. The Wildcats take on Holy Names Friday at 11:30 a.m., followed by a 4:30 p.m. contest against Simon Fraser. Saturday, the 'Cats tangle with Saint Martin's at 9 a.m. before facing Dominican at 4:30 p.m. Chico State's lone game on Sunday features the Wildcats and Western Oregon at 10 a.m. All games will be played at the Pedretti Park softball complex in Turlock, with Saturday's Saint Martin's game taking place at Warrior Field on the campus of Stanislaus State.
For fans planning on attending the Tournament of Champions, single day tickets to Pedretti Park are $12 for adults, and $8 for youth 5–10 and seniors 65 and over (children under four are admitted free). A three-day tournament pass is $30 for adults; $20 for youth and seniors.
You can purchase tickets in advance using the Stanislaus State ticketing page; fans with electronic tickets must still check in at a Pedretti Park ticketing table to receive a wrist band. No pets are allowed at Pedretti Park and Warrior Softball Fields.
Fans unable to attend can follow the action of each Chico State Tournament of Champions games online with Live Stats, with links available on the Wildcat Athletics homepage or the softball schedule page. Saturday's Saint Martin's game at Warrior Field will be the only Wildcats game that will feature live streaming video. A CCAA Network subscription is required to view the action.
Chico State enters the Tournament of Champions 11-12 on the season, and in the midst of a four-game losing streak that has dropped the Wildcats to seventh place in the CCAA with a 7-9 conference record. Last weekend, the 'Cats were swept in a three-game series by Cal State San Bernardino.
Chico State makes its 19th Tournament of Champions appearance, and historically has played extremely well in the multi-day event. The Wildcats are 67-40 in its previous 18 TOC appearances, and since 2016 has won 22 of 25 tournament games. The 'Cats were crowned tournament champions in 2018.
Chico State's first Tournament of Champions opponent, Holy Names, enters the week 4-15 on the season and in eighth place in the Pacific West Conference with a 3-7 record. The Hawks, who play a doubleheader Thursday against Hawaii Pacific prior to the TOC, split a four-game series with Chaminade last weekend and took one of two during a twin bill Monday versus Hawaii Pacific.
Chico State leads the all-time series with Holy Names 5-0. The last time the two teams met, the Wildcats edged the Cougars 4-2 March 29, 2019 at the Tournament of Champions.
Simon Fraser is 6-24 on the year and sits in seventh place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) with a 1-11 record. The Red Leafs will be looking to snap an eight-game losing streak; Simon Fraser's last victory was March 11 against Western Washington.
Friday's game marks the first time since the 2018 Tournament of Champions that the Wildcats and Red Leafs have squared off on the softball diamond. Chico State and Simon Fraser have split their 10 previous meetings.
Saint Martin's, the Wildcats' first TOC foe on Saturday, is 13-8 overall and in third place in the GNAC with a 4-2 conference record. The Saints have lost their last three games coming into the Tournament of Champions, including a doubleheader loss last week to Division I Portland State.
The Wildcats hold a 7-1 lead in the all-time series with the Saints. Chico State has won the last three meetings, including a 4-2 victory at last year's Desert Stinger Tournament in Tucson, Arizona.
Dominican is sporting a 12-13 season record entering the Tournament of Champions, but is second in the Pac West with a 9-5 conference record. The Penguins have won four of their last six contests—after taking three of four from Hawaii-Hilo over the weekend, Dominican split a doubleheader Monday with Chaminade University.
Chico State is a perfect 8-0 versus Dominican dating back to 2011. The Wildcats downed the Penguins 13-0 at last season's Tournament of Champions.
Western Oregon, which faces the Wildcats on Sunday, comes into the Tournament of Champions with a 15-16 record, but sits in second place in the GNAC with a 7-3 conference record. The Wolves have won six of their last eight games, and split a four-game series with Western Washington Sunday and Monday.
Chico State has won 11 of 15 meetings with Western Oregon, but the last time the two teams played, the Wolves topped the Wildcats 7-2 at the 2019 Desert Stinger Tournament.
