No. 17 OIT Favored to Win CCC Softball Title
NAIA Preseason Top 25 Softball Poll
PORTLAND, Ore. – Defending Cascade Collegiate Conference softball champion Oregon Tech, ranked 17th in the NAIA’s preseason Top 25 poll released today, is the favorite to win the league championship in 2009, according to a vote of CCC head coaches.
Under the direction of head coach Greg Stewart, Oregon Tech earned three of seven first-place votes and totaled 44 points in all to edge Concordia for the preseason nod. The Cavaliers received two first-place votes and 43 points in all. College of Idaho, which won last year’s regional tournament to advance to the NAIA College World Series, received two first-place votes and totaled 39 points. Both Concordia and College of Idaho received votes in the NAIA’s preseason Top 25 poll.
Corban, Southern Oregon, Eastern Oregon and Northwest Christian rounded out the CCC’s preseason coaches’ poll.
The Hustlin’ Owls return three first team All-CCC selections from 2008 – outfielders Brittany Warren (.373, 9 HRs, 47 RBIs) and Sunceray Titus (.309-5-35) and catcher Katie King (.363-3-36). OIT also returns All-CCC Gold Glove selections in pitcher/infielder Bess Fagan (.266-4-30, 2-0, 0.78) and outfielder Amber Sinicrope (.333-0-16).
Concordia returns eight seniors in 2009, including three of the CCC’s top five hitters from last season: Denise Benedict (.417), Janelle Cristifaro (.396) and Nicole Illias (.394). Junior pitcher Danielle Pulfrey is back after leading the league in innings (195) and strikeouts (246) last season. All four players earned first team all-league recognition in 2008.
College of Idaho returns eight starters and 13 letterwinners from its 2008 club, which finished third in the CCC and captured the NAIA Region I Tournament title to advance to the College World Series in Decatur, Ala. Top returnees for the Yotes include two-time All-CCC selection Haley Butcher (.374-4-27 in 2008) at third base and all-league choice Dani Villyard (.379-8-36) at first base.
Other returning first team All-CCC selections from 2008 include Cassie Bishop of Northwest Christian, Jessie Jones and Erin Sailors of Corban, and Megan Platz of Eastern Oregon.
2009 CCC Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Rank |
Institution |
Points |
2008 Overall |
2008 CCC |
| 1 |
Oregon Tech (3) |
44 |
36-14 |
20-4 |
| 2 |
Concordia (2) |
43 |
21-16 |
16-8 |
| 3 |
College of Idaho (2) |
39 |
28-20 |
13-11 |
| 4 |
Corban |
23 |
15-22 |
11-13 |
| 5 |
Southern Oregon |
20 |
12-24 |
10-14 |
| 6 |
Eastern Oregon |
18 |
21-23 |
11-13 |
| 7 |
Northwest Christian |
9 |
10-33 |
3-21 |
First place votes in parentheses |