PREVIEW: 2019 CCC Softball Championships, Presented by U.S. Bank
ASHLAND, Ore. – The 2019 Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Softball Tournament, presented by U.S. Bank, is finally here, featuring an impressive ensemble of teams in search of the CCC Tournament crown and an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament.
Keep track of tournament results and stay informed on upcoming matchups at
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL.
Hosted by regular-season champion Southern Oregon down in Ashland, Ore., the six-team field features four programs which are either ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches’ Top-25 Poll. Below is an in-depth preview of each of the teams and matchups.
Game One – #4 Corban vs. #5 Carroll
No. 17-ranked Corban (33-12) enters the tournament as the No. 4 seed, matching up with No. 5-seeded Carroll in the first battle of the postseason. The Warriors have established themselves as a perennial name on the NAIA Top-25 Poll, and they once again displayed their talent in the 2019 campaign. Corban hit at a blistering .321 clip as a team this spring, led by one of the NAIA’s best players, Jessie Isham (.471 average, seven home runs, 47 RBIs). Sam Woodley (.390, four home runs, 35 RBIs) is another familiar name at the heart of the Warrior lineup, and Rachel White (9-3, 2.27 ERA) has emerged as one of the squad’s top starters.
Carroll (19-22) will look to earn its first win of the season against the Warriors. The Fighting Saints feature one of the conference’s most dangerous offensive trios: Anna ApRoberts, Amber Brewer, and Brooke Yarnall. ApRoberts compiled a season batting average of .352, blasting three home runs and driving in 26. Brewer (.345, three home runs, 26 RBIs) and Yarnall (.327) also seem to reach base at stellar rates, providing head coach Aaron Jackson with a number of threats at the plate for this weekend’s tournament. Tess Eaton (7-9, 4.37 ERA) and Allison Williams (10-6, 5.11 ERA) lead the team in appearances in the circle.
Corban swept the season series when the two teams met earlier this season.
Game Two – #3 College of Idaho vs. #6 British Columbia
No. 3-seeded College of Idaho has been one of the most exciting stories of the 2019 season, and the (RV) Yotes will look to continue their glowing year with a strong showing at the CCC Tournament. With a 35-13 overall record, it’s just the program’s fifth-ever 30+ win season, and just two away from tying the school’s all-time win record. Trystin Crofts (.436, five home runs, 19 doubles, 38 RBIs) is the team’s primary offensive weapon, while Colette Robert (18-4, 1.24 ERA) has cemented herself as one of the top arms in the CCC. The Yotes have proved themselves capable of playing with anyone in the nation, earning a series split against No. 4-ranked Southern Oregon to close out the 2019 regular season.
British Columbia (12-25) clinched the sixth and final seed in the CCC Tournament, looking to turn around a slow finish to the regular season campaign. The Thunderbirds possess the fourth-best team batting average in the conference, boasting an impressive .299 mark as a unit. Cassa Courtney (.374, four home runs, 31 RBIs) and Claire Eccles (.349, three home runs, 16 RBIs) did more than their fair share to contribute to that number, serving as the squad’s top-two threats at the dish. Kaia Gyorfi (3-13, 7.17 ERA) and Shelby Kempel (6-11, 7.50 ERA) have been UBC head coach Gord Collings’ primary starters throughout the spring campaign.
On March 22-23, the Yotes won all four matchups between the two squads.
Game Three – #1 Southern Oregon vs. Winner of Game One
Serving as the tournament host this weekend, No. 4-ranked Southern Oregon (42-7) has compiled a dominant season. The 2019 CCC Regular-Season Champions have already locked up an appearance in the NAIA National Tournament, but will undoubtedly seek to defend their home diamond at the CCC Tournament. Ace Gabby Sandoval went 27-3 in the circle for Jessica Pistole’s squad, ending the 2019 campaign with a miniscule ERA of just 1.07. At the plate, Lauren Quirke (.470, five home runs, 53 RBIs) and Allie Stines (.420, five home runs, 52 RBIs) helped pace the CCC’s top offense (.366 team average) in 2019.
The Raiders took three-of-four from Carroll on March 9-10, and three-of-four from Corban on March 29-30.
Game Four – #2 Oregon Tech vs. Winner of Game Two
No. 10-ranked Oregon Tech (38-13) will play either College of Idaho or British Columbia in its tournament opener. The Lady Owls lay claim to one of the conference’s all-around best players in Ali Graham, who led the team in average (.437) while also compiling a 13-6 season (2.77 ERA) as a pitcher. Dre Sotelo led the team in home runs (14) and RBIs (60), while also serving as another of Oregon Tech’s eight players with an average of at least .300. The Owls led the CCC in slugging percentage (.537), on base percentage (.428), runs scored (382), hits (523), RBIs (350), doubles (101), home runs (49), total bases (797), and walks (184).
Oregon Tech took three-of-four from College of Idaho when the two teams clashed earlier this season, and the Owls swept a three-game set against British Columbia on April 12.
Prior to tomorrow’s matchups, each of the six teams will attend the annual CCC awards banquet tonight, with the All-Conference teams set to be announced at the event.
Below is a complete look at this year’s CCC Softball Tournament schedule.
Friday, May 3 - All times Pacific
Game 1 - #4 Corban (33-12) vs. #5 Carroll (19-22) - 9 a.m.
Game 2 - #3 College of Idaho (35-13) vs. # 6 British Columbia (12-25) - 11:30 a.m.
Game 3 - #1 Southern Oregon (42-7) vs. Winner Game 1- 2 p.m.
Game 4 - #2 Oregon Tech (38-13) vs. Winner Game 2 – 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 4
Game 5 - Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 3 - 9 a.m. (Elimination Game)
Game 6 - Loser Game 1 vs Loser Game 4 - 11:30 a.m. (Elimination Game)
Game 7 - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 - 2 p.m.
Game 8 - Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 – 4:30 p.m. (Elimination Game)
Sunday, May 5
Game 9 - Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 - 11 a.m. (Elimination Game)
Game 10 - Winner Game 7 vs Winner Game 9 - 1:30 p.m. (Championship)
Game 11 - If Necessary Game
Monday, May 6 - Make up day, if necessary
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