CORVALLIS, Ore. – After a Cascade Collegiate Conference match up at the NAIA Softball World Series Finale, Oregon Tech was picked to defend its title for the third straight year as the CCC released the 2024 Softball Preseason Poll on Tuesday.
Oregon Tech received seven first-place votes and 88 total points to land atop the coaches’ poll. Last season they earned the 2023 CCC Softball regular season and tournament title. OIT went on to dominate at the World Series before falling in the championship game to conference foe, Southern Oregon University. The Owls ended the 2023 campaign with a 54-10 overall record and as the majority of the roster returns, they are ready for another incredible year.
Southern Oregon University claimed two first-place votes and 82 total points to sit second in the poll. The reigning National Champions fell by one run to OIT at the CCC tournament but were able to quickly turn things around at the NAIA Championship. After remaining ranked No. 4 most of the season, SOU earned an At-Large berth to the NAIA Opening Round. The Raiders eventually faced the Owls two more times at the NAIA World Series, winning both contests by mercy rule and complementing the season with a 49-12 overall record.
College of Idaho got 74 points and one first-place vote of its own for a third-place ranking. In arguably the toughest softball conference in the NAIA, the Yotes continue to make themselves known. C of I reached runner-up status at the CCC tournament, resulting in the conference’s second Automatic Qualification (AQ) to the NAIA Championship where they went 3-2 before falling in the opening round.
Eastern Oregon University secured the fourth spot with 65 points, followed by University of British Columbia collecting 59 points, and Carroll College with 52 points.
Just one point separated the next two teams as Bushnell University (36 points) secured the seventh spot and Corban University (35 points) made eighth place in the standings.
University of Providence (27 points) and Warner Pacific University (22 points) rounded out the poll at ninth and tenth, respectively.
The 2024 CCC Softball Tournament, presented by U.S. Bank, is set for May 3-5. The tournament will be hosted by the regular season champion, who will earn the conference’s first AQ with the tournament champion receiving the second AQ to the NAIA Softball National Championship.
2024 CCC Softball Preseason Poll
| Team (First-Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. Oregon Tech (7) |
88 |
| 2. Southern Oregon University (2) |
82 |
| 3. College of Idaho (1) |
74 |
| 4. Eastern Oregon University |
65 |
| 5. University of British Columbia |
59 |
| 6. Carroll College |
52 |
| 7. Bushnell University |
36 |
| 8. Corban University |
35 |
| 9. University of Providence |
27 |
| 10. Warner Pacific University |
22 |