CORVALLIS, Ore. – The 2023 Cascade Collegiate Conference softball season swings into action today after some scheduling shifts due to weather.
Oregon Tech was
chosen to defend the CCC title for the second consecutive year and voted seventh in the NAIA preseason poll. Southern Oregon University begins its season in the No. 10 spot while College of Idaho lands at No. 13. Eastern Oregon University rounds out the ranked teams with a No. 19 standing.
Carroll College vs. No. 13 College of Idaho
After some snowy Montana conditions, Carroll's home opener against College of Idaho has shifted to Caldwell, Idaho, for a start time of 1 p.m. MTS. Carroll begins the regular season with a 3-4 record after playing ball in North Dakota. The Coyotes took all four of the teams' pairing last year and is going into the season with an undefeated 10-0 record.
No. 10 Southern Oregon vs. Bushnell University
Southern Oregon and Bushnells doubleheader moved from Ashland to Medford, Oregon, because of weather at 1 p.m. PST. The Beacons were picked eighth in the preseason poll and have a rough 3-7 record going into the conference season. The Raiders took all of the teams' pairing last year and is sitting with a 5-3 non-conference record.
Northwest University vs. Warner Pacific University
Northwest will host Warner Pacific for a doubleheader in Kirkland, Washington, at 1 p.m. PST. The Eagles head into the conference season with a 5-4 record. Last year, the Eagles also took three of the four teams' pairings. This will be the Knight's first game of the season.
No. 7 Oregon Tech vs. Corban University
Oregon Tech and Corban will compete in a single game in Klamath Falls, Oregon, at 3 p.m. PST and will play two more the following day. OIT finished seventh at the national tournament last year and was predicted to defend its CCC champion status. The Owls took all four of the teams' pairings last year and are strutting into the conference season with a 7-3 overall record. Corban completed preseason with a 1-7 record.
Due to winter weather conditions at both locations, the matchup between University of Providence and Eastern Oregon will take place on Sunday and Monday in Caldwell, Idaho.
The University of British Columbia has the first week of conference play off with a bye in the schedule. It will be the first season the Thunderbirds will be without longtime skipper Gord Collings who retired after the 2022 campaign. New head coach Jennifer McKellar takes the helm and has led UBC to a 5-4 preseason record. They will open CCC play next week when they travel to face the Beacons of Bushnell.