WALNUT CREEK - All 12 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) softball teams are set to begin their 2010 seasons next week with Cal State San Bernardino throwing the first pitch when it hosts Cal Baptist in a doubleheader on Tuesday.
Cal State Stanislaus will follow with a home doubleheader against the Academy of Art on Wednesday before hosting the 12-team Mizuno Best of the West Invitational beginning Friday, Feb. 5 in Turlock.
The list of CCAA teams scheduled to compete in the Mizuno Best of the West Invitational include Cal State Dominguez Hills, Cal State Monterey Bay, Cal State San Beranrdino, Cal State Stanislaus, Chico State, Humboldt State, San Francisco State, Sonoma State and UC San Diego.
Cal State East Bay, which is making its CCAA debut in 2010, also will open on Friday when hosts Academy of Art in a doubleheader.
Three-time defending regular-season champion Humboldt State opens the season as the CCAA coaches' pick to repeat and is ranked No. 11 in the 2010 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll that was released on Wednesday. The Lumberjacks posted a 38-20 overall record, including a 23-9 conference mark, in 2009
Cal State Monterey Bay, which captured the 2009 CCAA Tournament championship, returns a solid team after registering a 36-27-1 record a year ago.
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE
*CCAA Game
Tue., Feb. 2
Cal Baptist at CSU SAN BERNARDINO (DH); 1 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 3
Academy of Art at CSU STANISLAUS (DH); 1 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 5
Mizuno Best of the Invitational, Turlock
CSU DOMINGUEZ HILLS vs. Davis & Elkins; 10:45 a.m.
CSU MONTEREY BAY vs. Grand Canyon; 10:45 a.m.
UC SAN DIEGO vs. Central Washington; 11 a.m.
Davis & Elkins at CSU STANISLAUS; 1 p.m.
SONOMA STATE vs. Grand Canyon; 1 p.m.
HUMBOLDT STATE vs. SAN FRANCISCO STATE; 1:15 p.m.
UC SAN DIEGO vs. CHICO STATE; 1:15 p.m.
SONOMA STATE at CSU STANISLAUS; 3:15 p.m.
CSU DOMINGUEZ HILLS vs. Central Washington; 3:15 p.m.
HUMBOLDT STATE vs. CSU MONTEREY BAY; 3:30 p.m.
CHICO STATE vs. SAN FRANCISCO STATE; 3:30 p.m.
Academy of Art at CAL STATE EAST BAY (DH); noon
Sat., Feb. 6
Mizuno Best of the West Tournament, Turlock
Davis & Elkins vs. HUMBOLDT STATE; 10:45 a.m.
CSU SAN BERNARDINO vs. CSU MONTEREY BAY; 10:45 a.m.
SONOMA STATE vs. SAN FRANCISCO STATE; 11 a.m.
Grand Canyon vs. CSU DOMINGUEZ HILLS; 11 a.m.
UC SAN DIEGO vs. CSU MONTEREY BAY; 1 p.m.
CHICO STATE at CSU STANISLAUS; 1 p.m.
SONOMA STATE vs. Central Washington; 1:15 p.m.
CSU SAN BERNARDINO vs. SAN FRANCISCO STATE; 1:15 p.m.
UC SAN DIEGO vs. Grand Canyon; 3:15 p.m.
CSU DOMINGUEZ HILLS at CSU STANISLAUS; 3:15 p.m.
HUMBOLDT STATE vs. Central Washington; 3:30 p.m.
Davis & Elkins vs. CHICO STATE; 3:30 p.m.
Academy of Art at CAL STATE EAST BAY; noon
Sun., Feb. 7
Mizuno Best of the West Tournament, Turlock
SAN FRANCISCO STATE vs. Central Washington; 9:30 a.m.
CHICO STATE vs. Grand Canyon; 9:30 a.m.
UC SAN DIEGO vs. CSU SAN BERNARDINO; 9:45 a.m.
CSU MONTEREY BAY vs. Davis & Elkins; 9:45 a.m.
Central Washington at CSU STANISLAUS; 11:45 a.m.
HUMBOLDT STATE vs. Grand Canyon; 11:45 a.m.
UC SAN DIEGO vs. SONOMA STATE; noon
CSU DOMINGUEZ HILLS vs. CSU SAN BERNARDINO; noon
HUMBOLDT STATE at CSU STANISLAUS; 2 p.m.
CSU MONTEREY BAY vs. CHICO STATE; 2 p.m.
SAN FRANCISCO STATE vs. Davis & Elkins; 2:15 p.m.
SONOMA STATE vs. CSU DOMINGUEZ HILLS; 2:15 p.m.