CORVALLIS, Ore. - The College of Idaho was picked to finish third in the 2020 Cascade Conference Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll, released this morning by the league office.
Last season the Yotes went 40-17 and advanced to the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round.
Trystin Crofts (.415 batting average, 5 HR, 42 RBI, 19 SB),
Haley Loffer (.370 batting average, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 32 SB),
Hannah McNerney (9-5, 2.82 ERA),
Kylie Smith (.272 batting average, 18 RBI) and
Aleah Mendiola (.276 batting average, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 9 SB) are some of the key returners for 15th year head coach
Al Mendiola.
Southern Oregon was selected as the preseason favorite to take the conference crown after posting a record of 52-8 during a national championship run last year. The Raiders have also won the CCC tournament title three times in a row. SOU received nine first-place votes and earned 99 total points. Oregon Tech (91) was the other representative to receive first-place votes with two. The Owls went 44-17 a year ago. C of I followed in third with 81 points, with Corban (72) and Carroll (66) rounding out the Top-5.
The Yotes are scheduled to begin the 2020 season starting on Jan. 30 in Arizona, with 10 games in five days on the docket for the trip.
Cascade Conference Preseason Poll (First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
1. Southern Oregon (9) 99
2. Oregon Tech (2) 91
3. College of Idaho 81
4. Corban 72
5. Carroll 66
6. British Columbia 38
T-7. Eastern Oregon 38
T-7. Northwest 38
T-9. Providence 28
T-9. Northwest Christian 28
11. Warner Pacific 15
