CALDWELL, Idaho — The College of Idaho heads into postseason play with momentum and a balanced attack as the Yotes prepare for the 2026 Cascade Collegiate Conference Championship Tournament, presented by U.S. Bank, May 1–3 at Oregon Tech's John and Lois Stilwell Stadium.
C of I enters the six-team field as the No. 5 seed after posting a 30-18 overall record and a 13-12 mark in CCC play. The Yotes will open tournament action Friday at 9 a.m. against No. 4 seed University of British Columbia in a matchup between two evenly matched squads.
Offensively, the Yotes have been highly productive, hitting .346 as a team with 462 hits, 83 doubles, and 44 home runs on the season. Kina Watts has led the charge, batting .426 with 54 runs scored and 46 RBIs, while Madelyn Powell has added a team-high 11 home runs and 56 RBIs with a .392 average. Kamryn Ham (.373) and Hallie Campbell (.371) have provided additional consistency at the top and middle of the lineup, helping C of I average nearly seven runs per game.
The depth of the Yotes' lineup has been a key strength, with multiple hitters above the .300 mark and several players contributing power and speed. C of I has also been aggressive on the bases, swiping 62 bags in 74 attempts.
In the circle, the Yotes carry a 4.29 team ERA, led by Drew Williams, who owns a 13-8 record in 137.1 innings pitched with 65 strikeouts. Rylee Smith has added nine wins, while Watts has been effective in limited action with a 3.00 ERA and five victories, giving C of I multiple options in the pitching rotation entering the double-elimination format.
Defensively, the Yotes have posted a .956 fielding percentage, anchored by steady play up the middle and behind the plate, an area that will be critical in limiting scoring opportunities in a tightly contested field.
A win over UBC would send the Yotes into a Friday afternoon matchup with top-seeded and No. 1-ranked Oregon Tech, which captured the CCC regular season title with a 20-4 record and is hosting the tournament for the fifth consecutive year. On the opposite side of the bracket, No. 2 Eastern Oregon and No. 3 Southern Oregon round out a field that includes four nationally ranked or receiving-votes teams, along with No. 6 seed Simpson University.
With the double-elimination format, pitching depth and timely hitting will be at a premium, especially with the quick turnaround between games. The Yotes have shown throughout the season they can compete with anyone in the CCC, finishing .500 in conference play and picking up key wins along the way.
The tournament champion will earn the CCC's automatic berth to the NAIA Softball National Championship, raising the stakes for all six teams.
First pitch for the Yotes is set for 10 a.m Mountain Time. Friday, as College of Idaho looks to translate a strong regular season into a postseason run.
