ARCATA — After taking the Best of the West Invitational title, the Humboldt State softball team travels to Chico to begin California Collegiate Athletic Association play with a four-game series against Chico State. Friday's doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. and Saturday's first game is at 11 a.m.
 
Lumberjacks Notes: Winners of the regular season title both of their two seasons in the CCAA, the Lumberjacks enter this weekend's competition with a 4-0 record after recording three shutouts and one one-run game at the BWI. With everyone wondering how the Jacks would do without All-American pitcher Lizzy Prescott, Gracie Perez stepped in the circle and removed all doubts. Perez finished the weekend with a 2-0 record, shutting out Sonoma State, 8-0, and nationally ranked No. 12 Cal State Stanislaus, 2-0. In 12 innings pitched she struck out 16 batters, 13 of which came in the 2-0 victory, giving up no earned runs and seven hits, while walking two. Perez was named the tournament MVP for her accomplishments and earned the CCAA's first 2009 Pitcher of the Week award. Jenna Anderson collected the other two wins for the Jacks with an 0.82 ERA. Anderson gave up one earned run, two hits, striking out seven in 11 innings. “I feel our pitchers answered the call this weekend,” Humboldt State head softball coach Frank Cheek said. “Perez is only at about 80-85 percent. I knew she could do well but she proved it to everyone this past weekend. Anderson did a good job as well by keeping the ball down.” …Marissa Slattery led the team with a .636 batting average, 21 putouts and seven hits. On the weekend she went 7-for-11 with three runs and six assists. In the Jacks' 4-0 win over Central Washington, Slattery went 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Slattery and Francesca West were named to the all-tournament team for their accomplishments. West finished the weekend with a .500 BA, going 5-for-10, with two doubles and five RBIs and also leading the team defensively with seven assists. Geneva Perrine also posted a .500 batting average, going 4-for-8 with a double and three RBIs. …Caitlin Klug and Lindsay Warren tallied the team's two home runs. Klug popped a three-run homer in the Jacks' 8-0 five-inning victory over Sonoma State, while Warren's two-RBI home run accounted for the only runs in the Stanislaus victory. Felicia Vivieros recorded the Lumberjacks' lone triple in the victory over SSU. …“I think our team is in midseason form,” Cheek said. “Our team hit the ball in critical situations. Against Stanislaus, Warren hit a home run that won the game and (Chrissy) Motzny made a catch that saved runs that could have tied the game. She caught the ball and fell over the fence just like she did at nationals.”

Opponents' Notes: Chico State finished the BWI with a 1-3 mark for an overall record of 2-5. The Wildcats two wins came from their season-opener against Academy of Art, 2-1, and San Francisco State, 3-2, at the tournament. Chico is led by Christine Johnson and Kelly Head's .333 batting averages. Johnson and Jenna Wermes lead the team with five hits. Rachel Failia has tallied the team's lone homer of the season to secure its win over San Francisco State. …Last season the Wildcats finished eighth in the CCAA with a 13-19 league mark and overall record of 25-28 in head coach Jamie Brown's second season with the team.

Head-to-Head: Humboldt State leads Chico State 79-35-2 in the all-time series record. Last season the Jacks defeated the Wildcats four out of the team's five meetings.

Cheek's Thoughts: “I think we had good leadership this weekend from our seniors,” Cheek said. … “We're always ready,” Cheek said. “Starting league this early doesn't worry me. We were ready over a week ago.” … “(Felicia) Vivieros was a nice surprise for me this weekend,” Cheek said. “She hit the ball hard and was a tough out. Perez lived up to my expectations, but I knew she would.”