TOURNAMENT HOME PAGEARCATA, Calif. – Humboldt State softball travels to Turlock, Calif., to compete in the annual Tournament of Champions beginning Friday. The Lumberjacks open the tournament against Chaminade. First pitch is scheduled for 8:45 a.m.
It's business as usual for the North Coast team as it returns to the competition of top West Region teams as the reigning champion. The Lumberjacks have won five tournament titles, including last year's crown.
"This is a big tournament and it really sets the tone for the region," said HSU Head Coach
Shelli Sarchett. "This tournament really gives you a good idea of where everyone stands in the West Region. We are going to see non-conference teams that we don't usually see from the Pac West and Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Whether we play them or not, we will still be able to scout them and get a good look at programs we will see in the postseason."
HSU begins Pool Play Friday and Saturday when the Green and Gold face Chaminade, Western Washington, Azusa Pacific, Hawaii Pacific and Dominican. The top teams advance to Bracket Play Sunday with a chance to capture the tournament championship.
The Jacks are one of only two programs that are repeat champions. HSU won four-straight titles from 2005-08 and another last season. Hawaii Pacific was the top finisher in 2009 and 2011.
"We are going into this tournament with our heads high," said Sarchett. "We have won this tournament a lot. We are returning champions, and that is what we want to return as – champions. We want to prove our strength in the region. We know we have had our ups and downs and lost some games we shouldn't have, but its about going in this weekend and making a statement. It's time to show what Humboldt is all about. We just need to get out there and play Humboldt-style softball."
Last year the Jacks went 8-1 in the Tournament of Champions and topped Sonoma State in their final game 4-0. HSU's only loss in last season's event was against Western Oregon, 4-1, in Pool Play.
HSU is coming off a home series split against Sonoma State. The Green and Gold lost both Friday games, 7-5 and 9-7, to the Seawolves before sweeping Saturday's twinbill, 14-4 and 6-1. Saturday's most memorable performance came courtesy of
Darian Harris who broke the California Collegiate Athletic Association's consecutive games with a hit record (25). Harris compiled her 26
th and 27
th straight games with a hit in the two HSU wins. She also earned CCAA Softball Player of the Week honors Tuesday for her performance.
"Coming out of this weekend's series with a split is huge for us, not only in the standings, but in our effort to reach the CCAA Tournament," said Sarchett. "After losing two games on Friday we knew we were still in it, but that we couldn't give anymore. It just showed the emotion and passion these girls have for the game and for this program. We have to start going game by game and know we can't falter, because it's not going to get any easier."
QUICK HITS- Chaminade heads into the Tournament of Champions on a four-game losing streak after dropping a pair to Academy of Art and Notre Dame de Namur. The Swords boast the PacWest's worst team ERA (6.13) and bat .255 collectively.
- HSU faces Western Washington in game two of Pool Play. Alicia Fine (.407) and Emily Benson (.394) lead the strong core of Viking batters. Both are tied with a team-high 21 RBI.
- Azusa Pacific leads the PacWest with 24 team home runs, and Madison Hernandez paces the team with nine long balls. The Cougars are have won six of their last 10 games.
- HSU went 2-1 against Dominican last season. The Penguins are 5-18 overall this season, and they rank 10
th in the PacWest in ERA (5.51) and eighth in batting average (.236). Dominican has lost seven of its last 10 games.
- Hawaii Pacific defeated HSU 9-1 the last time the two met in the Tournament of Champions (2012). The Sharks have swiped 42 bases this season. Dorian Acerto (10) and Keila Elderts (11) both have swiped 10 or more bases this season.
