COMING UP: Cascade Conference Tournament (Stilwell Stadium) – vs. UBC/College of Idaho winner, Friday, 2 p.m.
 
GAME DAY INFORMATION: The entire Cascade Conference Tournament will be streamed live on the Owls Sports Network with Mike Safford on the call, with Live Stats available through OIT's SIDEARM Stats Portal. Gates to Stilwell Stadium will open one hour prior to the first game of the day (8 a.m. on Friday/Saturday, 10 a.m. on Sunday), with tickets $15.00 for adults / $12.00 for seniors and military / $5.00 for students per day (all-tournament passes are available for $30.00 / $24.00). In addition, Smokin' H Barbeque will be selling pulled pork sandwich meals for $10.00.  
 
WHAT'S AT STAKE: Oregon Tech and Southern Oregon shared the CCC regular-season title with identical 23-4 records, with OIT claiming the league's first automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament and host site for the CCC Tournament due to the head-to-head tiebreak (Tech won 2-of-3 CCC games vs. Southern). The winner of the CCC Tournament will receive the league's second automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament, while if OIT wins the tournament title - their opponent in the title game receives the second automatic bid.
 
TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS: The CCC Softball Championships date back to 2010 - as prior to the 2010 season, postseason qualification was conducted through the NAIA Region I (except for 2006, as Oregon Tech won a 5-team tournament). OIT has six tournament titles to their ledger (2006, 2011, 2012, 2021, 2022, 2023), with Southern Oregon winning consecutive titles from 2017-19. Concordia-Portland won the tournament in 2010 and 2014, Eastern Oregon earned titles in 2016 and 2024, while both College of Idaho (2013) and Corban (2015) have one championship. The 2025 season marks the eighth time the event has been held in Klamath Falls (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), with the tournament held in Ashland four times, Salem twice and once in Portland.
 
SUCCESS AT NATIONALS: The CCC has been among the top softball playing leagues in the NAIA - as CCC teams have advanced to the NAIA Softball World Series in nine of the 11 seasons (since the NAIA moved to a 10-team Final Site). Last season, both Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech advanced to the World Series, with Tech placing fourth and SOU seventh. OIT has a string of 5-straight World Series trips (the longest active streak) - including a runner-up finishes in 2021 and 2023), while winning the 2011 NAIA national title. SOU made 4-straight trips from 2017-19 and 2021 (no tournament in 2020), winning the 2019, 2021 and 2023 national titles. College of Idaho earned World Series trips in 2014 and 2021, while former conference member, Concordia-Portland (2015), and current member, Corban (2017), have also represented the CCC at the NAIA Softball World Series.

TOURNAMENT TEAM CAPSULES: NO. 1 SEED - OREGON TECH (41-7): The Lady Owls earn the host bid for the tournament for the fourth-straight year, clinching their sixth-straight 40-win season and 11th-straight NAIA Tournament appearance. OIT ended the regular-season winning 16-of-17 games, behind the No. 1 fielding percentage (.980) in the NAIA). Two-time All-America pitcher Kacie Schmidt (22-3 1.34 ERA, 184 K) anchors the team, with All-America second baseman Nita Cook (.409 0 HR 28 RBI, 40 SB) two stolen bases off the school record. Three 2024 All-CCC picks are key for the Owls - outfielder Zoe Allen (.389 0 HR 23 RBI, 14 SB), first baseman and CCC RBI leader Puakea Milbourne (.361 6 HR 51 RBI) and catcher Jayce Seavert (.331 1 HR 32 RBI).  Tech is 15-3 at home this season. NO. 2 SEED - SOUTHERN OREGON (44-6): The 3-time NAIA national champs started the 2025 season winning 26 of their first 27 games behind the No. 1 offense (.357 batting average) and the No. 1 ERA (1.87) in the CCC, while leading the league in stolen bases (132). Making their 12th-straight CCC Tournament appearance, the Raiders are led by true freshman pitcher Ayla Davies (27-3 0.98 ERA), who leads the CCC in strikeouts (205) and leads the NAIA in wins (27). SOU has the top two hitters in the league in outfielders Sarah Kerling (.462 1 HR 31 RBI, 19 SB) and Kailer Fulton (.441 0 HR 21 RBI, 37 SB), with Hailey Seva (.378 6 HR 29 RBI) and Ari Williams (.333 4 HR 39 RBI) providing the power in the lineup. Southern is searching for their first tournament title since 2019. NO. 3 SEED - EASTERN OREGON (28-9): The Mountaineers return to Klamath looking to defend their 2024 tournament crown, having dropped a 6-5 decision to Southern Oregon in the final league game of the season - deciding the tournament host venue. Eastern leads the league in runs per game (7.0), thanks to an offense that shows patience at the plate (150 walks). 2024 All-CCC pitcher Kylie Parsons (13-0 1.55 ERA, 91 K) is unbeaten on the season, with freshman shortstop Raygun Klippert (.405 0 HR 18 RBI, 18 SB) joining a veteran lineup led by second baseman Madelyn Durham (.387 0 HR 31 RBI, 16 SB), first baseman Emily Barry (.316 8 HR 41 RBI) and catcher Hannah Tyree (.293 3 HR 32 RBI). EOU is in position to secure their third NAIA Tournament bid in four seasons. NO. 4 SEED - BRITISH COLUMBIA (24-16): The Thunderbirds are riding the longest active win streak (9 games) heading into the tournament - with the team allowing two runs or less in each of the contests. Despite playing just nine home games during the season, UBC parlayed a .290 team batting average and a 2.37 team ERA into their fourth-straight tournament appearance. All-CCC pick Shae Sever (.381 4 HR 24 RBI, 12-7 2.26 ERA, 101 K) is dangerous with the bat and the arm, with Carleen Murray (9-7 2.43 ERA) setting a new CCC record this season with 25 strikeouts in a game. A veteran lineup is led by shortstop Keona Nordquist (.381 0 HR 11 RBI, 13 SB), second baseman Kaitlyn Kim (.276 2 HR 16 RBI) and outfielder Kaitlyn Eng (.311 0 HR 18 RBI). NO. 5 SEED - COLLEGE OF IDAHO (26-16): The Coyotes are tournament mainstays, with the 2025 club looking to earn their sixth-straight trip to the NAIA National Tournament. C of I started the season 20-4, but faced a gauntlet down the stretch - going 1-7 in games against SOU and OIT. The club has a .297 team batting average and has stolen 91 bases on the year, with Ashlynn Nixon (.369 2 HR 28 RBI) and Kamryn Ham (.360 0 HR 18 RBI, 22 SB) setting the table for sluggers Madelyn Powell (.340 5 HR 33 RBI) and Lolo Walker (.228 4 HR 22 RBI). The tandem of Abbey Brooks (12-6 2.83 ERA) and Grace Neer (6-3 3.59 ERA) lead one of the deeper pitching staffs in the CCC. C of I is looking for their first CCC Tournament title since 2013. NO. 6 SEED - CARROLL COLLEGE (18-24): The Fighting Saints won 2-of-3 games over the weekend to clinch the final seed in their sixth and final tournament appearance - as the Frontier Conference affiliate teams (Carroll/Providence) will be joined by the North Star Athletic Association (Valley City State, Dickinson State, Mayville State, Dakota State) to offer softball in 2026. Last year, Carroll won their first-ever CCC Tournament game and return the bulk of that team - with the 2025 squad earning series wins against both Eastern Oregon and College of Idaho. The trio of Kenna Thomas (.373 4 HR 28 RBI), Sammie Labrum (.317 1 HR 15 RBI) and Morgan Sunchild (.305 1 HR 24 RBI) pace the Saints offense, while the duo of Kennedy Venner (12-9 4.53 ERA, 127 K) and Abbie Amend (2-12 6.57 ERA) the top arms.
 
LADY OWLS CLAIM SHARE OF FOURTH-STRAIGHT TITLE: Heading into last weekend, OIT had one specific path to win a share of the CCC title and earn the host bid for the league tournament – and the stars aligned for the Lady Owls. Tech completed a 3-game conference sweep of College of Idaho, while Eastern Oregon took 2-of-3 from Southern Oregon – allowing OIT and SOU to share the title, with Tech winning the tiebreak. It marked the 16th CCC title since 1995 and the tenth title for the club under head coach Greg Stewart.
 
BACK IN THE NAIA TOURNAMENT: With the regular-season title, Tech claimed the first of two automatic bids to the NAIA National Tournament – as the Lady Owls will compete at Nationals for the 11th-straight year. OIT and Oklahoma City are the only two teams who have competed in each of the last 10 NAIA Tournaments (OCU has played in all 11 Opening Rounds since they began in 2013), while the Owls are the only team to advance to each of the past five NAIA Softball World Series. OIT will learn if it is one of 10 host sites for the Opening Round on Thursday afternoon.
 
TEAMS IN THE NAIA TOURNAMENT: Currently, 10 teams (out of 48) have earned automatic qualification to the NAIA Tournament – as joining OIT in the field are Missouri Baptist, Central Methodist, Reinhardt, Friends, Our Lake of the Lake, Marian, Northwestern, Science & Arts and Madonna.
 
HISTORY IN THE POSTSEASON: Tech will compete in their 14th-straight postseason and make their 29th postseason appearance in the last 32 years. Since 1993, the Lady Owls are a combined 108-75 in postseason games – recording a 38-20 mark in CCC Tournament play, 17-28 in NAIA Region I Tournament play and 53-27 in the NAIA National Tournament.
 
40-WIN SEASON: With their win in Game 2 of Friday's doubleheader at College of Idaho, the Lady Owls clinched their sixth-straight (non-COVID year) 40-win season and head into the postseason with a 41-7 record. OIT has logged 13-straight years with 30-or-more victory, with the team posting 50-or-more wins in 2022 and 2023.
 
TECH ENDS SEASON RANKED #2: Tech closed the year ranked No. 2 in the final NAIA Top-25 poll – the second time the Owls have been in the Top-2 nationally heading into the postseason (were ranked No. 1 in 2023). OIT has a win over No. 1 Science & Arts, two wins over No. 4 Southern Oregon and No. 14 Eastern Oregon, and victories over No. 21 Midland and No. 23 Grand View – along with four wins over teams in the "others receiving votes" category.
 
SUCCESS AT HOME: Stilwell Stadium has been a house of horrors for opponents, since the top venue in the Cascade Conference was opened in 2019. The Lady Owls are a combined 123-19 all-time on the artificial turf field, including wins in 103 of their last 114 home games. OIT finished the regular-season with a 15-3 mark on their own diamond.
 
STREAKING: The Lady Owls extended their win streak to 16 games with the conference sweep of C of I – Tech's longest win streak of the season – before a Game 4 loss snapped the run.  OIT has posted a double-digit win streak each of the last seven seasons, including a 19-game win streak last year, a 25-game win streak in 2023 and a 20-game win streak in both 2021 and 2022.
 
PITCHING THE KEY: During the Owls win streak, pitching was the key to the sustained success – as OIT arms held the opposition to two earned runs or less in 14 of the 17 games, with their opponent recording five hits or less in 13 of 16 games. Over the four-week stretch, Tech saw their team ERA drop from 2.27 to 1.97.
 
SCHMIDT EARNS PITCHER OF THE WEEK HONORS: Pitching in the final Cascade Conference games of her career, right-hander Kacie Schmidt was dominant in the series with College of Idaho, earning her seventh career CCC Pitcher of the Week honor and the third of the 2025 season. Schmidt was 2-0 with a save against the Yotes, holding C of I to three runs on seven hits in 15 innings of work, combining for 19 strikeouts – including a 3-hit shutout in Game 1, while retiring 6-of-7 batters to close out Game 2. Schmidt pushed her career totals to 80 wins and 604 strikeouts – joining Sarah Abramson and Leslie Ernstrom as the only players with three 20-win seasons and joins Abramson as the only player with three seasons with 180-or-more strikeouts. The Game 1 shutout was Schmidt's seventh of the year, becoming the only OIT player with three seasons with 7-or-more shutouts.
 
POWER SURGE: First baseman Puakea Milbourne capped a big month of April in Idaho, as the OIT slugger hit a pair of home runs in the series victory at C of I. The junior hit a key 3-run blast in Game 2, adding a solo bomb in the Game 3 win. Milbourne has posted RBI in 9-of-11 games, including multiple RBI in eight of the contests – jumping to the top spot in the CCC with 51 RBI on the season. She becomes the sixth player in OIT history with two seasons with 50-or-more RBI (joining Meagan Webber, Tara Moates, Kennedy Jantzi, Kaila Mick, Jess Plummer), with the 51 RBI ranking No. 19 on the OIT single-season record list.
 
MORE WITH THE BATS: Tech got quality production with the bats in the Gem State, as Sawyer Stenson finished 5-for-9 with a double and two RBI – both runs batted in during the Game 3 win. Zoe Allen capped an outstanding April, going 5-for-12 with three runs scored, helping her average climb to .387. Nita Cook ran her hit streak to 10 games, going 7-for-14 with five runs scored – swiping two bases – pushing her season total to 40, two off the OIT single-season record.
 
LEAGUE LEADERS: Batting Average – Sarah Kerling (SOU) .462, Kailer Fulton (SOU) .441, Nita Cook (OIT) .409; Home Runs – Violet Richardson (BU) 12, Emily Barry (EOU) 8, 4 Players with 6; RBI – Puakea Milbourne (OIT) 51, Emil Barry (EOU) 39, Addison Kachnik (OIT) 35; Stolen Bases – Noe Barawis (WP) 55, Nita Cook (OIT) 40, Kailer Fulton (SOU) 37; ERA – Ayla Davies (SOU) 0.98, Kacie Schmidt (OIT) 1.34, Kylie Parsons (EOU) 1.55; Pitching Wins – Ayla Davies (SOU) 27, Kacie Schmidt (OIT) 22, Kylie Parsons (EOU) 13; Pitching Strikeouts – Ayla Davies (SOU) 205, Kacie Schmidt (OIT) 181, Kennedy Venner (CAR) 127.
 
RECORD BOOK: Eight Lady Owls rank among the Top-25 in the OIT career record book. Jayce Seavert holds the all-time record for hit-by-pitches (67) and sacrifice flies (19), is No. 2 in games started (246), games played (248) and defensive chances (1,243), No. 3 in doubles (57), No. 4 in defensive put outs (1,054), No. 7 in at bats (690) and RBI (175), No. 8 in sacrifice hits (19), No. 10 in triples (9), No. 12 in runs scored (145), No. 13 in hits (225), No. 15 in walks (55), ranking No. 21 in home runs (18) and stolen bases (24); Zoe Allen is No. 4 in stolen bases (65), No. 5 in sacrifice hits (23), No. 6 in walks (73), No. 7 in runs scored (172), No. 9 in games played (217), No. 15 in hits (220) and at bats (589), No. 16 in games started (196) and No. 19 in triples (6); Nita Cook is No. 3 in stolen bases (79), No. 7 in defensive assists (325), No. 8 in sacrifice hits (19), No. 10 in runs scored (154), No. 12 in triples (8), No. 13 in walks (58), No. 15 in hit-by-pitches (12) and No. 21 in hits (187), ranking just outside the Top-25 in doubles (30) and at bats (516); Puakea Milbourne is No. 2 in defensive put outs (1,080), No. 4 in defensive chances (1,119), No. 8 in hit-by-pitches (19), No. 10 in RBI (145) and sacrifice hits (16), No. 13 in home runs (22), No. 23 in hits (186), ranking just outside the Top-25 in at bats (533), runs scored (115), doubles (28) and stolen bases (22); with Addison Kachnik No. 14 in defensive assists (243), No. 19 in triples (6), No. 21 in doubles (33) and just outside the Top-25 in at bats (500), hits (150) and RBI (92). In the circle, Kacie Schmidt ranks No. 2 in wins (80), saves (7) and pitching appearances (140), No. 3 in innings pitched (626.2), shutouts (25) and strikeouts (604), No. 4 in pitching starts (95), ranking No. 6 in complete games (59); while Alli Parker is No. 4 all-time in saves (5) and just outside the Top-25 in wins (10), strikeouts (66) and pitching appearances (30); Jenna Gorden is No. 23 in shutouts (2) and No. 25 in appearances (36), ranking just outside the Top-25 in innings pitched (89.0) and strikeouts (48), with Carli Moore just outside the Top-25 in pitching appearances (33) and strikeouts (57).
 
NEXT WEEK: The Lady Owls will compete in the NAIA Opening Round on May 12-15 – with the 10 host sites to be announced tomorrow.