SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The CCAA Softball coaches have selected Cal State San Marcos as the favorites in the 2025 CCAA Preseason Poll with 97 points and seven of the 10 first-place votes.
 
Sonoma State earned the three remaining first-place votes and finished second in the poll with 80 points. It was a very close vote for third place, where Cal State Dominguez Hills (74) finished just in front of Cal State San Bernardino (72) and Cal State East Bay (69).
 
San Francisco State claimed the sixth spot with 49 points, and Cal Poly Humboldt followed with 35 points. The final three spots in the poll went to Chico State (29), Stanislaus State (23), and Cal State Monterey Bay (22).
 
CSUSM returns one of the deepest teams not only in the CCAA but in the entire West Region. The core of this Cougars' team has been playing together since their freshmen season and has posted a 115-57 (.669 win%) record in that span. Last season, CSUSM finished second in the conference standings before winning the CCAA Tournament and reaching the NCAA Regional pod finals. All seven first or second-team all-conference selections return for the Cougars, including CCAA Tournament MVP and CCAA Pitcher of the Year Jayline Sloss (19-9, 1.32 ERA, 1.06 WHIP). Aneesa Arredondo (SS), Jillian Albayati (3B), Savannah Coyle (UT/P), Paige Donnelly (1B), Delaney Prater (OF), and Madison Waymire (INF) will also be back after collecting All-CCAA honors in 2024.
 
Sonoma State was the 2024 CCAA regular season champions, finishing two games ahead of Cal State San Marcos and Cal State Dominguez Hills with a 23-11 record. The Seawolves graduated many of their All-CCAA selections. Still, second-team selection Jasmine Moreno (.330 avg, .440 OB%) will return behind the plate, and Lauren Mirtoni (.281, 12 2B, 19 RBI) will be back in the middle of the lineup in 2025. On the mound, 2023 CCAA Freshman of the Year Charlie Johnson (7-3, 2.77 ERA) will return to lead the staff.
 
Cal State Dominguez Hills put together the most wins in the CCAA last season, finishing at 39-21. The Toros earned an at-large bid to the NCAA West Regional, winning their pod and reaching the NCAA Super Regional title game. The bats were the calling card of CSUDH in 2024, especially in the power department. They led the conference with 48 home runs, 18 more than second place. All-CCAA selection Kaylee Hull (1B) and All-CCAA Tournament pick Alexis Aguado (2B) return to lead the offense which paced the conference in slugging percentage (.442) and fielding percentage (.984) and finished second in batting average (.301).
 
Cal State San Bernardino placed fourth in the CCAA standings at 20-14 (28-20) to earn their second consecutive bid to the CCAA Tournament. The Coyotes return all four of its All-CCAA first or second selections, including the 2024 CCAA Player of the Year Tereise Tosi (.435 avg, 7HR, 31 RBI .520 OB%). Last season, CSUSB hit .310 as a team (1st CCAA) while leading the CCAA in scoring (4.79 runs/game) and on-base percentage (.369). Joining Tosi as returning All-CCAA selections are Shannon Galliano (OF), Bri Goris (1B), and Mia Escujuri (UT).
 
Cal State East Bay (29-24, 17-17 CCAA) brings a lot of momentum into the season after closing out last year with a run to the CCAA Tournament title game and the program's first bid to the NCAA West Regional. The 2024 CCAA Freshman of the Year Marissa Quintero (17-11, 2.06 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 108 Ks) is back to lead the Pioneers from the pitching circle. CSUEB will also have its top four hitters back with Annelise Garcia (.364 avg, 10 HR, 28 RBI, 41 runs, .418 OB%), Cynthia Carrillo (.282 avg, 23 RBI, .370 OB%), Jeslyn Cuellar (.278 avg, .353 OB%) and Ashlee Toy (.270 avg) all returning.
 
San Francisco State claimed the No. 6 seed in the 2024 CCAA Tournament, and the coaches are expecting them to be right back there this season as they placed sixth in the poll with 49 points. The Gators put three student-athletes on the All-CCAA second team in 2024, and all three will return this season: Elise Roy (P, 13-9, 2.35 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), Kai DeLeon (.311 avg, .409 OB%, 31 runs, 21 SB) and Daniella Guerrera (.301 avg, .348 OB%, 27 RBI).
 
Cal Poly Humboldt will be looking to snap its five-season CCAA Tournament playoff drought in 2025. The Lumberjacks placed seventh in the standings last season, finishing the year at 24-25 (14-18 CCAA). All-CCAA first-teamer Alyssa Smokey is back and will pitch and pick up the bat. Last season, she hit .368 with six home runs and 29 RBI while posting a 2.36 earned run average over 71.1 innings.
 
Chico State (29), Stanislaus State (23), and Cal State Monterey Bay (22) round out the 2025 CCAA Softball Preseason Coaches Poll.
 
CSUSM begins the season at the Concordia University Irvine Kickoff Classic this weekend. For the fifth consecutive season, The Cougars will face Chaminade and Hawaii Hilo on Friday before taking on No. 18 Northwest Nazarene and Western Oregon on Saturday. CSUSM will conclude the tournament on Sunday against Colorado Christian before hosting its season home opener on Monday against Hawaii Pacific.