NIC SOFTBALL: One more before a Scenic return ... Cardinals hope to exit NWAC with third title since 2018

By JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writer

With seven All-East Region selections — six on the first-team — and a 34-game win streak entering today’s Northwest Athletic Conference Tournament at Delta Park in Portland, North Idaho College has more than a few reasons to like its chances to bring back a conference title in the program’s final season before moving back the NJCAA’s Scenic West Athletic Conference next spring.

“We’ve prepared and have been working hard for this moment since September,” fifth-year NIC coach Shay Chapman said. “They’re ready to go. We started working for this since September, so it’s been a long year. It’s pay day week, and they’re excited for the games to start.”

NIC (40-2) is the top overall seed and will face 16th seeded Grays Harbor (14-30) today at 1 p.m. in the opening round. The Cardinals are seeking their first title since winning back-to-back crowns in 2018 and 2019 in Spokane.

“We knew we’d win a lot of games,” Chapman said. “You can never predict a season like this, and in softball, seasons like this don’t come around often. But we knew with the team that (NIC assistant coach) Megan (Carver) and I built, we could be really special. It’s been a fun adventure. Each week, they go out and surprise me.”

On Tuesday, NIC swept regional awards, with Chapman being named Coach of the Year, sophomore leftfielder Kennedy Hobson Player of the Year and freshman Kristine Schmidt Pitcher of the Year.

Freshman Jaylyn Christensen (pitcher), sophomore Hayden Rockwell (shortstop), sophomore Kani Korok (third baseman), freshman Kaylee Vieira (centerfielder)  and freshman Corine Duran (catcher) were named to the first team. Freshman first baseman Faith Nichols was a second team selection.

“When I make a lineup, 1-9 in the batting order, there’s no easy outs,” Chapman said. “We’re stacked 1-20 and they all push each other. They’re cheering each other on and they’re so supportive of each others success.”

Spokane, Wenatchee Valley, Columbia Basin, Treasure Valley and Yakima Valley also qualified for the tournament from the East Region.

Southwestern Oregon (34-11) of Coos Bay is the defending champion.

“Going into the championships, it comes down to whoever is hot,” Chapman said. “If you’re the team coming in hot, you’ve got a great advantage.”

NORTHWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Delta Park-Owens Sports Complex, Portland

Thursday’s Games

Game 1 — No. 2 seed Mt. Hood (41-4) vs. No. 15 Yakima Valley (10-32), Field 2, 10 a.m.

Game 2 — No. 7 Treasure Valley (26-20) vs. No. 10 Columbia Basin (20-26), Field 4, 10 a.m.

Game 3 — No. 6 Wenatchee Valley (28-14) vs. No. 11 Walla Walla (20-23), Field 5, 10 a.m.

Game 4 — No. 3 Southwestern Oregon (34-11) vs. No. 14 Chemeketa (17-25), Field 3, 10 a.m.

Game 5 —  No. 13 Douglas (22-10) vs. No. 4 Lower Columbia College (38-11), Field 2, 1 p.m.

Game 6 — No. 12 Everett vs. No. 5 Spokane (26-12), Field 4, 1 p.m.

Game 7 — No. 9 Edmonds (26-12) vs. No. 8 Clackamas (25-17), Field 5, 1 p.m.

Game 8 — No. 16 Grays Harbor (14-30) vs. No. 1 North Idaho (40-2), Field 3, 1 p.m.

Game 9 — Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, Field 3, 3:30 p.m. (loser out)

Game 10 — Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, Field 2, 3:30 p.m. (loser out)

Game 11 — Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, Field 5, 3:30 p.m.

Game 12 — Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, Field 4, 3:30 p.m.

Game 13 — Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6, Field 3, 6 p.m. (loser out)

Game 14 — Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, Field 4, 6 p.m. (loser out)

Game 15 — Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, Field 2, 6 p.m.

Game 16 — Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, Field 3, 6 p.m.

Friday’s Games

Game 17 — Winner Game 9 vs. Loser Game 16, Field 2, 10 a.m. (loser out)

Game 18 — Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 15, Field 4, 10 a.m. (loser out)

Game 19 — Winner Game 13 vs. Loser Game 12, Field 5, 10 a.m. (loser out)

Game 20 — Winner Game 14 vs. Loser Game 11, Field 3, 10 a.m. (loser out)

Game 21 — Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12, Field 4, 12:30 p.m.

Game 22 — Winner Game 15 vs. Winner Game 16, Field 5, 12:30 p.m.

Game 23 — Winner Game 17 vs. Winner Game 18, Field 2, 12:30 p.m. (loser out)

Game 24 — Winner Game 19 vs. Winner Game 20, Field 3, 12:30 p.m. (loser out)

Game 25 — Winner Game 23 vs. Loser Game 21, Field 5, 3 p.m. (loser out)

Game 26 — Winner Game 24 vs. Loser Game 22, Field 4, 3 p.m. (loser out)

Saturday’s Games

Game 27 — Winner Game 21 vs. Winner Game 22, 10 a.m. (semifinal)

Game 28 — Winner Game 25 vs. Winner Game 26, Field 5, 10 a.m. (loser out)

Game 29 — Loser Game 27 vs. Winner Game 28, Field 4, 12:30 p.m. (loser out)

Sunday’s Games

Game 30 — Winner Game 27 vs. Winner Game 29, Field 4, 11 a.m. (championship game)

Game 31 — Loser Game 30 vs. Winner Game 30, Field 4, 1:15 p.m. (if necessary)