Vulcans Remain Eighth in West Region

The University of Hawai’i at Hilo softball team is still hanging on to a potential berth in the NCAA Division II West Regional tournament.

The latest rankings, released Wednesday, continue to place the University of Hawai’i at Hilo in eighth place in the rankings. The top eight teams in each region advance to the NCAA regionals next week.

Last week, UH-Hilo won a 4-2 ten-inning dramatic affair with Hawai’i Pacific University, but finished the second game of that doubleheader in a 5-5 tie after nine innings after the game was called due to darkness.

There are still games left to be played for teams around UH-Hilo in the rankings. Chico State, ranked seventh, is participating in the California Collegiate Athletic Association tournament, which starts Friday. The double-elimination tournament will pit Chico State against Cal State Monterey Bay, who is ranked second in the region. Humboldt State, ranked fourth, and Sonoma State, ranked fifth, are also participating.

Cal State East Bay, ranked ninth, concluded its regular season on Saturday with a doubleheader split against San Francisco state. Tenth ranked Western Washington could still move up as it opens up tournament play in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference on Thursday. The Vikings open up against Montana State-Billings.

The final rankings and regional selections will be released on Sunday.

NCAA West Regional Rankings (as of April 29)

1. Dixie State (42-6)

2. Cal State Monterey Bay (44-10)

3. California Baptist (40-9)

4. Humboldt State (39-15)

5. Sonoma State (38-17)

6. Saint Martin’s (32-13)

7. Chico State (26-18)

8. Hawai’i-Hilo (31-16-1)

9. Cal State East Bay (28-23)

10. Western Washington (28-16)