Saint Xavier Again The Favorite In Softball Tournament
CROWN POINT, Ind. --- The Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Tournament takes on a new look in 2026 with eight teams back in the fold (compared to six last year) and no byes for the top two seeds. The tournament begins on Wednesday and runs through Saturday at the Crown Point Sportsplex.
While the format has changed, the favorite stays the same with top-seeded and five-time defending tournament champion Saint Xavier University (37-12) again sitting atop the list. The Cougars had only one blemish on another spectacular conference season, going 26-1. They claimed the regular-season title by six games.
The other top three seeds are University of St. Francis (34-14) in the No. 2 spot, St. Ambrose University (30-17) at No. 3 and Olivet Nazarene University (28-19) in the No. 4 position.
The rest of the tournament field is made up of No. 5 Viterbo University (21-26), No. 6 Indiana University South Bend (14-28), No. 7 Trinity Christian College (15-28) and No. 8 Calumet College of St. Joseph (11-29). Viterbo was the only team to defeat Saint Xavier during the regular season.
The tournament opens with eight games on Wednesday with each team playing twice at 3 and 5:30 pm and concludes on Friday with the championship game. An if-necessary game is slotted for Saturday.
The winner advances to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round May 11-14 at one of ten sites.
For the complete tournament bracket, go to Bracket.
The complete schedule follows:
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Game #1: No. 6 Indiana South Bend (14-28) vs. No. 3 St. Ambrose (30-17) --- 3 pm
Game #2: No. 7 Trinity Christian (15-28) vs. No. 2 St. Francis (34-14) --- 3 pm
Game #3: No. 5 Viterbo (21-26) vs. No. 4 Olivet Nazarene (28-10) --- 3 pm
Game #4: No. 8 Calumet St. Joseph vs. No. 1 Saint Xavier (37-12) --- 3 pm
Game #5: Loser-Game #1 vs. Loser-Game #2 --- 5:30 pm
Game #6: Loser-Game #3 vs. Loser-Game #4 --- 5:30 pm
Game #7: Winner-Game #1 vs. Winner-Game #2 --- 5:30 pm
Game #8: Winner-Game #3 vs. Winner-Game #4 --- 5:30 pm
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Game #9: Winner-Game #5 vs. Loser-Game #8 --- 3 pm
Game #10: Winner-Game #6 vs. Loser-Game #7 --- 3 pm
Game #11: Winner-Game #7 vs. Winner-Game #8 --- 5:30 pm
Game #12: Winner-Game #9 vs. Winner-Game #10 --- 5:30 pm
Friday, May 1, 2026
Game #13: Winner-Game #12 vs. Loser-Game #11 --- 1 pm
Game #14: Winner-Game #13 vs. Winner-Game #11 --- 3:30 pm (Championship)
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Game #15: Winner-Game #14 vs. Loser-Game #14 --- 12 pm (If necessary)