Spring sports have finally begun! Big Blue Softball was picked to end second in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) in a coaches’ poll released on February 12.

The team has won at least a share of the regular season conference title for the past three years, and have recently won the conference tournament in 2021 and 2023. They have been to the NCAA tournament for the past three years, advancing to the Elite Eight in 2022 on an at-large bid to the tournament after falling in the conference semifinals.

Illinois Wesleyan and Millikin have a long history as rivals. Each sport has their own personal history between them, with softball being one of the toughest battles. The first conference champion was crowned in 1987. Since then, only twelve times out of 35 seasons have Wesleyan or Millikin not had at least a share of the title. The last time a team other than those two won was Carthage in 2013. The Titans and the Big Blue have dominated the league since its inception. 

Millikin only lost the preseason conference poll by one point. They received three first place votes, putting them at 58 points and barely behind Illinois Wesleyan, who received four first place votes for a total of 59 points.

“After clinching the CCIW title three years in a row I think being picked second definitely puts a chip on our shoulders to perform our best this season,” senior outfielder Lanie Chizmark said. 

The senior finds this season extra special since she will be graduating in three years instead of four.

“The goal is always to have fun and compete to the best of our ability so winning the conference will definitely be our first goal but continuing to play with each other for as long as possible is our next,” Chizmark said of this being her last season.

Softball opens their season with an exhibition game against Lincoln Land Community College on Saturday, February 24, at the Workman Field in Decatur, IL. They begin official play on March 1, with a home doubleheader against Hope College.