CSUDH Places 5th in Inaugural CCAA Commissioner’s Cup Presented by Apple Computer
Toros capitalize on strong seasons by men’s soccer, baseball and softball
June 30, 2006

Carson, CA -- Led by men’s soccer’s and baseball’s regular season titles, and softball’s runner-up conference finish, Cal State Dominguez Hills’ 32.0 points placed the Toros 5th amongst the 10 eligible California Collegiate Athletic Association schools in the Inaugural CCAA Commissioner’s Cup Presented by Apple Computer. UC San Diego, which finished with a ranking of 14.5, was the recipient of the Cup by virtue of four CCAA Championships and three runner-up finishes.

The men’s soccer team, which won the CCAA South, was the top seed heading into the conference tournament, where they were upset by Sonoma State, 1-0. That bump didn’t stop head coach Joe Flanagan’s team, however, as CSUDH took a 2-1 thriller over Seattle Pacific in the Far West Championship Game, propelling the Toros to the NCAA quarterfinals, where they dropped a 3-2 decision to eventual national champion Fort Lewis College.

Baseball followed soccer’s lead as the Toros took the regular season title, but CSUDH, which captured CCAA Player of the Year, CCAA Pitcher of the Year and CCAA Coach of the Year honors, was upended by Chico State, which came within one strike of bringing the conference its 146th national title.

Softball took runner-up honors this season after capturing the title in 2005, but qualified for the NCAA playoffs and enjoyed its deepest postseason run. Included in the Toros’ four postseason wins was a heart-stopping 3-2 win over top-ranked Humboldt State, sending the ‘Jacks home and the Toros to the Championship series, which they lost to Far West Champion and host Cal State Bakersfield.

The Commissioner’s Cup is awarded to the CCAA member institution with the highest aggregate ranking in eight (8) of the conference’s 13 championship sports. Each institution’s ranking is calculated using its top two league finishes in the fall, winter and spring sports seasons, as well as the highest two remaining finishes, regardless of season.

CCAA provisional member Cal State Monterey Bay was not eligible for this year’s Commissioner’s Cup standings.

The 2005-06 CCAA Commissioner’s Cup presented by Apple Computer Standings: