STARKVILLE, Miss. – From going unranked throughout the 2010 season to coming within one win of eliminating the eventual national champions and reaching the College World Series, the Chico State softball team finally received the recognition it deserved. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) released its final Top 25 poll of the year Thursday, with Angel Shamblin’s Wildcats earning the No. 17 ranking in the country.

Chico State, 33-21 on the year and tying the third-highest single season win total in the program’s history, is the top-ranked California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) school in the poll. The only other conference team represented in the Top 25 is Sonoma State, which was ranked 20th in the nation.

National champion Hawaii Pacific University, which had to beat the Wildcats twice in the NCAA West Super Regional to advance to and win the College World Series, earned the No. 1 slot on the NFCA poll.

Click here for the complete National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) final Top 25 softball poll for the 2010 season.