Central softball team is dancing for the third straight season
PELLA- For a record 33rd time, the Central College softball team heard its name called on the NCAA Division III selection show.
The Dutch (26-11) will travel to Oshkosh, Wisconsin and play in a four-team, double-elimination regional which starts Thursday and runs through Saturday. It is one of 16 regional sites that constructed the 64-team NCAA field announced Monday.
The Dutch will open up against the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (28-12) on Thursday the time is TBD. The host and No. 16 ranked University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (36-6) will open its tournament against Concordia University of Wisconsin (31-11).
“It was exciting, there were a lot of options, and we didn’t know where we were going to go,” said coach George Wares. “Theres nothing easy in the postseason and it will be a continuation of conference play. We will face well-coached teams with good athletes.”
The Dutch are 101-65 all time in the NCAA tournament and last season won its regional before losing in the super regionals to Linfield University (Ore.). Central has the third most victories in the NCAA DIII tournament behind the College of New Jersey at 107 and Eastern Connecticut State University at 102 wins.
“This has been our goal all year, and once you make it to the regionals. Coach Wares says anything can happen, in the postseason and we are trying to push a run further then last season,” senior captain and shortstop Haley Bach (Council Bluffs, Lewis Central HS) said. “Our motto this year was we are not rebuilding we are reloading and that has been shown by making it back to the regional.”
Wares is in his 41st season as head coach and he has won four national titles but enjoys every chance he gets to hear Central’s name called in the selection show
“It never gets old, and it is always special,” said Wares. “This is our goal every year, to hear your name called on selection Monday and we get to do it again.”
There were four teams from the American Rivers Conference who had their names called. Wartburg College will face Washington University of St. Louis who is hosting its regional, Simpson College will travel to Winona, Minnesota and take on Depauw University (Ind.) to play in a regional hosted by St. Mary’s University (Minn.). Nebraska Wesleyan University received the automatic bid from the conference and will take on Greenville University (Ill.) in Bloomington, Illinois to play in a regional hosted by Illinois Wesleyan University.
“The depth of our conference is strong,” Wares said. “I am really happy for our conference, and I think all four teams will represent well.”
