Central second in regional softball rankings

Central College

PELLA — Despite making a jump in the NFCA Division III top 25 coaches’ poll a day earlier, the Central College softball team slipped a notch to No. 2 in the NCAA Midwest Region rankings.

The Dutch, 26-7 overall, have a 21-4 in-region record after a 3-1 week in which they swept Buena Vista University and split a doubleheader with Coe College, which is rated No. 4 in the region. They climbed to No. 14 in the NFCA poll. The University of St. Thomas (Minn.) takes over at No. 1 in the Midwest Region. The Tommies are 23-5 overall and 19-4 against in-region foes.

Fontbonne University (Mo.) (25-9) is third with Simpson College (27-9) at No. 5 and Luther College (23-7) at No. 6. The regional rankings serve as the basis for selections to the 62-team NCAA Division III tournament field which will be announced May 6. Central was earlier named one of eight schools to serve as a host site for regional tourney action May 9-13. It’s the third straight year the Dutch have played host to a regional.

Central and Luther clash Saturday in an Iowa Conference twinbill that concludes the league’s regular season. Game time is 2 p.m. at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex field. The contest will be broadcast on KRLS-FM (92.1) with Trevor Castle and can also be heard via www.kniakrls.com. Live stats will be available at www.central.edu/athletics.