Central 12th in preseason softball poll

Central College

PELLA—Central College is No. 12 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s preseason Division III softball rankings.

Linfield College (Ore.), last year’s national runner-up, received seven of eight first-place votes and tops the first poll. Defending champion East Texas Baptist received the other first-place vote and is ranked No. 10.

Iowa Conference rival Luther College, which was 42-7 a year ago, is rated No. 5. Coe College is among those receiving votes.

The Dutch return seven starters from last year’s 30-14 squad which earned the school’s 22nd NCAA tournament berth. Central has captured four national titles. Hall of fame coach George Wares is entering his 27th season and has compiled an 870-294-3 (.746) record. He ranks third on the all-time Division III charts in career victories and is fourth in winning percentage.

Central opens its season March 11 at the Tucson (Ariz.) Invitational Games, taking on Pitt-Bradford (Pa.) and St. Mary’s (Minn.).