Central ninth in softball rankings; Haycraft among save leaders

Central College

PELLA—Central College is up another notch to No. 9 in the NFCA Division III softball poll.

The Dutch (14-2) were off last week after their 16-game spring break trip to Arizona.

Linfield (Ore.) regained sole possession of first with a 21-2 mark while Iowa Conference rival Luther (13-1) is No. 4 and Coe is at No. 16.

Meanwhile freshman pitcher Brie Haycraft (Eldridge, North Scott HS) is part of a five-way tie for first in saves in Division III statistics with three. First baseman Katie Tenboer (senior, Morrison, Ill.) is 20th in RBIs per game with 1.44 (16). In NCAA team statistics, the Dutch are 11th in winning percentage (.875), 19th in stolen bases per game (2.94) and 23rd in batting average (.371).

Central returns to action Friday, taking on No. 19 Washington-St. Louis (Mo.) (16-5-1) at Grinnell at 1 p.m., then playing a non-conference game with Dubuque at 3 p.m.

The Dutch make their home and conference season debut Saturday, facing Wartburg at 2 p.m. at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex field.