Hot start pushes Central up in softball poll, stat rankings
Central College
PELLA — A promising start at the Tucson Invitational Games has pushed the Central College softball team up another spot to No. 8 in the NFCA Division III softball coaches’ poll.
The Dutch posted a 14-2 mark in nine days in Arizona, including a 2-0 victory over No. 13 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.).
Defending champion Linfield (Ore.) (16-2) returns to the No. 1 spot after slipping to No. 4 for a week. Iowa Conference rival Coe College (15-1) is ranked second and received two first-place votes while Luther College (8-1) fell to No. 3 after holding the top position for a week.
Central’s burst out of the blocks is also reflected in the NCAA Division III statistics. The Dutch rank seventh in the nation in team batting average (.384), ninth in stolen bases per game (3.63), ninth in double plays per game (0.63), 18th in scoring (7.94 runs), 22nd in triples per game (0.5) and 23rd in earned run average (1.36).
Shortstop Annie Sarcone (sophomore, Des Moines, Dowling Catholic HS) is third in Division III in slugging percentage (.979) and 15th in batting average (.489). Freshman third baseman Whitney Sowers (Marshalltown) is 22nd in slugging percentage (.800) and 26th in batting average (.467). First baseman/catcher Kyrie Hale (senior, Lee’s Summit, Mo., West HS) is 24th in doubles per game (0.44).
Central returns to action at the St. Louis Invitational Saturday and Sunday, starting with a 10 a.m. game Saturday at Fontbonne University (Mo.) at St. Ann, Mo.
