The Central College softball team is headed is headed to the NCAA division three softball championships for the first time in ten years. The Dutch will play Montclair State on Friday night in the opening round of the tournament in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Central advanced after a 2-1 victory over St. Thomas of Minnesota in the championship round of a regional in Pella. “No matter how many times you’ve done it — and it’s been awhile — you always get excited. Probably the biggest piece of excitement was when we got the final out against St. Thomas,” according to Central coach George Wares.
Wares says this is something the team has worked hard for and it’s fun to get to see them experience it. It is Central’s first trip to the championship tournament since winning it all back in 2003.
Wares says are some 403 division 3 programs that play and only 62 made the postseason, and he feels fortunate to be in the final 8. Wares says it’s incredible to have to conference teams in that final 8.
Luther won a regional in Whitewater, Wisconsin and opens on Friday afternoon against Anderson of Indiana.