Three Iowa Conference teams will open NCAA division three regional softball action on Thursday. Luther hosts a regional in Decorah. The Norse are 34-5 and won the regular season title. They are seeded third and play Gustavus Adolphus in the opening round. Wartburg is seeded fourth after winning the Iowa Conference tournament this past weekend.
Wartburg coach Kara Kehe says they had a great regional experience last year and wanted to get back. The Knights are 27-6 and Kehe says her team has a lot of momentum right now as they get set for a first round matchup against Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She says all three pitchers had great performances, and offensively they hit the ball well against some good pitchers.
St. Thomas of Minnesota is the top seed in the regional. Coe College is the fifth seed in a regional in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The Kohawks are 27-12 and head back to the regional after making it to the division three world series in 2006. Coach Bob Timmons has a very young squad though there are a few veterans that were part of last year’s team.
He says they know what it takes to get there, and they have some new players who played in big games in high school and know what the pressure is all about. Timmons feels top seeded Wisconsin-Oshkosh is the favorite heading in. All the regional winners will advance to the national tournament in Salem, Virginia.