Defending Iowa Conference champion Central College opens in 24th in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association preseason Division III College Softball rankings.Central has the luxury of enjoying several familiar faces this season as seven position starters and one of the team’s top two starting pitchers return from a Dutch squad that posted a 36-8 record last season while capturing the school’s 10th league title and earning its 21st NCAA tournament berth in the past 24 years.

Once again the Iowa Conference looks to be loaded and Central may have their hands full trying to repeat as conference champs as Coe is ranked 5th in the pre season poll and Luther is ranked 16th. Eight teams in the top 25 appear on Central’s schedule, including four of the top seven. The Dutch open the 2010 campaign February 26-27 in Longview, Texas, and will see right out of the gates where they stack up as they will face numkber 23 Hardin-Simmons, Howard Payne , Austin, and number two ranked East Texas Baptist.

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