A 4:00 wakeup call greeted the Central College softball team this morning as the Dutch have begun the 2016 season.

They’re playing Bethel of Minnesota inside the Rochester Bubble in a non-conference doubleheader that started at 6:00. Central is the reigning Iowa Conference tournament champion, they won their regional tournament, and finished in the top 16 nationally before losing in the Super Regionals last year to Linfield. But a school-record 10 seniors graduated and question marks are scattered throughout the batting order and fielding chart. That doesn’t lower expectations for skipper George Wares, who always sets the course with a national championship as the final destination. But there are likely to be bumps along the way with 6 new starters in the lineup and freshmen and sophomores dominating the roster. Wares says he’ll learn a lot today as his team faces the defending Minnesota Conference regular season champions.

“Regardless of the outcome, whether we lose two, win two or split, we’re going to have a better idea because we are facing a very good team. It’s going to be a challenge for us, because of who we’re playing, and because of our youth, but once the first pitch is thrown, that’s not what we’re thinking about. There’s no excuses. I like the fact that we’re opening against a team that’s good because it will give us a better idea of what we have to work on.”

After today’s doubleheader, the Dutch will have about a week to work out the kinks. They head to Kissimmee, Florida for 10 games and then to Columbus, Georgia for the NFCA Leadoff Classic, which features 24 of the best division three teams in the country.

Tags: