Central College’s spring break trips to warmer locales for softball and baseball open with contests today in Florida and Arizona.

The Dutch softball team will quickly see its No.12 ranking tested against Alfred University and the University of Pitt-Bradford in a pair of late afternoon contests in the Tucson Invitational Games. Central has six position starters back from last year’s 39-9 club and is again guided by Hall of Fame coach George Wares, whose 909 wins over 27 seasons make him the winningest coach in Division III history. The Central softball team packs 16 games into 8 days in their time in Tucson.

The Dutch baseball squad, meanwhile, is in the Sunshine State at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Fort Myers, Florida. Central has already started the season, and is 2-1 after a trio of games in chilly Illinois over this past weekend. They’ll face Babson College this afternoon – a team that went 25-13 last season and captured a share of their conference title. In all, the Dutch play nine games in their time in Florida, two of which which will be seven-inning doubleheaders. Over 50 Division III teams will compete in the tournament.