The Central College softball team is hoping its ascent in the NFCA Division III top 25 poll continues after the snow melts. Still confined to early morning indoor workouts as an unrelenting Iowa winter lingers, the Dutch nonetheless took a leap forward in the rankings for the second consecutive week, moving up three spots to a tie for No. 15. Central was No. 22 in the preseason rankings Feb. 6. Defending national champion Virginia Wesleyan is again the unanimous pick for the top spot, ahead of Illinois Wesleyan and Ithaca which, like Central, have yet to open the 2019 campaign. Central’s eagerly awaited season opener is Monday at the Tucson Invitational Games in Tucson, Arizona. The Dutch take on Saint Mary’s College at 11 a.m. (Central Time) and Case Western Reserve University (Ohio) at 3:30 p.m. The Dutch play 16 games in 10 games in Tucson. Audio webcasts of several of the games will be available at KNIAKRLS.com.