Not many softball seasons get to end with a walk-off winner. While the cancellation of
Central’s 2020 season due to COVID-19 was the ultimate sucker-punch, the final swing of the bat is one that Dutch fans won’t forget.

The game took place at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, and Central led 2-1 with two outs in the seventh inning, before Claremont’s Maddie Valde drilled a game-tying home run. That set the stage for the dramatic walk-off winner.

Little did Dutch fans know that was the last swing of the bat in 2020. They were scheduled to play another game that very day, which was cancelled due to rain, then the entire season was wiped out a week later.

Central finished 6-1, they were runners-up at the prestigious Leadoff Classic with a 4-1 mark, and earned the number eight ranking nationally in the final NFCA poll.