The Central College softball team debuted at No. 21 in the preseason NFCA Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll.

The Dutch return starters at all but one position from last year’s 33-11 squad, including five fifth-year players who are taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA following the global pandemic and the cancelation of the 2020 season. Last year’s team secured a record 31st NCAA Division III tourney berth.

Defending champion Trine University (Ind.) was the unanimous choice for the preseason top spot. American Rivers Conference champ Coe College is ranked #4 in the country, while no other schools from the league cracked the top 25.

Central will be among many of the ranked squads competing in the NFCA Division III Leadoff Classic March 1st-3rd in Columbus, Georgia. Each squad plays six games. Central is slated to take on #3-ranked Berry College (Ga.), #6 Moravian University (Pa.) and #11 Bethel University (Minn.) on the weekend.

The Dutch season opens at the Fontbonne University (Mo.) Invitational in Edwardsville, Illinois February 25th, meeting the University of Chicago and Monmouth College (Ill.). Central also travels to the Tucson (Ariz.) Invitational Games for eight games March 11th-15th before returning to the Midwest to play 16 home games between March 20th-April 28th.