For the first time since 2019, the Central College softball team is headed to the NCAA tournament. The 22nd-ranked Dutch were selected as an at-large qualifier to the 62-team field that was announced yesterday afternoon.

Central is 31-9 overall and will host a four-team regional this Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Kuyper Athletic Complex Softball Field in Pella. While it’s a record 31st appearance for the Dutch, it will be a new experience for this group, as none of Coach George Wares’ current players have made the postseason.

“It’s very similar to way back (in 1986) when we went for the first time. That’s kind of what we’re experiencing now”, Wares said. “One of the missions of this senior class was to get in and start the cycle again. Now we can start passing it down. Whoever this next freshman class is can have somebody explain to them what it takes to get there.”

Central is the top seed in the region and will play fourth-seeded Grinnell (29-12) Thursday afternoon at 4:30. The first semifinal game features second-seeded Wisconsin-LaCrosse (25-17) versus number three seed Bethel of Minnesota (33-3). All Dutch games will be broadcast live on 92.1 KRLS and the entire tournament can be viewed online at CentralDutchNetwork.com.