Central College is #12 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s preseason Division III softball rankings.

Linfield College tops the poll. Defending champion East Texas Baptist received the only other first-place vote and is ranked #10.

The Dutch return seven starters from last year’s squad which went 30-14 while earning the school’s 22nd NCAA tournament berth. Central has captured four national titles. Hall of fame coach George Wares has completed 26 seasons and has compiled an 870-294-3 (.746) record. That ranks third on the all-time Division III charts in career victories and is the fourth highest winning percentage.

Central hits the field March 11 at the Tucson (Ariz.) Invitational Games They’ll play Pitt-Bradford (Pa.) and St. Mary’s (Minn.).