The Central College softball team boards a plane to Tucson, Arizona today, where they’ll open the season this weekend.

The Dutch, who return seven starters from a 23-15 team last year, are ranked 24th in the country. Defending NCAA champion Texas-Tyler is a unanimous number one, reigning Iowa Conference champ Luther is ranked fifth, and Coe is 15th.

Central opens play Saturday for the first two contests in a 16-game flurry at the Tucson Invitational Games that take place through March 19th. An audio webcast of several Central games on the trip are tentatively scheduled for KNIA 3 with Larry Happel calling the action, starting with Sunday’s game at 1:00 Iowa time against Minnesota-Crookston.

The Dutch are looking to return to the NCAA Division III tournament after watching from the sidelines last spring. Under NFCA Hall of Fame coach George Wares, Central has made the postseason 27 times in 31 seasons, with four national titles.