As the Central College softball team enjoyed Easter dinner with their families, an American Rivers Conference championship seemed impossible, and even a return trip to the NCAA tournament was hanging in the balance.

The Dutch had just been beaten twice by Coe on Good Friday, dropping their record to 18-8, and at 8-4, they were in a tie for third in the league.

And then everything fell into place.  First was a non-conference sweep of Monmouth.  Then as the Dutch were sweeping Loras, Coe dropped a game to Simpson and Luther was swept by Dubuque, setting up a chance to win the league as the Norse came to Pella for the final doubleheader of the season.  Trevor Castle and Paul Tallman called the action live on 92.1 KRLS, picking it up tied 7-7 in the bottom of the seventh.

Central run-ruled Luther 10-1 in game two to claim the outright A.R.C. crown, then one week later they beat Dubuque and Coe to win the league tournament and an automatic berth in their record 30th NCAA tournament.  With a 1-2 showing at regionals, Central finished the 2019 season 27-10.