CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The NCAA announced the regional brackets for the 2024 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament, Monday, May 13th. After getting four American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) teams in the tournament a year ago, three teams are going dancing in 2024. No. 24 Central College, Coe College, and Wartburg College all saw their names pop up during the NCAA Selection Show on Monday. 
 
Coe earned the A-R-C’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after posting a 2-0 record during the conference tournament this past weekend to claim their first tournament title since 2009. Central and Wartburg picked up at-large bids to earn a spot in the 62-team field. Previews for each regional are below.  Central College Regional 
 
The Central College Dutch (29-10 overall, 13-3 A-R-C) earned the No. 1 seed in the regional and will open regional play on Thursday, May 16th against the No. 4 seed Wisconsin-Superior (26-13 overall, 12-6 UMAC) out of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC). The first pitch is scheduled for 12:00p (Noon) at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex softball field on the campus of Central College. The winner will advance to take on the winner of No. 2 seed Wisconsin-Whitewater (32-8 overall, 9-5 WIAC) and No. 3 seed Bethel (30-9 overall, 17-5 MIAC). UW-Whitewater and Bethel open the Pella regional with a 2:30p first pitch on Thursday afternoon. 
 
The Dutch and Yellowjackets have not met since 2022 when they met for a doubleheader in Naple, Florida. Central picked up two wins and hold the all-time series record at 2-0. 
 
Overall on the season, Hannah Higgins has led the way from the plate maintaining a batting average of .379. She has recorded 39 hits and brought in 33 runs. She has been walked 16 times this season and has only struck out on 11 occasions. The trio of Morgan Schaben, Emma Beck, and Sydni Huisman have shared time on the mound this season. Schaben has been at work for 68.2 innings, Beck for 103.1 innings, and Huisman for 72.0 innings. Schaben holds the best ERA of 3.01 and has only allowed 23 earned runs. Beck leads the way with 71 strikeouts on the season. Schaben holds a 6-0 record, Beck a 14-5 record, and Huisman a 8-5 record entering regional action. 
 
Central is making a record 32nd appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Dutch have won the national championship four times in program history (1988, 1991, 1993, 2003). The Dutch are led by storied coach George Wares who has been a staple in the Dutch program, and Division III, since 1985. 
  DePauw Regional
 
The Coe College Kohawks (31-9 overall, ) earned the No. 1 seed in the regional and will open play on Thursday, May 16th against the No. 4 seed Baldwin Wallace (25-14 overall, 11-5 OAC) out of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC). The first pitch is scheduled for 11:00a. The winner will advance to take on the winner of No. 2 seed DePauw (28-14 overall, 12-2 NCAC) and No. 3 seed Saint Mary’s (Minn.) (31-9 overall, 17-5 MIAC). DePauw and Saint Mary’s have a first pitch scheduled for 1:30p. 
 
Coe and Baldwin Wallace have previously met on five occasions, the Kohawks holding the all-time record at 5-0. The most recent win came in 2016. Coe is the 2023 American Rivers Conference Tournament Champions. The Kohawks have been led at the plate by Heather Bockenstedt who is batting .434 while racking up 56 hits and 50 runs scored. Ruby Kappeler is following closely behind with a batting average of .408. She has totaled 53 hits, including five home runs. This duo is a threat on the bases, too, as combined they have been successful 44 of their 47 attempts to steal an extra bag. On the mound Ellie Thurow has had another impressive season. Her overall record stands at 15-4 where she has been in action for 113.2 innings, recording 84 strikeouts and boasted a 1.85 ERA. 
 
The Kohawks are led by Jake Koolbeck in his second season at the helm. Coe looks to make another deep run into the championship after making it to the national semifinals last season. 
  Wisconsin-Oshkosh Regional
 
The Wartburg College Knights () earned the No. 2 seed in the regional and will open play on Thursday, May 16th against the No. 3 seed Illinois Wesleyan University () out of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW). The first pitch is scheduled for 2:30p at the Wisconsin-Oshkosh Softball Park. The winner will advance to take on the winner of No. 1 seed Wisconsin Oshkosh () and No. 4 seed Saint Benedict (). UW-Oskosh and Saint Benedict have a first pitch scheduled for Thursday at 12:00p (Noon). 
 
The Titans of Illinois Wesleyan own the all-time series lead at 4-0. Wartburg and Illinois Wesleyan faced each other earlier this season at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, where IWU won 7-1. 
 
Reagan Hassel leads the Knights with a .348 batting average, followed by Sydney Fellows at .347, and Kaylie Springer at .341. Ashley Nelson leads all pitchers for the Knights with 81 strikeouts over 117.1 innings pitched. Nelson has recorded four saves and four complete games this season. 
 
This marks the 12th appearance in the NCAA Tournament in program history, and third straight. The Knights are led by Jamie Mueller. 
  The winners of each regional will advance to the super regionals, which will take place May 24-25 at locations to be determined. The winners of each super regional will then advance to the 2024 NCAA Division III Softball Championships at Taylor Field in Marshall, Texas from May 30 through June 5 as East Texas Baptist serves as the host site for the second consecutive year.