PELLA, Iowa – The No. 20-ranked Central College (28-9 overall, 13-3 A-R-C) has claimed the 2024 American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) regular season softball championship. The Dutch now have won 14 regular season titles, with the most recent coming in 2019.
Heading into the final day of conference play, the Dutch knew they earned at least a share of the title with a 2-0 win over Nebraska Wesleyan on Sunday. They had control of their own fate today as they defeated Loras College 8-1 in game two of the doubleheader Monday afternoon.
Central’s regular season title earns them the No. 1-seed in the 2024 A-R-C Softball Tournament, along with hosting duties of the six-team field. The tournament begins Friday, May 10
th with No. 4 seed Nebraska Wesleyan and No. 5 seed Simpson playing at 2:00p. No. 3 seed Wartburg will face No. 6 seed Luther immediately following the conclusion of the Nebraska Wesleyan-Simpson game. The tournament continues Saturday with Central hosting the winner of Nebraska Wesleyan-Simpson and No. 2 seed Coe playing the winner of Wartburg-Luther.
In game two of today, the Dutch were led by
Haley Bach and
Emma Johnson who each recorded two hits. Johnson batted in three runs while
Megan Stuhr had two RBIs. Bach scored three of the eight runs and Johnson added two for herself. Earning the win in the circle for Central was
Emma Beck who pitched 4.1 innings and struck out two batters.
The winner of this year’s A-R-C Tournament receives the A-R-C automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Division III Tournament. The regional round takes place May 16-18 followed by the 16-team Super Regional round the following weekend. Eight teams will emerge from the Super Regional round to line up at Taylor Field in Marshall, Texas for the 2024 NCAA Division III Softball Championships May 30 through June 5.
About the American Rivers Conference
The Conference dates back to December 8, 1922, when representatives from 12 colleges got together and formed the "Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association." Honoring its heritage in Iowa and its expansion outside the state, the American Rivers Conference brand was established on August 9, 2018, to build on the academic and athletic success provided by its legacy, the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The A-R-C has nine full-time members: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Luther College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College.
