Central Gains Record 29th NCAA Softball Berth
Larry Happel '81
August 17, 2018
Paige Dickel ’18 and the Dutch stole 133 bases en route to another NCAA softball tourney berth.
Central advanced to the NCAA Division III softball tourney for a record 29th year, finishing second in the St. Paul, Minnesota, regional.
The Dutch posted a 29-12 record and landed three players on the all-Midwest region squad. Speedsters Sara Tallman ’20 and Shaye Witte ’20, outfielders at the top of the Central batting order, were first-team picks while catcher Emily Walton ’18 was a third-team selection.
Tallman, also a two-time first team all-conference pick, hit .387 with 50 runs and a school-record 47 stolen bases, ranking fourth in the nation. Witte hit a team-high .404 while Walton, back after missing all of 2017 with injury, hit .372 with a team-best 38 RBI.
Central, which finished second in league play at 12-4, was No. 21 in the final NFCA Division III rankings under hall of fame coach George Wares ’76.
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