Katie Tenboer March 9, 2009

Searching for sunshine--Dutch to Arizona

PELLA—A short burst of warm weather at the end of an otherwise unforgiving Iowa winter allowed the Central College softball team to get some rare early outdoor practice time, which could help fast-forward the development of a rookie-laden infield when the Dutch open the season in Arizona Friday.

Central makes its first-ever appearance in the Tucson Invitational Games at Lincoln Park in Tucson, Ariz. March 13-21. Friday’s openers are against Monmouth College (Ill.) at 8:30 a.m. (Pacific Daylight Time) and against SUNY-Oneonta at 10:30 a.m. The Dutch play 16 games in nine days—two more games than they’re scheduled to play on their own field in Pella this spring.

The schedule also includes two contests against defending NCAA Division III champion Wis.-Eau Claire, meeting the No. 2-rated Blugolds Friday at 9 a.m. and the following Friday, March 20 at 8 a.m. Central will take on another member of last year’s NCAA tourney field, No. 22 Denison Univ. (Ohio), Thursday, March 19 at 6 p.m. Coach George Wares also notes that Wis.-La Crosse is off to a 6-0 start. Central faces the Eagles Wednesday, March 18 at 9 a.m. The Dutch will have first-ever meetings with Denison, SUNY-Oneonta, Wis.-Platteville, Marian College (Wis.), Otterbein College (Ohio) and Edgewood College (Wis.).

“It’s a real good schedule,” coach George Wares said. “I think it’s an ideal schedule for the type of team we have and we have 13 regional games, which allows us to make quite a statement one way or another.”

Wares, who has piloted Central to an 804-272-3 (.747) record over 24 seasons, is intent on returning his squad to the NCAA Division III tournament, an increasingly daunting challenge. The Dutch have secured four NCAA Division III championships and 20 NCAA tournament berths but haven’t been part of the field since 2006.

Three audio Webcasts offered—Three audio Webcasts are tentatively slated through the Central athletics Web site at www.central.edu/athletics and at www.kniakrls.com. Webcasts are set for Friday at 12:30 p.m. (Iowa time) against SUNY-Oneonta, Sunday at 5:30 p.m. against Wis.-Platteville and next Wednesday, March 18 at 11 a.m. against Wis.-La Crosse. Because numerous games are being played at Lincoln Park each day, the start times are approximate.

New faces, new places—While Central returns eight position starters from last year’s 24-16 club, coach George Wares is giving the infield a makeover. Afton Nelson (junior, Pleasant Valley), a second-team all-Iowa Conference pick at shortstop last year, is moving back to her preferred spot at third base, prompting Katie Tenboer (sophomore, Morrison, Ill.) to move to first base. Freshmen Angela Davis (West Des Moines, Valley HS) and Kelsey Wright (Gilbertville, Don Bosco HS) are getting the initial nod at second base and shortstop, respectively.

Wares knows Central’s inexperience in the infield will create some anxious moments.

“But being outside as much as we have been helps a lot,” he said. “We’ve still got a lot of people we’re putting on the field who don’t have much college experience, but having some outdoor practices makes a big difference. We just have the ability to do some things outside that we couldn’t do otherwise. You can only do so much practicing inside.”

Behind the plate, where Central must replace graduated all-America honoree Kelly Harris, Wares will alternate sophomore Trysh Shimak (Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) and freshman Kyrie Hale (Lee’s Summit, Mo.).

“Both have strengths and weaknesses,” Wares said. “On day one, we’ll go with both of them for one game. We’re hoping that one of them steps to the front, but as of now, that hasn’t happened.”

The outfield remains the same with first-team all-conference left fielder Hannah Weindruch (senior, Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley HS), center fielder Alysha Overturf (senior, Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley HS) and right fielder Laura Braun (junior, Newton). Each can do some things offensively but it’s their defense Wares loves.

“Our outfielders are really going after the ball,” he said.

Ryann Engholm (senior, Bloomington, Minn., Thomas Jefferson HS) will start as the designated player but could also see action in the outfield after spending last season at first base. She’s the team’s leading returning hitter, batting .330 with six homers and 34 RBIs last year. But Wares said he’s having a hard time keeping the bat of freshman Rachel Everingham (Georgetown, Ill., Ridge Farm HS) out of the lineup. Listed as a second baseman, Everingham could appear as the designated player and will otherwise serve as the first pinch-hitting option. Sophomore Rachel Whiteside (Sheffield, Ill., Bureau Valley HS) heads the corps of pinch-runners.

Pitchers Megan Swingen (senior, Woden, Woden-Crystal Lake HS) and Kiley Lythberg (sophomore, Mount Prospect, Ill.) will throw most of the innings in the early going. Swingen posted an 8-4 mark with a 3.07 ERA last year while Lythberg was 10-9. Tenboer figured to be a key part of the rotation as well, but was hobbled by injury throughout the preseason and isn’t yet 100 percent. If she throws, or needs a break at first base, Bethany Koskamp (sophomore, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS), a pleasant surprise at second base last year, will fill in at first. With the heavy schedule and Tenboer’s uncertain status, Wares is bolstering the pitching staff by also bringing junior Natalie Deming (New Sharon, North Mahaska HS) and Allyse Vander Plaats (junior, Apple Valley, Calif., Naperville, Ill. North HS), a late roster addition who has caught his eye.

“Allyse gives us another option,” Wares said. “She continues to look like she can help us.”

When the Dutch return home they jump directly into the conference season, traveling to Mount Vernon March 28 for a league twinbill with Cornell College.