Coming off a thrilling run to the regional finals last spring, the Iowa Central softball team will lean on a large group of newcomers to try and clear that one final hurdle.

Former Fort Dodge Senior High standout Bo Tjebben is back for his fourth season as head coach of the Tritons, who were picked fourth in the preseason coaches poll. They have started the year strong, posting a 17-9 overall record — including an eight-game win streak to reach No. 20 in the national poll.

Iowa Central has finished fourth in the ICCAC three times over the past five years, taking top-seed Kirkwood to a third and final game last spring before coming up short.

“We are super excited about this team,” Tjebben said. “We have so much depth, especially in the pitching department.

“Last year, not having enough arms caught up to us, so we really put a heavy emphasis on improving there. We feel like we have speed, power, defense and the pitching depth we need.”

Many of those key faces, though, have moved on, leaving the likes of returning sophomores Morgan Weeks, Aleena Sandy, Calli Schell, Gabriella Taber, Tobi Topp and former Humboldt standout Alexis Hansen to shoulder the load in terms of experience.

Joining those six sophomores will be fellow sophomores Maria Jacobson, Addy Dean and Callyn Curphy. Freshmen include Cailyn Hardy, Breanna Nolte, Brittany Tufvesson, Sydney Wilson, Carly Ryan, Grace Behrns, Avery Mohr, Jadeyn Stahr, Reagan Enright, Kaylee Cary, Jayda Long, Emma Hoyle, Kennedy Palmer, Madeline Misiewicz, Abagail Winter and Molly Coyle.

“The sophomores have done a great job of leading by example,” Tjebben said. “Our captains do so much behind the scenes to get the girls ready that we don’t have to worry about as coaches.”

Weeks is the most experienced player back after seeing action in 48 games. She hit .293, driving in 20 with four doubles, 22 runs scored and five steals.

Schell played in 42 games and drew 22 walks with 14 steals, while Taber saw 52 at-bats over 20 games, recording 20 hits, six doubles and 11 RBI.

Sandy, who played in 35 games last year, hit .250 with 21 RBI, three homers and three doubles. She will help solidify the defense at catcher.

Topp and Hansen both played in 16 games in the outfield, with Topp recording 18 at-bats and Hansen 30 with five hits.

Dennis, who made 23 starts inside the circle, anchors the pitching staff. She was 9-9 last year with 54 strikeouts in almost 110 innings. Long has positioned herself as the ace, going 9-2 with 53 strikeouts in 56-plus innings while also hitting .419 with three homers, three triples, 11 doubles and 25 RBI.

Palmer is batting a team-high .536 with 17 steals while Schell and Enright are both hitting over .400.

Cary leads the team with five homers while six Tritons have scored at least 23 runs.

“It feels like we are getting to the point of this being the kind of program I want,” Tjebben said. “Of course, I was groomed by the best mentor in Coach (Rick) Sandquist.”

Tjebben will once again be assisted by his daughter, Cassie Tjebben, with his other daughter, Bre Hiracheta, and Kyle Alstott serving as volunteers.

2024 IOWA CENTRAL SOFTBALL

Roster

Sophomores

Aleena Sandy, C, Pennsylvania; Alexis Hansen, OF, Humboldt; Tobi Topp, OF, Canada; Calli Schell, OF, Illinois; Maria Jacobson, INF, Wisconsin; Katelyn Dennis, P, Illinois; Gabriella Taber, OF, Illinois; Addy Dean, INF, Madrid; Callyn Curphy, INF, Gilman; Morgan Weeks, OF, Norwalk.

Freshmen

Cailyn Hardy, P/INF, Clarksville; Breanna Nolte, C/INF, Indianola; Brittany Tufvesson, OF, Minnesota; Sydney Wilson, INF, Waterloo; Carly Ryan, INF, Manly; Grace Behrns, P/OF, South Dakota; Avery Mohr, P/OF, North Dakota; Jadeyn Stahr, P/INF, Ankeny; Reagan Enright, C/INF, Ankeny; Kaylee Cary, INF, Norwalk; Jayda Long, P/INF, Altoona; Emma Hoyle, P/INF, Grand Junction; Kennedy Palmer, INF, Ankeny; Madeline Misiewicz, INF, Minnesota; Abagail Winter, P, Dubuque; Molly Coyle, INF, Early.

Schedule

March 27 — Marshalltown; 29 — Iowa Lakes; 30 — DMACC.

April 3 — Hawkeye; 6 — at Iowa Lakes; 7 — at Ellsworth; 10 — Northeast; 13 — at Hawkeye; 14 — at Kirkwood; 17 — at Northeast; 18 — Southwestern; 20 — NIACC; 21 — Kirkwood; 24 — Ellsworth; 27 — at DMACC; 28 — at NIACC.