Under Bo Tjebben, the Iowa Central softball program has proved they can compete with the best of the best in the ICCAC.

This past spring, the Tritons placed second in one of the toughest leagues in Div. II junior college softball, advancing to a regional final.

With a strong resume, Iowa Central earned one of four at-large bids to the upcoming NJCAA World Series. The 15th-ranked Tritons (47-10 overall) will face No. 10 Pima (50-7) on Monday in Oxford, Ala. at 5 p.m.

Joining Iowa Central from the conference will be fourth-ranked Des Moines Area and No. 9 Kirkwood. DMACC is the overall No. 3 seed, Kirkwood the No. 6 and the Tritons are the No. 10 in the field.

Tjebben, a former Fort Dodge Senior High and Iowa Central standout who went on to play baseball at Iowa State University, was recognized as coach of the year in the ICCAC.

Kaylee Cary was named the defensive player of the year with Triton teammates Breanna Nolte and Jayda Long making the all-region first team.

“It’s an incredible honor to be named coach of the year, but this is a program award,” Tjebben said. “I couldn’t have done it without my amazing wife, assistant coaches and incredible players. They have all bought in and helped create what Iowa Central softball has become.

“Coaching to me is about supporting our players and helping them become the best they can be on and off the field as teammates and young adults.”

Former Newell-Fonda star and current Des Moines Area freshman Kierra Jungers was tabbed co-pitcher of the year and made the first team for the Bears.

Mischa Reiners, also a DMACC freshman, was placed on the first team with her. Reiners is the daughter of FDSH grad and ex-University of Iowa quarterback Randy Reiners.

Reagan Enright, Sydney Wilson, Kennedy Palmer, Kyra Kain and Jadeyn Stahr each made the second team from Iowa Central while Cailyn Hardy was an honorable mention selection.

Cary, a sophomore, sported a .960 fielding percentage with 91 assists and just seven errors from her shortstop position, recording 75 putouts. She also hit five home runs and eight doubles, driving in 31 runs.

Nolte led the team with a .465 batting average, 11 hoem runs, eight triples and 58 RBI. The sophomore collected 80 hits in 57 games with 69 runs scored.

Long, also a sophomore, went 21-4 with 129 strikeouts and a 2.47 earned run average inside the circle. She also hit .363 with 22 doubles, 36 RBI and 66 runs scored on the year.

Iowa Central joined the 2023 North Iowa Area squad as the only teams to finish first or second in the conference standings not named Kirkwood or DMACC since the 2013 season.

Jungers went 24-1 over 26 starts with 208 strikeouts in just over 125 innings pitched, putting together a 1.45 earned run average. She allowed just 77 hits and 26 earned runs on the year.