CEDAR RAPIDS Iowa - The Coe College softball team, which earned the A-R-C's AQ in the 2021 season, was selected as co-favorite in the 2022 American Rivers Conference Softball Coaches' Preseason Poll. The poll, announced on Tuesday afternoon, was tight at the top with Coe and Wartburg earning 57 points each while Luther picked up 51 points for third. Head coach Diane Meyer returns six all-conference performers from 2021 including A-R-C pitcher of the year Ellie Thurow and all-region catcher Skyler Stookey. The pair will lead a veteran core that looks to return to the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight season after going 1-2 last season, defeating MSOE in Waverly. Central College (45) and Nebraska Wesleyan (33) were selected fourth and fifth in the poll ahead of Dubuque (26), Buena Vista (23), Simpson (22) and Loras (10) in ninth position. 
 
The Kohawks, who racked up a 25-15 record in 2021, open the '22 campaign at the DIII Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Georgia on March 4, 5 and 6. Coe will play six games in three days, taking on Manhattanville College, last season's national runner-up, Texas Lutheran University, Linfield University, St. John Fisher College, East Texas Baptist University and Pomona-Pitzer. Coe then returns to action for its annual spring break trip, playing 10 games in Orlando, Florida during the week of March 13-19.
 
A Bremner Cup doubleheader awaits Coe when it returns home from Florida, hosting rival Cornell on March 23 at Clark Field in its home-opener. The Kohawks then hit the road for a pair of doubleheaders against MIllikin and Illinois Wesleyan on March 26 and 27 before wrapping up non-conference play with a doubleheader against Grinnell at home on March 30. 
 
Coe kicks off conference action with a pair of road doubleheaders, taking on Luther (4/2) and Buena Vista (4/5) before its first home series with fellow co-favorite Wartburg (4/9). Coe hits the road once again for its next series, taking on the University of Dubuque (4/13) prior to three-straight home series against Simpson (4/16), Loras (4/19) and Nebraska Wesleyan (4/23). The reigning A-R-C champs will then end the regular season with a road matchup against Central (4/30) ahead of the A-R-C Tournament on May 6 and 7. The NCAA Championships will begin with the Regional Championships from May 12-15 with the Super Regionals (5/20 & 5/21) and NCAA Championships (5/26-5/31) to follow. 
 
A-R-C RELEASE
 
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