ICCAC SPRING PREVIEW | DIVISION II SOFTBALL
DMACC and Kirkwood have either won one of the Region XI-A or B pods since ICCAC Division II Softball split into two tournaments in 2014-15.
The two are back this year as the favorites after both heading to the NJCAA World Series for the past six seasons. Their goals go beyond just returning to the national tournament -- the Bears and Eagles have National Championship hopes in mind. DMACC has finished in third place twice in that time and Kirkwood's highest finish has been fourth.
Of the other five ICCAC Division II teams, one team has continued to make a push to dethrone the two champions. Iowa Central has made a Region XI Championship five of the last six years. The Tritons would love to get back and at least force and if necessary game, something they haven't been able to do.
Iowa Lakes was picked third in the coaches poll and twice have made the Region XI Championship including last year. They took DMACC to 10 innings before falling 4-3.
NIACC returns with a somewhat new coach. New to them, Matt Egger led Ellsworth back in 2009-12.
Speaking of Ellsworth, they were the Region XI-B runners-up last season, upsetting Iowa Central and battling Kirkwood in the championship. The Panthers hope to make it back to the championship and change their destiny.
Northeast rounds out the group -- the Hawks would like to make a run in the postseason. The last time they won a game in the regional tournament was 2017, a 15-2 win over NIACC.
NJCAA Softball begins Friday, Jan. 28! Read up on the outlook of each of the seven DII teams in the 2022 ICCAC Division II Softball Preview!
