TUCSON, ARIZ.—Reaching yet another milestone in one of college's softball's most storied coaching careers, Central College's George Wares passed the 1,100 career win mark Tuesday, the highest total in NCAA Division III history.
           
The No. 21-ranked Dutch (4-4) steamed past Rockford University (Ill.) 13-0 in five innings before dropping a 4-3 decision to the College of Saint Benedict (Minn.) at the Tucson Invitational Games. That gives Wares a 34-year record of 1,100-376-3 (.746). Wares has piloted the Dutch to 28 NCAA Division III tournament berths with 14 regional tiles and four national crowns. He was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Associations (NFCA) Hall of Fame in 2007.
           
But Wares said the game is still about the players and noted that while it was win No. 1,100 for him, he was perhaps more excited that it was collegiate win No. 1 for junior Danielle Riley (Afton, East Union HS), who toiled on the junior varsity for two seasons before getting her shot. Riley yielded three hits in five innings with three strikeouts and no walks. The Dutch juggled the lineup and the entire bench saw action.
           
"It was good for Danielle to get a game and get her comfortable," Wares said. "She hit her spots. We were able to get everybody in but we still maintained our focus and never got in any trouble."
           
Shortstop Lauren Bagby (junior, Norwalk) and center fielder Sara Tallman (sophomore, Pella) each had two hits. Bagby, third baseman Kaitlyn Andresen (sophomore, Davenport, Assumption HS) and freshman first baseman Katie Banowetz (Grand Mound, Calamus-Wheatland HS) each drove in a pair of runs.
           
Central appeared headed for another victory against St. Ben's, with a 3-0 lead after five innings. Left fielder Tabitha Taylor (senior, Grimes, Dallas Center-Grimes HS) had three hits and two RBIs. But the Blazers (9-1) struck for three runs in the sixth inning, as Central gave up a bloop two-run triple.
           
St. Ben's grabbed a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh but Central forced extra innings as right fielder Shaye Witte (sophomore, West Des Moines, Waukee HS) stretched a bloop hit into a double, then raced home when the throw to second skipped to the fence.
           
But in the eighth, Central misplayed what looked to be a spoiled double-steal attempt and the lead run scampered home from third base.
           
"It felt like we were in control," Wares said. "But to their credit, they came back and tied it. They're a good team."
           
Pitcher Mariah Fritz (junior, Tama, East Marshall HS), after cruising early, dropped to 2-2 after giving up four earned runs over 7.1 innings with a walk and two strikeouts. Pitcher Annie DeVries (senior, Eldridge, North Scott HS) retired the final two hitters.
           
"Mariah looked really good," Wares said. "They did not hit it really hard against her. We had a good game plan and she executed it. And Annie came in and did really well. Their performances were really encouraging."
           
While disappointed in a game that got away, Wares still saw much he liked.
           
"We're making some really good plays in the thinking part of the game, but yet that's what cost us today, too," he said. "We tried to make some plays we probably shouldn't have."
           
Wares termed the 1,100-win milestone "bittersweet," after the nightcap defeat.
           
"It's humbling," he said. "When you think about the totality of it, you think about all the people you've had the privilege of coaching, and coaching against."
             
When Wares began coaching at Central in 1985, he obviously wasn't thinking about 1,100 wins, he said. The Dutch program he inherited had never even produced more than 11 victories in a season, so his focus was more immediate.
           
"Nothing changes," he said. "Now we're talking about winning tomorrow. And that's probably one of the reasons we've had success. We always talk about reaching the post-season, but with the players, it's always just the next pitch.
           
"It's hard to put my mind around. It's been a lot of years but yet it seems like it's happened so quickly."
           
And, with that, he turned his attention to Hiram College (Ohio), Central's opponent at 10 a.m. (Central Time) Wednesday, followed by a noon game with Wittenberg University (Ohio). Hiram is 2-2 while Wittenberg is 1-5.