The Pella Christian Eagles baseball team battled back-and-forth with Colfax-Mingo, before falling 3-2 in their Class 2A District 12 opener Saturday evening in Albia. The Tiger-Hawks took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, when Conner Hainer scored from third on a throw to first after a strikeout. In the fourth inning, Colfax-Mingo extended their lead to 2-0 on a Jacob Buerher sacrifice fly that scored Austin Yoakum. The Eagles stayed in the ballgame, thanks to defense and effective pitching from junior hurler Andrew VanderHart. VanderHart matched innings with the winning pitcher, Jake Alexander, as both tossed complete games. A two-run double by Caleb Morgan in the home half of the fifth tied the contest, and temporarily took VanderHart off the hook for the loss. Unfortunately, the deciding run was scored just a half inning later, when the Tiger-Hawks pushed across a third run. Pella Christian had the bases loaded with two outs in the seventh, but failed to score the game tying run. Emery Stewart, who filled in for head coach, Nate Johnson, talks about the team’s effort. The loss ends the Eagles season with a 14-17 record, while the Tigerhawks improve to 18-18. Colfax-Mingo will face Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont on Tuesday night in the Class 2A District 12 semi-finals in Albia.