Starting out the season 8 – 3, the Pella High softball team has hit a bit of a slide over the past week. They’ve dropped three straight, with losses to No. 2-ranked Pella Christian, Centerville, and Knoxville, all by a combined five runs. Winning, of course, being a goal each game, Coach Krista DeMeulenaere says the growth of her still young team is the primary focus when they take the field. DeMeulenaere adds that the end goal is to be playing the best softball they can by July 8-9 when the regional tournaments begin. She also says the margin for error is small right now, as it has been just a few plays each game that have been the difference between winning and losing. The Lady Dutch get back at it tonight at Norwalk for a varsity-only doubleheader.