What started out as a pitcher’s duel, quickly became a slugfest in the Class 2A regional softball tournament at Pella Christian last night. After the dust settled, Van Meter upset the Eagles in eight innings, 9 – 8. Emma Schnell allowed just one hit through four innings and struck out seven, but ran into big trouble with her team up 1 – 0 in the fifth. Six consecutive singles began the Bulldogs’ frame, and they wound up scoring six runs. The Eagles twice came back from big, late deficits, getting back to within one in the fifth, fueled by a two-run bomb from Brooke Mitrisin, and then they tied the game in the sixth at eight each. Coach Karen Harrill says she was proud of the resiliency of her young team. Mitrisin went 3-for-5 at the plate with three runs driven in, and Courtney Johannes was 2-for-4. Pella Christian ends their season with a 22 – 10 record, and they lose just two seniors: Tessa Howerzyl and Abby Pleima.