Often with rivalries, many will say throw out the records when estimating what will happen.

In Monday’s Pella and Pella Christian baseball game, as heard live on 92.1 KRLS, it was the case for the first four frames. But the Little Dutch bats found every nook and cranny in a 13-run explosion of a 5th inning to quiet the Eagles in a 17-2 Pella victory.

Pella skipper Jesse Jablonski says the hitting was contagious, and reflected a mentality he’s tried to develop with a deep Dutch lineup.

“We’ve had a few games here in the past week now where we’ve been able to smell blood in the water, and really start to take advantage of a team when we start to get them down,” Jablonski says. “That’s the kind of attitude we’re trying to instill in this team.”

It was a 4-2 game through the first four frames, with Eagles’ batters scrapping for two runs off of ace Grant Judkins, who went five innings and struck out nine. Eagles coach Nate Johnson reminded his guys after the game that one inning does not make a season, and they’ll have plenty of chances to get back on track.

“I don’t want to change a whole lot because I like this team, I like the make up of this team, and I want to stay positive with these guys,” Johnson says. “We’re going to win some games in this Little Hawkeye and surprise some people, and surprise some people down the road.”

Every Pella player knocked out a base hit in the game, and Avery Van Zee was on base all five times for Pella, Judkins was 3 for 3, and former Eagle Jaden Rolffs had a double and triple on towering fly balls to drive in three. Clay Stravers had a hit, a walk, and scored both PC runs.

Pella is 8-1 and travels to Washington tomorrow, 6-3 Pella Christian will look to rebound with a doubleheader at Norwalk Wednesday.

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