A six-run deficit and six-error effort weren’t enough to keep the Pella softball team from coming back and walking off a winner Friday evening in an 11-10 victory for the Dutch over Newton, while the baseball team couldn’t overcome early mistakes and fell to the Cardinals 5-3.
A @PellaSoftball winner! The Dutch rally from six down to walk off winners vs. Newton 11-10. #iahssb @PellaActivities pic.twitter.com/WwbOpxmuLq
— Andrew Schneider (@xzono) June 4, 2022
Of the 10 Cardinals runs scored in the softball game, only one was earned as the Dutch defense struggled behind a pitching staff that gave up 12 walks. But the Pella bats came through, collecting 11 hits and rallying from down 9-3 to walk off with victory on an Ava Curry sacrifice fly RBI. Kylie Tauke, Thea Wisse, Tori Van Vark, and Ella Corbin all had a pair of hits in the batter’s box. Pella Head Coach Katie Gravert says a win like this shows how far the team has come in terms of maturity, especially from last season, and while there are mistakes to clean up, she’s excited with their ability to overcome those miscues.
Pella starts the softball season with a record of 5-3 and 1-2 in league play, and competes today in the Oskaloosa tournament against West Burlington and Mount Vernon. The Dutch baseball team falls to 7-4 overall and 1-2 in the Little Hawkeye Conference, and is off until a doubleheader Monday at home vs. Oskaloosa.