Pella Christian Boys Golf Claims 6th Place at Class 2A State Tournament

The Class 2A #7 ranked Pella Christian boys golf team concluded a fantastic spring by claiming sixth place at the State Tournament in Ames Tuesday afternoon with a two-day team score of 646.

Eliot Menninga was the Eagles top finisher at Coldwater Golf Links, tying for 21st place with an 80-76—156. Cooper Spronk finished just one stroke back of Menninga in the tournament with an 81-76—157 to finish in a tie for 23rd. Isaiah Breems carded an 80-83—163 to tie for 28th, Dane Geetings finished in 40th with an 85-85—170, and Landon Fransman and Deacon Branderhorst tied for 52nd while posting identical scores of 92-88—180.

Find full results from the Class 2A State Boys Golf Meet here. The boys golf squad became Pella Christian’s seventh team to claim a top ten finish in their respective sport this year. The Eagles have a great chance of returning to State next year with all six varsity players set to be back next season.

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Eagles Girls Soccer Season Comes to an End in the Regional Semifinals

In a regional semifinal match between two of Class 1A’s highest-powered offenses, the #14 ranked Pella Christian girls soccer team’s season came to an end against #13 ranked Panorama in a 5-4 loss Tuesday night.

Grabbing the early momentum, Panorama scored the first two goals in the fifth and 24th minutes. The Eagles responded in the 26th minute with Joslyn Terpstra’s 38th goal of the season, making the score 2-1 which held into halftime. The Panthers pushed their lead to 3-1 in the 42nd minute, but Pella Christian answered four minutes later with Esther Ford’s tenth goal of the year and Terpstra’s 24th assist. After Panorama added their fourth goal in the 51st minute, Terpstra added her 39th goal of the season in the 58th minute. Terpstra would secure the hat trick and goal #40 on the spring in the 67th minute, but the Panthers fifth goal in the 65th minute proved to be the difference as Pella Christian’s season came to an end.

The Eagles end the year with a 11-6-1 record, and say goodbye to five seniors in Terpstra, Jenna Edel, Anna Eveland, Leah Osborn, and Metje Michmershuizen.

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Big Third Inning Propels Pella Christian Baseball to Victory at Principal Park

In a game heard live on 92.1 KRLS, a four-run third inning powered the Pella Christian baseball team to a 7-1 win over Moravia at Principal Park in Des Moines Tuesday evening. 

After a scoreless first inning, the Eagles jumped on top of the Mohawks in the top of the second. Luke Fynaardt dropped in a double over the centerfielder’s head for his first hit of the season, and Connor Van Zee brought Fynaardt home with a single for his first base knock of the year. Pella Christian broke the game open in the top of the third frame, as Johnson Morgan beat out an infield single and Corbin Westerkamp blasted a two-run inside-the-park home run to center field. After a Lincoln Vander Molen single and Caleb Van Arendonk walk, Trevor Veenstra brought both home with a triple to give the Eagles a 5-0 lead. Fynaardt added an insurance run in the fifth inning for Pella Christian with a bases loaded single, before Grant Kelderman drew a bases loaded walk to wrap up the scoring for the Eagles.

Equally as dominant for Pella Christian was the pitching performances from Westerkamp and Vander Molen. Westerkamp threw three innings of no-hit baseball, striking out seven and walking two. Vander Molen threw the final four innings, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out five and giving up an unearned run. Both seniors said after the game that it was a fun experience getting to play on the big stage of Principal Park.

Westerkamp: “It was so fun pitching up on the mound. The experience pitching here was unreal, and to top that off and inside the park home run it. It was super fun.”

Vander Molen: “Yeah, the experience is obviously amazing here at Principal Park, being able to play at a minor league stadium. And just being on the mound is just a great feeling and yeah, just a great experience.”

The Pella Christian baseball team improved to 2-2 on the season and are back in action tonight against Pleasantville at 5 p.m. The Eagles softball team also hosts Pleasantville tonight and the softball game can be heard live on 92.1 KRLS beginning with pregame coverage at 7:00 p.m.

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State Soccer Berth on the Line for the Pella Christian Boys Tonight

A spot in the Class 1A State Tournament is up for grabs tonight for the #14 ranked and top-seeded Pella Christian boys soccer team, as they host second-seeded West Branch in the Substate Championship.

Tonight’s contest between the Eagles and Bears will be the first time the two schools have met in the Bound era. Pella Christian and West Branch share one common opponent on the season in Sigourney. The Eagles faced off against the Cobras on April 27th and dominated the matchup for a 7-0 win. The Bears faced Sigourney in both the regular season on May 2nd and the postseason on Monday night and earned 5-0 and 6-0 wins. 

The Class 1A Substate Championship boys soccer game on Eagle Lane between Pella Christian and West Branch begins tonight at 7 p.m.