Blom Playing in Final Four of 1A Tennis Singles Tournament
In her 3rd individual state tournament experience, Pella’s Emily Blom wanted to improve on her 2021 and 2022 finishes. Well, mission accomplished. The Dutch junior defeated Kenna Mongan of Cherokee 6-4, 6-4, and Ali Schuchmann of Xavier 6-2, 6-3, to advance to the Class 1A singles tennis semifinals. Blom, the four seed, placed 6th last year — and is in a rematch of the 5th place match from 2022 against top-seeded Sophia Fain of Waterloo Columbus today. Fain defeated Blom 6-2, 6-3 in that matchup on May 28th, 2022.
Lyons Places in Top 20 at State Girls Golf
In a repeat appearance at the 3A state girls golf meet, Karsyn Lyons finished in the top 20 of the field in Cedar Falls. The sophomore shot 171 over the two day tournament to finish in a tie for 18th in the 2023 tournament. Last year, Lyons finished in a tie for 28th.
Pella Softball Charges from Down Six to Win in Extra Innings
A furious comeback in the final innings kept Pella out of the loss column Friday, as the Dutch softball team toppled Grand View Christian 9-8 Friday night in the opening broadcast of the summer on 92.1 KRLS. Defensive miscues put the Dutch in danger early, giving up seven runs, due in part to three errors in the first two innings. Throughout the game, the Dutch left the bases loaded three times as well. But, Pella’s bats kept going, and a two-run home run by Katie Scheckel in the 5th flipped the momentum. Pella scored two more runs in the 6th, before Grand View Christian’s Kelly DeMeulenaere finally cracked the puzzle of Saige DeJong with a long home run in the 7th. The Dutch answered again in a wild bottom of the 7th that featured errors from both teams, and a wild pitch allowed the tying run to score and force an extra inning. Elah Heimstra had the team’s fourth hit in the 8th inning, driving in Scheckel for the game winning RBI. DeJong was brilliant in relief for the Dutch in the circle, going 6 and 2/3 innings and giving up just one run with five strikeouts. Scheckel finished 3-for-4 with the HR and four runs batted in, Ava Curry and Katie Pollock each scored three times. Pella competes in a softball triangular with Lynnville-Sully and North Polk today.
Dutch Baseball Bats Quiet in Johnston
Pella’s offense could not shake Johnston’s pitching as the baseball team fell 7-0 on the road Friday. The Dutch just mustered three hits in the game and six total baserunners. Johnston touched the Dutch defense for three runs in the first inning, due in part to some Pella miscues, and the Dragons added four more runs in the middle innings. Pella falls to 3-4 and next heads to Gilbert Tuesday.