Photo Courtesy of Lisa K. Morgan Photography

The Pella Christian baseball team cemented their spot in the Class 2A Substate 6 final with a dominant 16-1 run-rule victory over Central Decatur that was heard live on 92.1 KRLS Saturday night.

The Eagles jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, after Lincoln Vander Molen walked and then scored on a Caleb Van Arendonk triple. Corbin Westerkamp followed that up by striking out the Cardinals’ top three hitters looking in the bottom of the frame. Keeping the bats rolling, Pella Christian sent 10 hitters to the plate in the second inning, scoring six runs to pull ahead 7-0. Central Decatur finally got on the scoreboard with a single run in the third inning, but Saturday night belonged to the Eagles. In the top of the fifth, Pella Christian poured it on by batting around a second time, with 13 hitters pushing across nine runs to extend the lead to 16-1. Vander Molen made quick work of the Cardinals in the bottom of the fifth to give the Eagles the blowout win.

All nine players in the Pella Christian lineup reached base safely and scored a run in the victory. Leading the offensive outburst for the Eagles was Van Arendonk, who went 3-for-4 with a triple, a double, and five RBIs. Westerkamp struck out six in 2.2 innings pitched to record the win, while allowing just one run on two hits and four walks. Vander Molen finished off the win on the bump by throwing a perfect 2.1 innings of relief, as Pella Christian improved to 17-16 overall on the season.

The Eagles will take on four-time defending Class 2A State Champion Van Meter at Ankeny High School on Tuesday for a spot in the State Tournament, and the game will be broadcast live on 92.1 KRLS.