Our countdown of the top 10 moments at Pella Christian high school this school year begins at Principal Park, as the Eagles baseball team used a four-run third inning to power past Moravia 7-1 win on Tuesday, May 23rd.  

After a scoreless first inning, Pella Christian jumped on top of the Mohawks in the top of the second, when Luke Fynaardt dropped in a double over the centerfielder’s head. A Connor Van Zee single a batter later brought Fynaardt home to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Pella Christian then 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 push the Eagles lead to 5-0. 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.

Adding to the offensive outbreak was dominant pitching performances from Westerkamp and Vander Molen. Westerkamp struck out seven and walked two in three innings of no-hit baseball, while Vander Molen struck out five and allowed just two hits, two walks, and an unearned run in the final four innings. 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 went on to enjoy more success come postseason, but more on that later in the countdown.