The stretch run of the 2024 season begins as postseason brackets are announced, and the Dutch and Eagles summer teams will clash one more time Monday at Pella High School.

Pella’s baseball team (18-7 overall, 12-4 in the Little Hawkeye Conference) put together arguably their best week of the year so far, going 5-1 over the last seven days, with the lone loss coming to #3 in 4A Dallas Center-Grimes 1-0. A win over the Eagles (12-16 overall, 3-11 in LHC) would lock up 2nd place in the conference and give the Dutch one of their last chances to improve their district baseball standing before brackets are released on Thursday.

Pella Christian will try to steady their record against their crosstown rivals after an up-and-down roller coaster last week that ended with a split at Newton. The Eagles were competitive in particular in game two of the doubleheader against the Dutch on June 7th, but fell late in that contest. P.C. will try to capture a win in a series they are behind in 11-3 since the 2020 season. Eagles Head Coach Chris Fynaardt knows they have to be at their best for a chance to pull off the late-season upset.

“Honestly, it’s going to take an effort against an Indianola or a DCG, Pella is playing outstanding right now. Pitching is on point, they’re getting timely hits, walk off games. It’s going to be a tough game, we’re up for the challenge obviously, and it’s always fun just playing them in the rivalry. The kids all know each other, but it’s going to take a top effort from us to get a win there.”

On the other diamond at Pella Middle School, the Eagles (1-20 overall, 0-14 in the LHC) are upset-minded and seeking their first conference win, despite several spirited efforts during the 2nd rotation of league play. No. 14 in 4A Pella (16-10, 9-7 in the conference) is trying to stack up wins of their own to try and stay in the top 15 for a potential first round bye, having already captured the most wins the program has tallied since 2018 (17).

Coverage of Pella vs. Pella Christian baseball begins at 7:00 Monday evening on 92.1 KRLS; Softball is live on the KRLS3 stream at 6:45, and both can be found on Pella Dutch Live.