The Pella Christian baseball team advanced to the Substate 6 semifinals on Tuesday night and will take on top-seeded and Class 2A #2 Des Moines Christian in Urbandale on Saturday.

The Lions won a share of the West Central Conference this season with 19-1 record, finishing in a tie with Van Meter for the top spot. Des Moines Christian entered postseason play with a 29-4 overall mark on the season, which featured a 20-game winning streak from June 6th through July 1st. After Pella Christian secured their spot in the semifinals with a 6-0 over Albia Tuesday night, the Lions defeated PCM 11-1 in five innings to set up a rematch with the Eagles. Des Moines Christian previously defeated Pella Christian 10-0 on May 24th.

The Lions are led by seniors Ty Andrews and Jack Schmaltz, who rank in the top five of four stat categories in Class 2A this season. Andrews leads the class in doubles with 17, is tied for second in home runs with five, and is third in walks drawn with 32. Schmaltz is fifth in 2A with 38 RBIs on the season, which sits just four back of New Hampton’s Braden McShane’s class-leading 42 RBIs. As a team, Des Moines Christian leads the class in stolen bases (164) and is tied for the most home runs (11). The Lions also rank second in RBIs (250), runs scored (322), and doubles (69). 

Coverage of the Class 2A Substate 6 semifinal game at Des Moines Christian High School Saturday night between Pella Christian and the Lions begins at 6:30 pm on 92.1 KRLS.