The matchup was a bit different in terms of personnel and where the teams were heading into the round of 16, but the result was the same as it was two years ago, as the No. 9 in 3A Pella baseball team earned their state baseball tournament bid in a 4-1 win over 10th-ranked Grinnell, in a substate final heard live on 92.1 KRLS.
The Dutch struck first with a two-out, two-run single by Teagan Hoesktra, which were the only two runs he would need on the mound. Pella gave up a single tally to the home team in the bottom of the frame due to a pair of errors, but the sophomore southpaw would settle in from there, giving up just four total hits and striking out six in a complete game shut out.
Isaiah Kettler returned to form at the plate, going 2-for-2 and with two walks, a run, and an RBI.
Pella makes their 5th ever state tournament appearance (1997, 2015, 2016, 2022) and opens against Heelan at the Cedar Rapids Kernels’ home stadium on Monday at 5 p.m., with live coverage beginning at 4:30 that afternoon on 92.1 KRLS.