The teams that find themselves playing in the Iowa High School State Baseball Tournament each summer are often the ones with the best pitching, and the Pella Dutch are trying to take one of the top Class 3A pitching rotations to Iowa City in a few weeks.

Pella enters the Substate playoffs with the 3rd best ERA in 3A (2.46) and 7th most strikeouts (254). The defense behind those pitchers is also in the upper part of the class at 12th best (.936). The Dutch will likely lean on their top three pitchers to push them on a deep run including Senior Ryan Mace and his 15th best in 3A ERA (1.22), Senior Mason Wittmer, who is tied for 9th in the class with 67 strikeouts, and Junior Jason Knox, whose 65 Ks are 11th most in 3A. Wittmer’s 58 innings are 2nd most among 3A pitchers as well.

But the Dutch offense may be the biggest question heading into the playoffs, as their inconsistency has cost them several games despite a 20 win season. The team is hitting .259, and their 165 runs scored is 42nd among 3A schools.

Pella opens the 2021 playoffs Friday at home vs. Bondurant-Farrar. Hear the Substate first round game live on 92.1 KRLS, with pregame at 6:45 p.m.