In the first of two Tulip City Showdowns between the Pella and Pella Christian baseball squads this summer, it was Dutch who came out on top of the close contest 4-2, as heard live on the KRLS3 stream at KNIAKRLS.com on Monday night.
After starting pitchers Keegan Hanson and Micah DeHaan each worked out of trouble in the first inning to keep the game scoreless, Pella would strike first for two runs in the bottom of the second. Tate Weesner grounded into a bases-loaded fielder’s choice to score Cole Hillman to get the scoring started for the Dutch, before Caleb Stewart scored off an Eagles error to put Pella up 2-0. Pella Christian would respond in the top of the third inning after a double by Lincoln Vander Molen scored Corbin Westerkamp, who led off the inning with a single and a stolen base. Westerkamp would then even the score in the fifth inning, reaching on a dropped third strike, advancing to second on an error on a pickoff attempt, and scoring on a Caleb Van Arendonk double.
The Dutch recaptured the lead a 3-2 lead on a bases loaded single by Weesner that brought Jason Knox home and Gage Gift scored to add an issuance run on an error. Not going down without a fight, Pella Christian loaded the bases on a walk, single, and hit by pitch in the top of the seventh but Cole Hillman battled back to strike out the next three Eagles batters to end the game. Pella Head Coach Jesse Jablonski said the hard-fought rivalry win provides his squad with momentum going into a busy five game week.
“It’s a momentum building thing, and we actually talked about it after the game down there. You know, baseball itself is a game of momentum within each inning, but also day to day. And you know, we struggled last week. We had a rough week last week and those things happen during the season. So, to come out and start the week on a high note is a great thing.”
Pella improved to 10-7 overall and 4-5 in Little Hawkeye Conference play with the win, while Pella Christian fell to 4-9 overall and 1-7 in league play. The Dutch will be back in action tonight at Fairfield with first pitch slated for 7:30 p.m. The Eagles have tonight off ahead of hosting a doubleheader against Norwalk, who they defeated 5-2 in extra innings on May 23rd, on Wednesday.