In a game that lived up to its billing, the 7th ranked Knoxville Baseball Squad came from behind to defeat Pella in the class 3A substate semifinal 4-2. The Dutch hit the scoreboard first in the 2nd inning with two runs as Nathan Carey and Joe Bokhoven scored to make it 2-0. It would stay that way until the 4th inning when Trey Wight was walked and that scored Dakota Ramsey to make it 2-1. The Panthers would take the lead in the 5th when Luke Spaur hit a single to drive in a run to make it 3-2 Panthers.

Coach Turner Devore told KNIA/KRLS Sports Spaur’s hit was huge, and he finally hit to where he is most successful.
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Devore: Luke Spaur we’ve been telling him just hit the ball, just hit the ball between second and short, then Trenton got that hit, and Beau has his best at bat of his career, Koby getting that double, wish the fences were a little higher, that might have scores more runs.”

Koby Higginbotham drove home the insurance run with a ground rule double to score Trenton Kingery. Pella Coach Jessee Jablonski felt like they gave Knoxville too many free baserunners and could not get the little things done needed to upset a ranked foe in the postseason.

Jablonski: “I just hurt for our guys, they just poured so much into the season. I was confident with our guys and Nathan on the mound, but it just wasn’t our night.”

Joe Bokhoven went 2/3 with a double and RBI and Tate Weesner was 1/3 with a double and RBI. For Knoxville, Kingery was 3/4 with a double. Kingery earned the win in relief going four innings allowing no runs on just one hit, and striking out eight. Pella ends its season at 20-15 while Knoxville is now 34-3 and will host Ballard on Wednesday in the class 3A substate final.