The Pella Christian softball team won their first Little Hawkeye Conference season series since 2023 on Monday night after sweeping Newton in a doubleheader. Following an 8-1 triumph in the first game of the twinbill, the Eagles won a thrilling 6-5 victory in the nightcap. The second game was broadcast live on 92.1 KRLS.
Leileigh Hammons of the Cardinals hit a single home run to start the third inning after the first two innings were scoreless, but it was all Pella Christian after that. After Jessa DeVries was plated by a single from Faith Kacmarynski in the bottom of the third to square the score at one, Chloe Snyder’s three-run homer put the Eagles ahead 4-1. After the fifth inning, Pella Christian continued to increase the lead when Laurel Roozeboom drew a bases-loaded walk and Maddy Van Zee added a sacrifice fly to score Rachel Kacmarynski and Ani Bell, bringing the score to 6-1. In the sixth, Faith Kacmarynski doubled home Rachel Kacmarynski and Brynn Runner to give the Eagles the victory. Roozeboom pitched a complete game one-hitter, giving up just one run and one walk, earning Pella Christian the victory in the circle.
The Eagles and Newton engaged in a back-and-forth game in the nightcap. In the top of the first, Hammonds gave the Cardinals another early lead with an RBI single, but Pella Christian responded in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single from Amaia Agre. In the top of the second inning, Newton broke the 1-1 deadlock by scoring two runs, one from a steal by Mack Sims and the other from an error by Emerson Ray, the batsman. After Faith drew a bases-loaded walk and Addison Bandstra and Brynn Runner recorded RBI singles, the Eagles promptly responded with three runs in the bottom of the second. When Brooklynn Britton stole home in the third inning, the Cardinals tied the score at 4-4, and the tie lasted for the following three innings. With two outs remaining in the bottom of the sixth, Faith Kacmarynski ultimately broke the tie with a two-run RBI double to right-center field, giving Pella Christian a 6-4 lead. Viana Vasseau hit a solo home run to left field with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, but the Eagles ended the rally with a fly out on the next hitter to guarantee the sweep. Newton didn’t go away quietly.
The Eagles’ offense was led by Faith Kacmarynski, who went 4-7 with two doubles and six RBIs, while Rachel Kacmarnski finished 3-5 with three runs scored. The only Cardinal with more than one hit that evening was Lexi Frehse, who went 2-3 with an RBI. In the second game, Van Zee won the circle for Pella Christian, while Newton lost to Paige Benson and Hammons.
On Wednesday, the Eagles softball team will play their first conference game at Norwalk at 7:30 p.m. Live coverage will be available on 92.1 KRLS starting at 7 p.m. The KRLS2 broadcast will begin live coverage at 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday when the Cardinals return to the Tulip City for a single conference game in Pella at 7:30 p.m.
