Friday night, the Pella and Norwalk baseball teams played a doubleheader in the Little Hawkeye Conference. The Class 3A #2 Dutch won the first game 8-3, while the Warriors won the nightcap, which was broadcast live on the KNIA3 stream, 2-0.
In the first game, Norwalk answered with their only three runs in the top of the second inning to grab a 3-1 lead after Pella got out to an early lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning. The Dutch came back to take the lead in the fourth inning, scoring six runs to take a 7-3 lead. They then added an insurance run in the sixth inning to win 8-3. In the Dutch opener, Isaiah Kettler went 3-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, Lake Cowman was 2-4 with three RBIs and a run scored, and Anderson Schirm was a perfect 4-4 with an RBI at the plate. In the opening game, Colton Moore had two walks and the other RBI, while Cole Wardlow led the Warriors’ offense with 1-3 and two RBIs. Teagan Hoekstra earned the save after striking out three in the last two innings, while Samuel Carlson recorded the victory for Pella on the mound with seven strikeouts over five innings. In 3.2 innings pitched, Wardlow gave up six unearned runs on seven hits and struck out three in Norwalk’s first-game defeat.
Both offenses had trouble getting anything going in the nightcap, but Norwalk managed to pull off the upset with just enough effort. The Warriors had runners on the corners in the top of the fourth inning after three scoreless innings. On a Dutch throwing mistake, Norwalk scored their first run. Later in the inning, they added the game’s last run on an RBI double. Despite having opportunities to respond, Pella left 11 baserunners stranded during the game, including seven after the Warriors seized the lead. Eli Benschoter, who struck out five in 3.2 innings of relief work and batted in the go-ahead run and insurance run in the fourth, guided Norwalk to the unexpected victory. In game two, Briley Purcell started for the Warriors and helped Norwalk advance to 11-9 overall and 8-5 in the conference by striking out four batters in 3.1 innings. Cowman went 2-4 with two doubles in the nightcap, leading the Dutch attack. With five strikeouts in six innings pitched and only two unearned runs allowed, Hayes Lautenbach took the loss for Pella in game two, helping the Dutch climb to 17-5 overall and 11-4 in the conference.
The third and final Tulip City Showdown battle between the Dutch and Pella Christian is scheduled on Monday. 92.1 KRLS will broadcast the game live. On Monday, the Warriors will return to the diamond when they play Oskaloosa, a match that will be broadcast live on the KNIA3 stream.
