Mackenzie Anthony delivered an RBI single in the top of the sixth inning to score Lisa Hauser, and Pella claimed a 1-0 victory over Centerville Saturday night in the opening round of the class 3A Region 7 softball tournament. Houser led off the sixth with an infield single and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mandy DeMeulenaere before Anthony ripped the game winning base hit to left.

Pella’s first postseason victory since 2002 wasn’t secured until DeMeulenaere gloved a line smash off the bat of Redette 3B Danyielle Barger with a runner at third and two outs in the bottom of the seventh. The junior right hander went all seven innings in the circle, allowing six hits and a walk while striking out one.

The biggest jam of the game came in the fourth when the Lady Dutch defense committed three errors to put runners at second and third with one out. DeMeulenaere responded by forcing a pair of ground ball outs. In the fifth, Centerville had a runner at third with one out, but DeMeulenaere worked out of trouble again with a ground ball and fly ball to end the inning.

Pella improves to 20-9, and will play Monday in Fairfield against Keokuk in the regional semifinal. You can hear live coverage of the game on 92.1 FM KRLS and kniakrls.com starting with the pre game at 6:45pm and first pitch at 7pm Monday night.