A lightning quick start was enough to propel second ranked Clear Creek Amana to an 11-1 five inning victory over Pella in the Class 3A Softball Regional Final in Oxford last night in a game heard live on 92.1 FM KRLS ending the Lady Dutch’s hopes of advancing to their first ever State Softball Tournament.

The Clippers wasted no time exploding for seven runs off six hits including a two run homerun in the top of the first inning and led 7-0 before Pella even came to the plate. The Lady Dutch fought back in the bottom of the inning as Whitney Williams led off with a double and later scored after singles from Mandy Demeulenaere and Mackenzie Anthony but still trailed 7-1 after just one inning.

Both teams were hitless in the second and third innings but the Clippers added four more hits and two additional runs in the fourth and two hits and two more runs in the fifth to take an 11-1 lead. Fighting to stay alive the Lady Dutch got two hits from Allie Demeulenaere and Lisa Houser plus a walk to load the bases but were unable to plate a run and the game ended due to the 10 run rule.

Mandy Demeulenaere took the loss in her final game as a Lady Dutch throwing all five innings and allowing 12 hits.

Following the loss coach Krista Demeulenaere talked in length about how far the program has come in just the past four years and credited her six seniors Whitney Williams, Mandy Demeulenaere, Mackenzie Anthony, Rachel Greving, Taylor Veenstra and Lisa Houser, all of which have played big roles since eighth grade, for paving the way for the future of Pella softball. Pella ends a very successful season with a record of 20-8 that saw them win their second consecutive Little Hawkeye Conference title.