Pella scored five runs in the first inning and cruised to a 11-1 five inning non-conference home victory over Chariton last night in baseball.

Jaden Rolffs’ infield single brought in Avery Van Zee to start the scoring, then Rolffs moved around to score on a passed ball and a balk. Ben Akers was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 3-0, and Gabe Thomas’ two-run single completed the first inning onslaught.

The Little Dutch tacked on three more in the second on two-run hit by Joel Ruiter and an RBI single by freshman Noah Van Vark – his first career hit.

Akers, a sophomore, was making his first career start on the mound and earned the win for Pella. He allowed one run on four hits while walking one and striking out one.

The Little Dutch improve to 3-2 on the season, and will play their third and fourth games in three nights when they travel to Indianola tonight for a Little Hawkeye Conference doubleheader at 5:30. Trevor Castle will be there to call the action of game two live on 92.1 KRLS, with first pitch scheduled for approximately 7:30.

Pella’s softball team will also play a doubleheader at Indianola starting at 6:00.

Pella Christian’s softball team has the night off, but the baseball team will play a doubleheader at Norwalk at 5:30.