Image by Lafayette College Athletics of Kinzi Van Wyk
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Several recent Tulip City high school softball alumni have been playing a big part of their teams at the collegiate level. A 2018 Pella High School graduate has been featured heavily at the Division I level in softball. Kinzi Van Wyk has pitched a team leading 53 ⅓ innings for Lafayette College. Van Wyk has won both games in the circle so far for the Leopards as the team’s ace.

Both Dordt and Northwestern finished their spring trips recently, and begin play in Iowa today as they clash in Sioux Center. From those teams, Pella Christian 2017 graduates Emma Schnell and Natalis Vos remain key contributors. Schnell is the ace of the Red Raiders staff, compiling 50 ⅔ innings and 31 strikeouts with a 2.76 ERA and 5-5 win-loss record; Vos has started five games for the Defenders, going 3-3 overall with a 2.97 ERA in 37 ⅔ innings and 26 strikeouts. Vos and her .290 batting average also leads Dordt.

Down south, former Eagles all-state catcher Lizzy Van Manen (man-en) has had a sensational sophomore season for the 15-7 Northeast Mississippi Community College Tigers. Van Manen is batting .500, with 36 hits in 72 at bats, 18 extra base hits, including seven home runs, with 25 runs scored and 24 RBI in 22 games.