The Pella Christian softball team defeated Knoxville on the road Thursday night heard live on 95.3 KNIA.
The Eagles picked up the 9-0 win in five innings over the Panthers. The Eagles exploded for five runs in the first inning and four in the second off of Knoxville starting pitcher Mia Durham. Durham then hit her stride in the third inning shutting down the Eagles lineup in the third and fourth innings only issuing one walk and not giving up any hits or runs. In the fifth inning a hard hit single by Laurel Roozeboom fired straight at Durham hitting her in the leg and knocking her out of the game as she left with an injury.
Eagles starting pitcher Laurel Roozeboom was dominant in the game, pitching all five innings just giving up one hit which came from an Ayla Williams single in the fifth and issued two walks and recorded two strikeouts. Pella Christian recorded five total hits in the contest which came from Amia Agre, Brynn Roozeboom, Laurel Roozeboom, Maddy Van Zee, and Jessica DeVries. Brynn Roozebook recorded three RBI in the contest with the help from a two run blast in the second inning. Eagles heads coach Mindi Kacmarynski says her team is starting to play good softball at the right time and is making significant progress from last season.
“Our whole thing always is we are going to compete at each pitch so it really doesn’t change. I know that’s pretty cliche but we really do. We’re going to compete at every pitch whether that’s offensively or defensively and just continue to get better. What I love about these girls is they play with a lot of joy. They’re really for each other, our practices are super intense where they are pushing each other so I think we have great things ahead for us.”
Knoxville head coach Chris Peden says he is proud of his team for continuing to give everything they have.
“I hope that’s what these fans remember. These are 14-18 year old kids and they are giving us everything they have and for one second I don’t want anyone to think my girls aren’t giving everything they have because I know these girls really well and I know they want this. They’re showing up and they’re doing everything I ask for them in terms of their effort and their attitude. We’re going to make this click and we’re going to go on a little bit of a run here because I know that’s the type of girls these kids are.”
Pella Christian improves to 6-11 on the season and will host Des Moines Christian tonight. Knoxville falls to 1-11 and will host Centerville tonight.