The dream for this “Dutch Dozen” of the seniors for the Pella baseball team was to play for a state championship. That opportunity now awaits them just after the rain started pouring from the Sioux City sky in the bottom of the 7th inning.

The Dutch defeated Bishop Heelan with a walk-off throwing error with two outs in a 3-2 state semifinals matchup heard live on 92.1 KRLS.

Pella got the scoring started all the way back in the bottom of the first, with Lake Cowman driving in a run. The Dutch held off the Crusaders, stranding six runners in the next five innings, which included several spectacular plays in the outfield, including by the aforementioned Cowman.

However, two costly errors in the 6th inning quickly led to an infield single that drove in two runs in the top of the 6th to give the #3 Heelan team their first lead.

Pella’s seniors stayed the course in the bottom of the inning, which started with a lead-off double by Lucas Jablonski. It was followed up by a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Nathan Vande Lune. Samuel Carlson and Landyn Bethards both struck out, getting Pella down to their final out.

Anderson Schirm had the final say in tying the game with an RBI single that followed. With Isaiah Kettler at the plate for the chance to win, Heelan attempted to throw out a runner that was advancing on a wild pitch. It sailed into left field, and placed the Dutch into the finals.

Hear from the Pella baseball players about the wild win on Today’s Lely Radio Sports Page. The 2025 3A state championship game will be held against #1 Wahlert on Friday at noon. Hear live coverage at 11:30 a.m. on 92.1 KRLS.