A decisive conference win
The Pella Dutch emerged victorious on Wednesday with a 5-3 result against Newton, improving their conference standing and extending a positive momentum heading into the weekend.
Four defensive miscues by Newton proved costly, allowing the Dutch to manufacture runs in the third, fifth, sixth and seventh innings. The early third‑inning rally stemmed from two successive errors that set up a scoring opportunity.
Cole Thorson delivered a pivotal RBI that shifted the balance in Pella’s favor, while Colt Koeppen handled the bulk of the pitching workload, throwing six solid innings before handing the ball to Brayden VanHorn for the final three outs.
Both squads managed six hits apiece, but only one of Newton’s runs was earned, whereas the Dutch recorded two earned runs. The defensive effort underscored the importance of limiting unearned damage.
Looking ahead, the teams are slated to meet again in conference doubleheaders on Friday. Pella will travel to face Norwalk, while Newton heads to Oskaloosa for their next matchups.
The win lifts Pella to a 3-10 conference record and a 5-14 overall tally, while Newton sits at 10-11 overall with a 5-8 conference mark. Both clubs will look to build on their recent performances as the season progresses.