Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Ben Van Wyngarden across Baseball, Soccer, Basketball.
Despite a 4‑29 record, the senior class of Pella Christian baseball left an indelible mark through leadership, attitude, and the culture they built for future teams.
Several KNIA/KRLS area athletes earned All‑District baseball honors in 2026, recognized by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association.
The Eagles' season concluded with a 10‑0 loss to Central Lee, ending a challenging year for the program.
The Pella Christian baseball team ended a month-long losing streak, defeating Davis County 7-6 in the opening round of Class 2A Substate 5, highlighted by strong performances from Blake Nikkel, Ben Van Wyngarden and Karson Harrill.
The Pella Christian softball team rolled past Sigourney with a 9‑1 victory, while the baseball squad fell 21‑2 to West Marshall. Key players shone, and both teams have upcoming contests.
The Pella Christian baseball team fell 12‑6 to Grand View Christian after a back‑and‑forth game, highlighted by strong performances from Ben Van Wyngarden and Garrett Wielard, and will close the regular season tonight against West Marshall.
The Pella Christian softball team completed a season sweep of Oskaloosa with 9‑8 and 10‑2 wins, while the baseball squad dropped both games, leaving both programs with new challenges ahead.
The Knoxville baseball team rolled past Pella Christian 14-0, highlighted by a six-run burst from the first six batters and a three-run homer from Jessen Ferguson.
Norwalk defeated Pella Christian 15-3, with Jaxon Howe striking out seven and multiple players delivering multiple hits, setting up a key stretch of games.
The baseball team lost 7‑3 to Indianola, while the softball squad led 7‑3 before lightning forced a cancellation. Key performances and the rescheduled game are detailed below.
The Pella Christian boys soccer team secured a 1-0 victory over Burlington Notre Dame in the Class 1A Substate Five Championship, earning their first State Tournament bid since 2016. Senior Ben Van Wyngarden converted a penalty kick, and coach Mike Vander Molen praised the defensive effort.
The standout high school guard will join the Defenders next season after a two‑year varsity run that featured 199 points and a team‑leading 1.8 steals per game.