Eagles prevail in 11-innings over S. Tama

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June 26, 2009

By Perry Bell

It took 11 innings, but finally the Pella Christian Eagles prevailed over South Tama in Little Hawkeye Conference Softball action June 18 in Tama.

“We started slow and South Tama played well. They made great defensive plays all night on us,” stated PC Coach Kevin Van Maanen.

“Our girls, however, battled back and showed some great toughness down the stretch,” Van Maanen said.

PC pitcher Paige Blom worked all 11-innings to collect the pitching win as the Eagles won 6-4.

Blom allowed the Trojans just four hits and four runs, none of them were earned. Blom fanned 17 and walked four in the contest.

The Trojans scored in the bottom of the first for a 1-0 advantage. They held that position until PC scored two runs in the top of the fifth.

Heather Van Sant hit a single and Morgan Blom walked. Both were driven in by Cayla Collins with a two-RBI single.

The Trojans fell behind 4-1 as PC added two more runs in the top of the sixth as Ashley Van Kooten and Van Sant each had RBI singles.

South Tama charged right back into contention in the bottom of the sixth with three runs for a 4-4 tie, helped by a PC error.

Neither team scored the next four innings.

In the top of the 11th, the Eagles scored what proved to be the winning runs on foru singles, one each by Tayler Stursma, Van Kooten, Morgan Blom and Shelby Weaver.

The Trojans had a leadoff single in the bottom of the 11th before Blom fanned two of the next three hitters to end the game.

The Eagle record improved to 8-1 in the league and to 16-3 overall.