Published: July 17, 2008 05:56 pm            

Carlisle ends Pella's season

The Pella High baseball team ended its season Monday night with a 6-0 loss to No. 5 ranked Carlisle in the Class 3A District Championship Game played at Pella High.

Carlisle's roster lists 14 seniors and 11 juniors, and their overall talent was too much for the Little Dutch. Pella had been playing good baseball the last two weeks, but, in many ways this game was reflective of Pella's season.

Pella's starting pitcher was Alex Hardine, and after giving up two runs in the bottom of the first inning, he settled down to pitch solid baseball. The two Carlisle runs were the result of a two-run home run to deep center by Mikey Henrichs.

The Dutch likely would have lost the game by the initial 2-0 deficit had three errors in the third, one error in the fourth, and one more in the sixth inning not been figured in.

The Little Dutch errors led to Carlisle's remaining runs. That being said, Pella could never get their bats going, and ended up with only three hits on the night against Carlisle pitcher Ben Rector, who struck out 10 Pella batters.

Hardine pitched the first five innings for Pella and was relieved by Brock Pope in the sixth. Tyler Knight had two hits for Pella, while Brett Braafhart had one hit.

Pella will lose nine seniors from the team, most of them participated in Pella High baseball for five years.

The list of seniors includes outfielders Brett Braafhart and Brent Beerends, center fielder and pitcher Brandon Estabrook, third baseman Chase Estabrook, shortstop and pitcher Brock Pope, second baseman and pitcher Tyler Knight, first baseman Nate Klyn, third baseman and designated hitter Chris Brown, and designated hitter Robb Way.

Three year starter Luke McMartin moved to Wis., with his family prior to the season.

These players are the largest group of Pella baseball seniors in many years, and their participation kept the baseball program going when numbers were low.

Their accomplishments this year included beating Knoxville and winning a district tournament game, neither of which had been accomplished by the Little Dutch for a number of years.

Odds and Ends

Pella finishes the season with an overall record of 4-23. Carlisle moves on down the tournament trail with a mark of 27-7.

        

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