Indians Baseball Claims Big Win Over Pella
by Jamie Brockman
Oskaloosa’s bats came alive in a big way Wednesday night taking advantage of Pella pitching as the Indians cruised to a 13-1 win over Pella in five innings. The game was heard live on Osky News Live powered by Thunder Country KIIC.
Pella started strong scoring a run on two first-inning hits, a single by Gabe Thomas and a double from Nick Dejong, but the Indians answered in a big way in the bottom of the first inning scoring five runs, teeing off on Pella starting pitcher Ryan Mace.
Oskaloosa pounded five hits, including two-run home runs from Rian Yates and Noah Van Veldhuizen. Wyatt Krier got things going with a single, followed by Yates homerun to center field. Cole Karber and Tyler Miller each singled before Colton Butler flew out to deep center field for the first out. Van Veldhuizen then went out of the park to left field before the next two batters were retired giving Oskaloosa a 5-1 lead after one inning.
The Indians weren’t done as they batted around the order in the second inning scoring five more runs on four hits. Will Schultz reached base on an error to start the inning, then Krier singled, and Yates ripped an RBI double, followed by a Cole Kraber RBI single. Tyler Miller singled, then Colton Butler drew a walk. Van Veldhuizen drove a ball deep to center field that was caught for the first out, but Tyler Miller tagged and scored from third giving the Indians a 10-1 lead after just two innings. Things settled down a bit from there until the bottom of the fourth inning. Pella pitching continued to struggle as they walked four Indian batters and threw a few wild pitches and Osky took full advantage adding three more runs. Leading 13-1, Nic Dykstra came in to pitch for the first time this season in the fifth in relief of Tyler Miller and struck out the side ending the game due to the ten-run rule after five innings.
Miller got his first win, pitching four innings, throwing 74 pitches, allowing one run on four hits while striking out six and walking four. Osky scored 13 runs on 12 hits, committed 0 errors and stranded six runners on base. Pella was limited to one run on only four hits, committed two errors and stranded seven base runners.
At the plate, Krier had two singles and scored three runs, Yates was 2-3 with a walk with 3 RBI and scored two runs, Kraber was 4-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, Miller was 3-4 and scored twice, Van Veldhuizen was 1-3 with 3 RBI.
Oskaloosa improved to 7-4 overall and 4-3 in the Little Hawkeye Conference while Pella fell to 5-7 and 2-4 in LHC play. Oskaloosa takes a day off Thursday then hosts LHC leaders and last years conference champs Indianola for a doubleheader starting at 5:30 pm Friday.
