Pella earned a 4-2 win over North Polk in the Iowa high school Class 4A softball state championship game on July 24.
FORT DODGE — With just two days before her wedding, Pella coach Katie Banowetz said she didn't have any thoughts about walking down the aisle during her team's Iowa high school softball state title game against North Polk.
"That's what the rehearsal is for and setting up the venue is that you know what, we'll figure out what else we need," Banowetz said. "Des Moines is only an hour away from Pella, so I was like, 'The girls deserve my full attention.'"
Backed by a go-ahead two-RBI double by Abigail Melvin in the sixth inning, No. 8 Pella provided Banowetz with the perfect wedding gift — a 4-2 win over No. 3 North Polk on July 24.
The victory secured the program's first state crown.
"It was a rule that if they won a state championship that they would now be invited to the ceremony," Banowetz said. "I think they were maybe a little more excited when I said they're now invited to the ceremony, but really grateful that this group was able to accomplish what they accomplished this year."
The 4A state championship game was a rematch from a July 1 matchup that saw North Polk secure a 3-1 win. This time around, it was the Dutch that crafted a winning formula.
But the Comets struck first in the opening inning.
Senior Ava Husak hit a single before Ava Fjelland took over as the courtesy runner. Fjelland advanced to second on a wild pitch before Lucy Lucas walked. Fjelland then stole third before a passed ball opened a path to score. The North Polk speedster beat the catcher home and made it a 1-0 game.
Pella tied the game in the second inning. Melvin hit a lead-off triple to right-center field before a sacrifice bunt by Bray-Lynne Van Zante brought the junior home. But Husak tossed a pair of strikeouts in the frame to keep the game deadlocked.
The game turned into a defensive battle for the next few innings.
In the bottom of the second, Fjelland made contact on a triple, but the Dutch left the eighth grader stranded. Pella right-hander Emma Eekhoff walked Larissa Koth but got a key double play to keep North Polk off the board in the inning.
North Polk right fielder Madelyn Klever made a diving catch in the third inning that spoiled what would have been a leadoff hit by Eekhoff. Her sister, shortstop Katelyn Klever, mirrored that clutch play with her own diving catch in the top of the fourth frame.
The Comets took a one-run lead in the fifth inning. Ava Koudelka singled to left before Husak got on with an infield single. With Fjelland as the courtesy runner at first base, Lucas moved the runners over with a sacrifice. Another sacrifice bunt by Katelyn Klever brought Koudelka home for the go-ahead run.
Pella also played small ball to flip the game in its favor in the sixth inning. With Haylie DeVries as the courtesy runner following an Eekhoff walk, the freshman stole second base before a throwing error allowed her to score the game-tying run.
Elah Hiemstra singled to right field and Scheckel, who was at first base after a walk, raced to third to beat the tag. Melvin made North Polk pay with a two-RBI double that broke the tie, 4-2.
"I think one of the big things with Pella is they had nothing to lose, and they just came out and attacked and did exactly what they've been doing this whole tournament," said North Polk coach Addy Pender. "Today wasn't our day; we weren't able to come back like in the (semifinals)."
The Comets tried their best to climb back. Back-to-back singles by Lucas and Katelyn Klever brought Tessa Dillinger to the plate with two outs and a chance to win the game. Unfortunately for North Polk, Melvin fielded the final out to complete Pella's championship journey.
"This is so awesome for Katie and the team; it's unbelievable that we're here right now for the season that we've had," said Josh Mayhew, Banowetz's fiancé. "It's just really cool to see all of them come together and come together as a team and win like this in every fashion, so it's just unbelievable.
"They better sit in the back, and I hope they're quiet (at the wedding)," Mayhew jokingly added. "But it'll be fine, it'll be really cool for coach Banowetz and I'm super proud of her and all of them."
Although the final act of North Scott’s season didn’t go as planned, the Comets were able to compile a stellar 36-6 record en route to the 4A state title game. They will graduate six seniors.
"I'm really glad our younger girls got to experience this and got to see somebody else celebrate in the state title game, and I hope that just continues to build and they remember that and that just motivates them to work harder," Pender said.
For Pella, the state crown marks the end of a 25-12 season that will go down in school history and carry over into the wedding festivities.
"It's obviously a huge blessing; very blessed that I was able to get to coach this group of girls and have this special moment with them," Banowetz said. "It's kind of something that you all dream about, but you never know if it's going to happen and really super proud of this group and how they handled everything leading up to this game, especially, and obviously this game as well."
Marc Ray is the high school sports reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. He can be reached at [email protected] , and on X, formerly Twitter, at @themarcszn.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Pella defeats North Polk to win Iowa high school softball state title
Category: General Sports
