Peyton Stephens had three hits and pitched the final two innings to earn the save as seventh ranked Carlisle beat fifth ranked Pella 5-3 in a class 3A semifinal.
Carlisle will take a 33-6 record into the 3A championship.
“I have been so pumped the last three innings that I have not comprehended that I am actually going to be playing in the state championship”, said Stephens. “It’s crazy and it’s mind blowing.”
Carlisle scored two runs in the first and added two more in the second. The Wildcats led 5-1 before Pella attempted to rally. The Little Dutch had plenty of chances to rally but left nine runners on base.
“Just the inability to get that key hit when we needed it”, said Pella coach Jesse Jablonski. “We needed to get a crooked number up on the board. One run at a time was not going to cut it against a team like this that can really swing the bat.”
Pella was making a second straight appearance in the semifinals and closes the season with a record of 31-9.