Cinderella Pella Claims First State Softball Championship

Dutch conclude improbable run with victory over North Polk

Pella captured its first Iowa high school state softball championship Thursday night. / IGHSAU/X

This coming Saturday, Pella head softball coach Katie Banowetz will be the center of attention, as she is getting married.

But on Thursday, she gladly took a backseat to her team, as the Dutch won their first-ever state softball championship with a 4-2 victory over North Polk at Rogers Park in Fort Dodge.

𝐃𝐔𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐖𝐎𝐍’𝐓 𝐁𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐄𝐃! 🏆🥎

#8 Pella defeats #3 North Polk 4-2 to win the Class 4A State Championship game, presented by @iowafarmbureau. The Dutch take the state softball crown for the first time in school history!

Final score brought to you by… pic.twitter.com/gt2wKfIVmD

— IGHSAU (@IGHSAU) July 25, 2025

Pella, who knocked off the defending Class 4A champions in a regional semifinal, stunned the No. 1 seed in the quarterfinals and earned a 2-1 triumph in the semis. This was just the second appearance in the elite eight for the program, with the other coming in 2015.

Abby Melvin drove in the game-winning runs with a double in the sixth inning that broke a 2-2 tie. She also had a triple in the second and scored, as she was one of four Pella players to make the all-tournament team.

Emma Eekhoff, captain of the all-tourney team, Avery Parks and Elah Hiemstra each had a hit for the Dutch while Bray-Lynne Van Zante drove in a run. 

For North Polk, Ava Husak, a future Drake Bulldog, struck out nine and had two hits while reaching base on a walk and a fielder’s choice. Ava Koudelka had two hits and scored a run while Katelyn Klever drove in a run.

Koudelka, Husak and Alexandra Mohlke were joined on the all-tournament team by ADM’s Lauren Hagedorn and Aubrey Noring, along with Braylen Conlon from Cedar Rapids Xavier and North Scott’s Kamilah Eller and Adalynn Johnson.

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