Devin McKinley. PHOTO BY SOREN M. PETERSON

A four-run second inning and solid pitching from Devin McKinley helped the North Tama baseball team advance to the Class 1A District 4 semifinals, picking up a 7-3 win over Hudson on Tuesday night at J.L. Lister Field.

After no runs were scored in the first inning, North Tama (17-9) took the lead with a four-run burst in the bottom of the second. A bunt from Austin Unker froze the Hudson infield and allowed Adam Greiner to score the opening run. Josh Dostal scored on a Ryan Hosek bunt and a poor throw to home plate, allowing Hosek to advance to second. Kolt Knaack then hit a blooping single into the outfield that scored Hosek and McKinley.

In the fourth inning, Hudson got on the board to break the shutout McKinley was throwing, and in the top of the sixth Hudson added two more runs. The Pirates (9-19) had closed to within 4-3 and it felt eerily like the Redhawks’ 6-5 win over AGWSR a round earlier when the Cougars came back from 5-0 to tie the game at 5-5.

But this time, the Redhawks answered emphatically. Logan Rausch scored on a McKinley double. McKinley and Gabe Kopriva then scored on an error as Michael Schrier’s grounder to third base was bobbled and overthrown.

North Tama recorded seven hits — Unker with two and Knaack, Greiner, Rausch, Dostal and McKinley with one each.

Gabe Kopriva. PHOTO BY SOREN M. PETERSON

In a complete game, McKinley allowed three earned runs and five hits while striking out six batters on 90 pitches. He walked none and hit one batter.

The second district semifinal between Gladbrook-Reinbeck and No. 5 Don Bosco was suspended due to inclement weather with the score 9-5 G-R in the fourth inning. The game will resume at 5 p.m. Wednesday and the winner will take on North Tama Saturday night in Traer.

Devin McKinley smiles after reaching third base on July 5 in Traer. PHOTO BY SOREN M. PETERSON

PHOTO BY SOREN M. PETERSON