The North Tama Lady Redhawks got a much-needed boost of confidence on Tuesday with a 12-3 run-rule victory over Belle Plaine. The ladies, who had been mired in a slump as of late, used a great team offensive output in the bottom of the fifth to wrap things up. Above, Sydney Fehr rounds first excitedly after singling. At left, pitcher Sarah Howard delivers in the fourth.

The North Tama Lady Redhawks snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 12-3 run-rule victory over Belle Plaine on Tuesday. The girls, who had been mired in a streak of tough-luck losses, found their stroke and coupled it with strong pitching to notch the win.

The losing streak dated back to last Saturday, when the girls dropped two at the tournament in Gladbrook. They followed that up with a close loss at GMG on Monday, June 4. The Redhawks fell 8-7 despite a four RBI performance by Christy Calderwood. Incoming freshman Madison Howard had a tough time on the mound, giving up six earned runs on ten hits in six innings.

The ladies suffered another close loss two days later at home against Dunkerton. Sarah Howard and Sydney Fehr drove in one run apiece, and Fehr and Whitney Pokorny helped out on the basepaths, each recording steals in the game.

Sarah Howard pitched six and two thirds innings, striking out three. She allowed four earned runs and walked one.

The girls then faced the prospect of three road games in the span of just two days, and began the road swing with a 5-1 loss at Colo-Nesco. Emma Knoop pitched to contact, but allowed only two earned runs. She struck out five and walked just one in her six innings of work.

Sarah Howard, Rachel Rohach, Courtney Stuart and Knoop were the only Redhawks to record hits in the game.

Saturday’s games against Grundy Center and Nashua-Plainfield were tough to swallow, with both losses coming by just one run each. The Redhawks fell to Grundy 8-7 and Nashua-Plainfield 10-9.

Shannon Stuart had two RBI in the first game, and Emma Knoop knocked in four runs in the second contest.

Following a cancelled doubleheader against Meskwaki on Monday, the ladies took the field Tuesday with the prospect of their losing streak extending to eight games, but luckily erased that possiblity early. By the time the fifth inning rolled around, the girls had a 5-3 lead, which quickly ballooned into a blowout 12-3 run-rule victory.

The team will now look to carry some momentum forward as they head into the home stretch of the season, with four tough away games before returning home for the final three games of the season.

The Redhawks take on conference heavyweight Don Bosco Catholic on the road Monday night.