DELHI — North Tama senior Michael Schrier drove home Kayler Morris with a two-out single to plate the Redhawks’ eventual game-winning run in a 7-6 victory over Maquoketa Valley in the first-round of Class 1A District 5 baseball in Delhi Monday night.

The playoff opener for both teams was postponed by rain from Saturday’s schedule, and the fifth-seeded Redhawks (10-12) stayed the course by unseating the fourth-seeded Wildcats (9-12).

North Tama scored three times in both the third and fifth innings, taking a 3-0 lead initially and regaining it at 6-5 in the top of the fifth. Maquoketa Valley squared things up with a single tally in the fifth before the Redhawks got the go-ahead run in the sixth.

Josh Dostal struck out three of the six batters he faced for the save in relief of Tyler Popelka, who went 5 2/3 innings on the mound for the win. Popelka struck out five, walked five and hit a batter, giving up seven hits and six runs.

The Redhawks struck first in the game thanks to Kolt Knaack’s leadoff double in the third. Morris reached safely on a bunt, and Dostal did as well on his bunt that plated Knaack. Henry Hansen drove in Morris with a groundout, and a wild pitch plated Dostal for a 3-0 North Tama lead.

After the host Wildcats scored four times in the fourth to take a 5-3 lead, the Redhawks had a rebuttal. Knaack walked and stole second, Morris singled, and Dostal’s bunt single scored Knaack again. A passed ball plated Morris, and Popelka came through with an RBI single to regain the lead.

A throwing error allowed Maquoketa Valley to get back to even in the fifth, 6-6, but North Tama rose to meet the moment in the sixth. Morris singled but was forced out on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Dostal. Shortly after stealing second, Dostal was balked to third, and Schrier singled him home on the very next pitch.

With two on and two out in the bottom of the sixth, Dostal relieved Popelka on the mound and the left-hander got a strikeout to end the threat.

In the seventh, Maquoketa Valley’s Bryce Vaske singled and Carter Klaren walked, but Dostal worked his way around the baserunners to get the final three outs.

Morris finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored to lead the Redhawks. Dostal was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored, while Tyrus Luker was 2-for-4 with a run.

Relief pitcher Toby Grimm got the loss for Maquoketa Valley, allowing North Tama’s tiebreaking run in the sixth. Brady Wall went 4 2/3 innings in a no-decision. Vaske was 2-for-3 with a run scored and Mathew Schaul was 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run to lead the Wildcats at the plate.

North Tama advances to face top-seeded and No. 6-ranked North Linn (24-4) tonight during the District 5 semifinals in Troy Mills.