Josh Dostal hits the ball early in the game against AGWSR last Saturday morning in Traer. Dostal has been one of the Redhawks offensive leaders this season. As of Monday, June 10, he was batting .318. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Redhawk baseball sandwiched a narrow conference win, 10-9, over the GMG Wolverines last Friday among a string of losses to round out an unsteady week of mostly non-conference play.

North Tama traveled to Green Mountain for the June 7 win.

The Wolverines remained scoreless through the first two innings on Friday night while the Redhawks knocked in three runs in the first followed by a fourth run in the second.

In the top of the third, North Tama added another three to lead 7-0 before GMG finally got on the map with two runs in the bottom. The Wolverines kept the Redhawks at bay in the top of the fourth. The fifth inning opened with the Redhawks still up, 7-5.

North Tama knocked in two more in the fifth followed by their final run of the evening in the top of the sixth.

Redhawk starting pitcher, junior Chaz Hall lets the ball fly from the hill early in the game against the AGWSR Cougars last Saturday morning on J.L. Lister Field in Traer. During his five innings in the circle, Hall struck out six and walked one, while allowing just two hits and no runs. North Tama lost to the Cougars, 5-1, and later to Maquoketa Valley, 10-1 – rounding out a week of unsteady play for the team. The Redhawks continued to lead the Iowa Star-South heading into this week. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Things started to get a little dicey for the Redhawks in GMG’s final two at-bats – the Wolverines managed a pair of runs in the sixth to put the score at 10-7 as the game entered the final inning.

GMG held North Tama off in the top of the seventh. In their final crack at the offense, the Wolverines crossed home plate twice more before North Tama put an end to it. Relief pitcher Tyler Popelka took the win, 10-9 for the Redhawks after stepping into the circle for Josh Dostal in the bottom of the fifth.

Popelka allowed five runs (four earned) on no hits but walked four including three hit batters while also striking out four. During the first four innings, Dostal struck out six while allowing six hits, four runs (two earned), and walking one.

Freshman Kayvin Morris led the offense for the Redhawks going 1-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Josh Dostal hit a double, knocking in two while also scoring once. Kayler Morris also knocked in two runs on a single. Popelka and Chaz Hall each drove in one run apiece.

Prior to the win in Green Mountain, North Tama dropped a pair of road games; first to Baxter, 5-2, on Monday, June 3, followed a couple days later by a shutout, five-inning loss 10-0 to Don Bosco in what began as a close game.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

On Saturday, June 8, North Tama hosted AGWSR and Maquoketa Valley, losing both games, 5-1 and 10-1, respectively.

The Redhawks were down a couple of important team members over the weekend including head coach Dalton Hulme who was absent due to a pre-planned obligation, and rising senior Kolt Knaack who was taking the ACT. Heading into this week, Knaack was batting .306 and leading the team in RBIs with 14.

After hosting Clarksville Monday night, North Tama (10-6) is scheduled to play Hudson (5-6) on the road tonight (June 11) followed by a road game with Janesville (7-7) on Wednesday before rounding out the week at home on Friday by hosting conference foe Colo-NESCO (5-6) on J.L. Lister Field beginning at 7 p.m.

As of Monday, June 10, the Redhawks continued to lead the Iowa Star-South, 7-3.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER