Sophomore Kayler Morris pictured at bat during Redhawk baseball’s postseason opening win over the Springville Orioles on Saturday, July 6. North Tama advanced to play in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, July 9 – narrowly succumbing to Maquoketa Valley, 4-3. Against the Wildcats, Morris got on base once after being hit by the pitch and scored. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

TRAER — The North Tama baseball team got the tying run on base in the bottom of the seventh inning but couldn’t complete the comeback, falling 4-3 to Maquoketa Valley in last Tuesday’s (July 9) Class 1A District 9 quarterfinal at J.L. Lister Field.

North Tama (15-12) held an early 2-1 lead before Maquoketa Valley (15-10) went in front 4-2 through four innings. The Redhawks cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the fifth, but that’s where the rally ended.

Senior Henry Hansen took the loss for the Redhawks, allowing four runs — two earned — on six hits and six total walks. He struck out two. Junior Josh Dostal pitched 3 1/3 innings of shutout relief, giving up one hit and two walks while striking out five.

Junior Kolt Knaack was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, and junior Gavin Rausch was 2-for-3 as well for the Redhawks. Rausch reached on a two-out walk in the bottom of the seventh but couldn’t advance around as the potential tying run.

Freshman Kayvin Morris and Hansen had the Redhawks’ only other hits, while Dostal and sophomore Kayler Morris were hit by pitches and scored.

Maquoketa Valley starter Mathew Schaul earned the win, allowing two runs on four hits and six total walks in three innings pitched. He struck out one. Bryce Vaske struck out six in four innings to preserve the lead, allowing one run on two hits and two walks.