North Tama junior Kayler Morris follows through on a pitch early in the clash with Iowa Star South rival GMG on June 20 in Green Mountain. Morris pitched almost the entire seven innings against the Wolverines, striking out six while allowing four hits and five runs (two earned), one walk, and a hit batter. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

GREEN MOUNTAIN – For much of the June 20 Iowa Star South clash between in-county rivals GMG and North Tama, Redhawk baseball retained control of the game, but a fifth-inning surge of the bats helped deliver the Wolverines to a narrow 7-6 walk-off victory.

Heading into the bottom of the fifth, North Tama was leading 6-2 when GMG freshman Easton Sash hit a line drive single deep into right field, advancing to second in the mayhem.

Senior Jacob Cornwell then followed suit, knocking one deep into left field to advance Sash home and put himself on second. Senior Colin Teske then hit a double, sending Cornwell home. The score was now 6-4.

Senior Joaquin Williams kept the GMG bats swinging, hitting a ground ball down the left side to send Teske home before being putout himself at first by Redhawk Josh Dostal. The inning ended not long after with the score nearly tied, 6-5.

In the top of the sixth, GMG kept the momentum going with Teske striking out the first two North Tama batters before the third was caught out on an infield fly. The Redhawks then returned the favor in the bottom of the sixth with junior Kayler Morris striking out three GMG batters in a row.

North Tama’s Josh Dostal follows through on a swing during last Friday’s game in Green Mountain. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

In the final inning, North Tama couldn’t get much going at the plate and the Wolverines found themselves back in the box, their fifth win of the season within reach. And win they did, racking up two more runs in front of an ecstatic hometown crowd – including the earlier-triumphant Wolverine softball team – for the 7-6 walk-off win over the Redhawks. Previously this season, North Tama resoundingly defeated GMG 13-4 at J.L. Lister Field in Traer.

Teske took the win for GMG, allowing six hits, a walk and a hit by pitch while striking out five. North Tama’s Kayler Morris pitched almost the entire seven innings, striking out six while allowing four hits and five runs (two earned), one walk, and one hit batter. Bryce Dostal took the loss for the Redhawks, allowing two runs, one walk, and one hit batter.

At the plate, Teske led GMG, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, one single, and an RBI. Junior Ryder Kupka had a pair of runs, Cornwell notched one run and one RBI, Williams sent two runners home, and Sash crossed the plate once.

For North Tama, seniors Josh Dostal and Kolt Knaack along with juniors Kayler Morris and Bryce Dostal all managed a single apiece plus an RBI; seniors Chaz Hall and Gavin Rausch also both managed a single. Runs were scored by Josh Dostal, Hall, Rausch, senior Tyrus Luker, junior Clayton Williams, and sophomore Kayvin Morris.

Heading into this week, North Tama was 9-7 on the season and GMG was 5-10.

Redhawk senior catcher Kolt Knaack sets up for a bunt against the GMG Wolverines on Friday, June 20, in Green Mountain. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

The Redhawks took a 3-2 win at home over Baxter on Monday, June 23, while the Wolverines’ Monday road game with BCLUW was postponed to Thursday due to weather.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Much to Redhawk shortstop Kayvin Morris’s slight annoyance (and, clearly, amusement), GMG senior Colin Teske celebrates hitting a double against North Tama in the bottom of the fifth on June 20, thereby sending teammate Jacob Cornwell home and pushing the Wolverines to within two runs of tying the game. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

North Tama senior Tyrus Luker (15) safely steals second base against the GMG Wolverines on June 20 in Green Mountain. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER