Redhawk pitcher Josh Dostal pictured on the mound on J.L. Lister Field in Traer during North Tama’s 4-1 win over Baxter on May 22 – the team’s fifth W in a row. Dostal took the win that evening, pitching all seven innings against the Bolts and notching four strikeouts while allowing three hits, one run (earned), and walking zero. Heading into the week, he held a 1.12 ERA thus far on the season. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

TRAER — Under newly minted head coach Dalton Hulme, Redhawk baseball has been on fire practically from the get-go this season – notching a string of eight early wins beginning with an 11-2 trouncing of Gladbrook-Reinbeck during the team’s home opener at J.L. Lister Field back on May 15 and ending with a shutout of BCLUW last week Wednesday (May 29) also in front of the hometown crowd.

On May 29, North Tama jumped all over BCLUW, scoring early and often to seal the five-inning triumph in Iowa Star Conference South Division play.

Henry Hansen struck out five and walked two in the complete-game pitching performance for the Redhawks. Tyler Popelka was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored, while Chaz Hall was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Josh Dostal went 2-for-3 with a walk and three runs scored, while Kolt Knaack doubled, drove in four runs and scored twice for the North Tama offense.

Cael Keller and Eathan Petermeier had the only hits for BCLUW. Maverick Grafke pitched all four innings in defeat, allowing 10 hits and six walks.

The Redhawks’ winning streak only came to an end last Friday with a narrow loss 4-3 to Collins-Maxwell.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Heading into the week, North Tama was 8-2 (4-1) on the season and leading the Iowa Star Conference South Division.

Today, Monday, June 3, the team was set to play Baxter (6-4) on the road before heading to Gilbertville on Wednesday to face Don Bosco (5-6) and then over to Green Mountain on Friday for a game with GMG (3-6).

This coming weekend (Saturday, June 8), the Redhawks are set to host both AGWSR (1-6) and Maquoketa Valley (5-2) at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.

North Tama senior Tyler Popelka hits a line drive down J.L. Lister Field’s third base line back on May 22 during the Redhawks’ 4-1 win over Baxter. Against the Bolts, Popelka was 2-for-3 including a double with two RBIs and one run scored. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

North Tama third baseman Henry Hansen throws to first base for the out during North Tama’s 4-1 win over Baxter back on May 22 in Traer. On the mound this season, Hansen has notched three wins and currently leads the team in strikeouts with 25. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Redhawk junior Kolt Knaack makes good contact with the ball on May 22 at J.L. Lister Field during North Tama’s win, 4-1 over Baxter. As of this past Monday, Knaack was batting .333 on the season while leading the team in RBIs with 14. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER