Des Moines Iowa — Third-seeded North Linn used a five-run fifth inning to rally past sixth-seeded Remsen St. Mary’s by a score of 6-3 in a Class 1A quarterfinal-round game Saturday at Principal Park.
North Linn scored first in the bottom of the third inning. Starting pitcher Ryan Miller reached on an infield single and later scored from second on an error to put North Linn up 1-0.
Base hits from Derrick Schrog and Blaine Harpenau knocked Miller out of the game and gave Remsen St. Mary’s a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning.
North Linn followed St. Marys’ two-run fifth with a five run fifth inning keyed by a bases-clearing triple from Sean Boardman. Brad Pflughaupt and Trevor Boge also drove in a run each make it a 6-2 ballgame.
Carter Kuchel started the top of the sixth inning with a shot to right field that nearly cleared the wall and was later brought in by a Skyler Waldschmitt sac fly to center field to make the game 6-3 in the sixth inning.
Jake Hilmer, who replaced Miller, was able to shut the door in his 2 and a third innings of relief and closed out the game for the 6-3 North Linn victory and a spot in the semis.
North Linn (41-3) will move onto the final four and square off against Tri-Rivers Conference rival Lisbon on Thursday. Lisbon downed Don Bosco 2-1 in the other lower bracket quarterfinal. Remsen St. Mary’s finishes the year with a record of 27-4.
