By Dylan Hefflinger

BRYAN- North Central, ranked No. 25 in the latest poll, used a dominant performance from junior pitcher Kole Peterson to advance to the district finals with a 4-1 victory over Ayersville (17-9).

Peterson, who has become the ace for the Eagles with an injury to senior Ryan Masters, a Taylor University recruit, took a no-hitter into the 7th inning for the second time this season. Ayersville nine-hole hitter Gage Odom hit a 2-2 pitch just by the third baseman with one out in the 7th for the only base knock of the game by the Pilots.

Peterson, now 6-0 on the season, topped out at 84 mph in going the distance, striking out five, walking five and hitting one batter.

The Eagles pushed across two big runs in the fourth on a bases loaded one-out error to score Bryce Ely and Clayton Ferguson who opened up the inning with singles.

North Central added a pair more in the 5th on a Ely one-out single which scored Dylan Hutchison and Nathan Wheeler who each had singles.

Ayersville, which features just one senior on its roster, scored its only run in the 6th on a walk, error and ground out.

North Central (20-5) advances to the district finals at Bryan on May 18th at 7:00 p.m. to take on 2nd-ranked Tinora (24-3), which advanced to districts behind the pitching of unsigned senior Tyler Mckenney.