Proctor Boys Headed To State

Wes Vork-NSO

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June 9

Wes Vork-NSO

DULUTH – It has been 35 years in the making, but the Proctor boys are headed back to state. The Rails captured the Section 7AA baseball crown with two wins over Hermantown Thursday night at Wade Stadium and with it a trip to the state tournament.

The Hawks came in to the section finale undefeated while Proctor entered with an earlier loss, meaning the Rails had to win two games in order to advance. Proctor avenged an earlier 10-2 playoff loss to the Hawks by winning the first game by a 6-3 margin, setting up the winner take all second game, where the Rails pulled out a 4-3 come-from-behind victory.

“Determined is the one word that comes to mind” said Proctor Head Baseball Coach Kyle Wojtysiak, still dripping from a fresh Gatorade bucket bath. “When we fell down in that last game the kids did not tense up, they just expected to win.” Adding, “Hermantown’s a really good ballclub, but tonight a lot of their hits were right at our guys and sometimes that’s what you need in baseball.”

Alex Oachs, who needs knee surgery to repair injuries sustained in a car accident, put it off until June 28 to be able play his senior season of baseball and help his team in a post season run, and did exactly that on Thursday. Oachs, who is 5-0 since returning to the lineup,
pitched a complete game six hitter to pick up the game one victory and keep Proctor’s season alive. By going the distance Oachs also saved the Rails some much needed innings on the rest of the pitching staff.

“I put off PCL surgery until [June] 28, I could have had it six months ago, but I wouldn’t have been able to play this season.” Oachs told Northland Sports Online following the game. “It’s great to be out there, I certainly wouldn’t want to miss it and the team can always use another pitcher.”

In the first game, Hermantown had the first bite at the apple but in a common theme for both teams, left runners on second and third as the top half of the first inning came to a close. The Rails got on the scoreboard first when Proctor scored two runs in the second inning to take the lead.
Back-to-back singles by Justin Scanlon and Pat Everson set up a one-out RBI single by Nick Nylund, which scored Scanlon. Evan Scherber followed with a fielder’s choice in which an errant throw allowed Everson to score.
Proctor also left two on when they hit into an inning ending 6-4-3 double play.

Jesse Scanlon got the third inning started for Proctor by beating out an infield hit, advancing to second on a wild pitch and scoring on a hard hit single by Ryan McCarthy. At that point the Hawks went with a pitching change, replacing a tiring Jesse Olson, who had pitched a dominating complete game just two days earlier, with Kevin Stocke. Stocke was able to get out of the inning, giving up just one more run with McCarthy scoring on a Pat Everson single.

The Hawks worked their way back into the game in the top of the fifth when Brian LeBlanc, Cody Baker, and Kevin Folman all scored to cut the lead to 4-3 but the Hawks would get no closer with Proctor adding a pair of insurance runs by Jimmy Merling and Tyler Pionk in their half of the sixth to pick up the win and set the table for a final showdown.

Kevin Folman, who had a full weeks rest started game two for the Hawks and pitched a very good complete game of eight hit baseball giving up a run in the first, second, and a pair in the sixth inning. Jesse Scanlon walked with one out in the first. He moved to second base on a single by Ryan McCarthy, and gained third base when Justin Scanlon was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ian Scherber walked with two outs to score Jesse Scanlon. In the second inning, Jimmy Merling singled with one out, got to second base on a single by Tyler Pionk, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on an RBI groundout by McCarthy.

Starting for Proctor on two days rest was Sophomore Jake Lewis, who pitched three great innings before tiring and running into trouble in the fourth. Lewis issued a leadoff walk to Mike Robertson followed by a double by Neil Pionk and a pair of walks, the last of which forced in a run.

After hustling to the bullpen for a quick warm-up, Ben Nelson entered for Proctor with nobody out, the bases loaded and facing the top of the Hawks line-up. Nelson allowed an RBI single to Connor Lucas and RBI fielder’s choice to Brian Leblanc but got another ground ball which turned into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning with Hermantown ahead by a 3-2 margin.

“I was a bit nervous coming in, but the coaches said to keep the ball low and get ground balls and the defense would stay behind me and get the job done.” Explained Nelson

Things remained quiet for both teams with fans on both sides holding their breath until the top of the sixth when Proctor’s freshman designated hitter Evan Scherber led off the top of the sixth inning with a single and was lifted for pinch runner Jack Nikko. Merling sacrificed Nikko to second and Nikko reached third on a single by Tyler Pionk. Pionk scampered to second base as the throw from the outfield went to home plate. Jesse Scanlon then hit a game-tying RBI single that scored Nikko and moved Pionk to third base. Pionk scored the go-ahead run on McCarthy’s RBI ground out to the right side of the infield.

Nelson then picked up a 1-2-3 sixth inning and allowed just a single in the seventh to pick up the win and spark a wild Rails celebration.

On manufacturing the final runs by way of smart aggressive baseball, Wojtysiak passed on the credit to his players and their years of playing experience. “Tyler got the bat on the ball and then did a good job of reading the throw. That’s what got us into the situation of guys on second and third with less than two outs. If he stays on first, they have a chance for a double play, so that was huge,” Wojtysiak further explained.

In just his second year at the helm, Wojtysiak has the Rails competing in their first state tournament since 1976. The core group of players competed at the state level the previous two year in summer VFW ball, something Wojtysiak believes will be a real benefit next Thursday at Dick Putz Field. “Any experience in a state atmosphere will help us out. These kids are all class acts and they know what they need to do.” I will say they are not satisfied, this was their #1 goal, but they have goals above and beyond this.” Wojtysiak added.

Nelson, who was on both VFW teams, agrees. “Those games were a played at a big venue so it will definitely help out with nerves. Last year’s tournament was at Austin, but the year before was at Dick Putz, so having pitched there will help.”

Proctor will face Section 3 winner Fairmont (21-2), who also captured a two game section final victory over New Ulm High School at 10:00am on Thursday June 16 at Dick Putz field in St. Cloud.

Wes Vork can be reached at wes@northlandsportsonline.com