Proctor Loses Wild Affair to Superior – Beats Hibbing

May 19, 2012

By Max Mercy

Superior lost an 8-2 lead only to come back with seven unanswered runs after trailing 9-8 to defeat Proctor 15-9 in the rubber game of the three game wood bat tournament at Al Nyberg Field in Hibbing.

Superior built its early lead on two two-run home runs by Nik Mattson and another two-run homer by Colton Yepma, but Proctor scored three runs in the fourth inning and four runs in the fifth to take the lead. The Rails’ Ben Nelson hit a go-ahead grand slam in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Proctor’s lead was short-lived as Superior scored three runs in the top of the sixth, sparked by a game-tying RBI single by Jordan McDonald. Andy Glonek was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for the Spartans’ go-ahead and eventual game-winning run. Superior tacked on four insurance runs in the seventh inning.

Mattson was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and four RBIs, and Severson, Yepma, McDonald, and Dane Sislo had two hits each for Superior.

Nelson and Jimmy Merling had two hits apiece for Proctor.

Spencer Severson earned the win in relief of starter Mattson. Severson allowed four unearned runs on two hits in two innings. Ryan Myhre and Grant Rindal each threw perfect 1-2-3 innings in the sixth and seventh, respectively, to preserve the lead.

Paul Hegstrom (0-1, 9.69 ERA) picked up the loss in relief of starter Matt Dolsen. Hegstrom allowed six earned runs on five hits, five walks, one intentional walk, and one hit batsman in three and one-third innings. He had three strikeouts.

Jake Lewis (5-1, 0.48 ERA) allowed one earned run on nine hits and one walk in a complete game effort as Proctor defeated Hibbing 10-5 in the final game of the tournament. Lewis had seven strikeouts.

Ben Nelson, Cody Dolsen, and Jack Nikko had two hits apiece in the Rails’ 10-hit attack. Paul Hegstrom had two RBIs, and Jesse Scanlon had three runs scored.

Hibbing’s Sage Hopke was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, and Chris Hanson was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Losing pitcher Tim Carruth allowed three earned runs on nine hits and three walks in six innings. He had two strikeouts.

Proctor (10-6) travels to Duluth’s historic Wade Stadium on Tues. to face Duluth Denfeld, and closes out the regular season with a home game against Crosby-Ironton on Friday. Both games will begin at 4:30 p.m.

Hibbing (8-8) is at Greenway on Tues.

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