Scherber’s Solo Home Run Propels Proctor Into State Semi-Finals

Photo: Josh Cadwell for NSO

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June 14, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

ST. CLOUD- “When you think of a better time to hit your first two home runs tell me” Head Coach Kyle Wojtysiak told Northland Sports Online. “You hit your first career home run in the section championship game then your second at the state tournament; it shows just how every night someone different steps us for us and it’s a team game.”

Ian Scherber, a senior centerfielder hit a 1-0 pitch deep down the left field line at Joe Faber Filed that hit the foul pole and bounced back on to the field, which provided the only run of the game and gave Proctor a 1-0 lead with one out in the top of the sixth inning. That one run lead was enough for Jake Lewis who shut down the Millers of Minneapolis Washburn as the Rails defeated the last undefeated team in the state.

New York Mills also entered the state tournament unbeaten in the Class A tournament but they also fell earlier in the day down in Chaska to St. Agnes by the same score of 1-0. Lewis, who only struck out five batters on the night, was in complete control of the strike zone all night. He kept his pitches low, which resulted in nine ground ball outs by the Millers. Lewis allowed only two hits on the night; Harry Christman had a seeing-eye single to center and Josh Pierce beat out an infield single.

Proctor had five hits on the night; two singles from Jimmy Merling while Cody Dolsen and Evan Scherber also singled for the Rails. The biggest hit of the game by far was the home run from Scherber. Scherber told NSO “I’m on cloud nine right now, the feeling is incredible; man I’m just so happy for the entire team!”

The Rails entered the game with six losses on the season and knew those losses would be learning experiences when the postseason rolled around. Proctor held leads in all six of the losses, and could have also been undefeated entering the state tournament.

Wojtysiak told NSO “it was a great win tonight, against a great team and great pitcher; I’m proud of our guys.” Wojtysiak added “They got a top ranked pitcher for them and to see his breaking ball bend like that was truly amazing, it was a great win for us and our program and hopefully we can do the same thing tomorrow.”

The Millers of Minneapolis Washburn, who entered the game 25-0, will now move to the consolation round to face Delano, who beat Proctor a year ago in the consolation finals. The Rails will advance to the semi-finals to face St. Cloud Cathedral, who beat Delano by a score of 5-0 at Dick Putz Field.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com