Proctor Boys Finish Third In State

Click here for the Proctor vs St Cloud Cathedral box score

Click here for the Proctor vs Fairmont box score

Click here for the Proctor vs Fairmont photo gallery

Click here for the Proctor vs St. Cloud Cathedral photo gallery

May 16, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

ST. CLOUD- It was a bitter-sweet moment for the Proctor Rails when they came off the field after a 6-0 victory over the Cardinals Friday night at Dick Putz. The Rails season came to an end with a very nice third place trophy to bring back to the Northland with the win over Fairmont.

Earlier Friday they had several chances to come away with a victory over St. Cloud Cathedral in the semi-finals, but were unable to capitalize and the Rails saw an early lead in the game and a Crusaders comeback in extra innings and it was St. Cloud Cathedral heading back to Target Field Monday for the state championship game against Holy Family Catholic.

“It was a game where we had our chances,” Head coach Kyle Wojtysiak told Northland Sports Online. “We left a lot out there in the first game; it was a disappointment to know we couldn’t get that run across.” Wojtysiak also mentioned “These kids didn’t quit though, they could have, but they came back and showed what a great group of kids we have.”

The Rails led 4-1 against the Crusaders only to see St. Cloud score 5 runs in the top of the fifth to take the lead. The Rails did tie it in the bottom of the seventh inning but St Cloud went ahead 9-5 in the top of the ninth and the Rails comeback fell one run short, as the Crusaders went on to win 9-8.

The Rails who then played back to back games, took on the Cardinals of Fairmont, who were making their third straight appearance at the state tournament. Both teams started slow but it was the Rails who came up big in the top of the third inning when a bases clearing double from Ben Nelson gave Proctor a 3-0 lead.

Proctor added three more in the fifth inning when Ryan McCarthy hit a two run home run and Nelson scored on a single by Evan Scherber to give the Rails all the runs they would need as they captured third place in the 2012 state Class AA tournament.

The Rails again made their second straight appearance at the state tournament one to remember as they finish up on a winning note and third in the state tournament with their only loss in extra innings to the defending state champions. All-in-all this best ever performance in program history is one the Rails will remember forever.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandspotsonline.com