Kyle Wojtysiak has been elected to the Proctor Baseball Hall of Fame by the Today’s Game Era Committee. He joins 21st Century Era inductee Jimmy Merling in the Hall of Fame Class of 2022.
The Today’s Game Era Committee considered a ballot of individuals whose contributions to the game were most significant from 1991 to the present.
Wojtysiak coached the Rails from 2010-18. Proctor won three section championships (2011, 2012, 2016) and two conference titles (2011, 2016) under his tutelage. The 2012 team captured the State Third Place Championship for the best finish in program history to-date.
His .633 career winning percentage tops the list of the 12 head coaches in Rails baseball history. His 124 career wins ranks second behind Rich Petersson’s 131. He is third in career games (196) and tied for fourth in seasons (nine).
Proctor reached the Section 7AA Playoffs’ Final Four in six of Wojtysiak’s nine seasons. His career post-season record stands at 31 wins and 16 losses (.660).
All six of Proctor’s All-State selections to-date played during Wojtysiak’s tenure (Justin Scanlon, 2011; Jake Lewis, 2012; Ben Nelson, 2013; Evan Scherber, 2014; Jake Malec, 2016; John Aase, 2017). Ditto for all three of the Duluth News Tribune’s All-Area Player of the Year selections from Proctor (co-recipients Ben Nelson and Jake Lewis in 2012, and John Aase in 2016).
While playing baseball for St. Scholastica from 2006-09, he served as team captain and earned All-Conference First Team honors in his senior year. He earned All-Conference Honorable Mention in his junior year and won the team’s Gold Glove Award in both 2008 and 2009. He batted .276 in his college career, with totals of 107 runs, 102 hits, 26 doubles, three triples, six home runs, and 83 RBI in 142 games. He also tallied a .936 fielding percentage with career marks of 138 put outs and 303 assists as a shortstop.
His amateur baseball career also included playing for the Duluth Xpress and the Bayside Vipers. He was the Xpress’ player/manager.
He graduated from Proctor in 2005 and was a two-time All-Conference First Team selection in baseball as a shortstop and pitcher. He was also a two-time Pepsi All-Star and an Arrowhead All-Star in 2005. A member of the Rails 50 Career Hits Club, he also ranks fifth in school records for career defensive assists. He also played basketball and football for the Rails.
Proctor Baseball Hall of Fame
Class of 2020
- Karl Condon, Early Baseball Era
- Ted Downs, Early Baseball Era
- Maurice "Spike" Gorham, Early Baseball Era
- Joe Lane, Golden Days Era
- Gerald "Peanuts" Peterson, Golden Days Era
- Jake Lewis, 21st Century Era
Class of 2021
- Dale Nikko, Modern Baseball Era
- Ryan McCarthy, 21st Century Era
Class of 2022
- Kyle Wojtysiak, Today's Game Era
- Jimmy Merling, 21st Century Era
Click here for the Proctor Baseball Hall of Fame webpage.