Proctor finished the regular season with a 13-5 overall record, including 9-1 against Section 7AA competition. The Rails were 5-2 in the Lake Superior Conference and won the LSC title for the sixth time in the program's history. Proctor averages 7.7 runs scored per game and allows 4.8 runs per game.

The Rails are led by pitchers John Aase (5-1 W-L, 2.44 ERA), Matt Morris (4-2, 1.87), Zach Gunderson (3-1, 4.67), and Luke Nordquist (0-0, 2.05, 3 saves). Aase and Matt Tracey are the leading the team in batting; both are at .365. They're followed by Nathan Carlson (.347), Blake Koski (.344), Bryce Huffman (.333), Derek Dahlgren (.328), Jake Malec (.302), and Morris (.298). Proctor is batting .302 as a team. Kyle Wojtysiak is in his seventh season as Proctor's head coach. His career record is 98-50 (.662).

Eveleth-Gilbert (4-15 overall) was 1-9 against Section 7AA foes and placed sixth in the eight-team Arrowhead Conference with a 2-4 record. The Golden Bears score 6.4 runs per game and allow 10.5 runs per game. Head Coach Jamie Lindseth is in his first season. He replaced long-time head coach Brian Landborg.

The Rails and Golden Bears have met twice before in the playoffs, with Proctor earning victories both times.

In 2004, a first-round game at Virginia resulted in an 11-7 win for the Rails. Jake Comnick, Dan Solarz, and Ryan Vanderscheuren hit back-to-back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the first inning. Vanderscheuren was the winning pitcher and Wojtysiak got the save.

Proctor won a first-round home game in 2012 by a score of 9-0. Jake Lewis and Matt Dolsen combined on a one-hitter. Cody Dolsen hit a home run and Ian Scherber, Jesse Scanlon, and Jack Nikko had two hits apiece.

Proctor is 11-3 in the all-time series against Eveleth-Gilbert that began in 2004. Proctor defeated E-G, 11-1 in five innings, at Superior on April 15, 2016, in the teams' last meeting.