by Max Mercy
PROCTOR -- Pinch-runner Lucas Nordquist scored the winning run on a balk with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning as Proctor defeated Aitkin, 4-3, in a non-conference baseball game at Proctor on Thursday. Nordquist replaced John Aase, who led off the inning with a walk. Michael Gales advanced Nordquist to second on a sacrifice bunt and pinch hitter Brandt Forstrom singled, sending Nordquist to third. The game ended abrubtly before another pitch could be thrown, as Aitkin's pitcher was charged with a balk and both base runners were awarded one base.
The game was a see-saw affair. Aitkin's Jake Lynn led off the fourth inning with a double and scored the game's first run on Nic Bordwell's RBI single. The 1-0 advantage lasted until the bottom of the sixth, when Proctor's Matt Sievert and Aase both scored on a throwing error. Aitkin answered right back with two runs in the top of the seventh. Wyatt Sanford singled and stole second and scored when Jeb Sanford reached on an error. Jeb Sanford scored on Drew Nordean's RBI single.
Trailing by a run, Proctor rallied to tie the score in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into an extra frame. Dylan Pionk singled to lead off and he moved to second on Reid Morin's sacrifice bunt. Matt Morris, batting after a walk to Blake Koski put runners on first and second, knocked in Pionk with an RBI single. Aitkin survived to play another inning as third baseman Jeb Sanford snagged Sievert's hard ground ball down the line, stepped on third, and threw to first base to complete a double play.
Gales (4-2 W-L, 1.58 ERA) earned the win with three innings of relief. He allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and no walks with five strikeouts. Jake Malec was Proctor's starter. Malec worked five innings and allowed one run on four hits and one walk. He also had five strikeouts.
Pionk led the Rails with three hits.
Wyatt Sanford picked up the loss. He allowed four runs (two earned) in four and a third innings on six hits and four walks with one strikeout. Aitkin starter Bordwell threw three shutout innings with two hits and two walks allowed. He had five strikeouts.
Proctor, now 10-8, hosts Ashland on Saturday, May 23, at 11:00 a.m. in a Lake Superior Conference game rescheduled from a rained-out April 24 engagement. The Rails will travel to Ely on Tuesday for the first round of the Section 7AA Playoffs. Proctor earned the #3 seed in Sub-Section 2, and will face Hibbing (#6) at 4:30 p.m. in a single-elimination game. The winner advances to Tuesday's 7:00 p.m. game at Ely against the winner of the 2:00 p.m. game between International Falls (#3) and Hermantown (#7).
For full Section 7AA Playoffs brackets, click here.