UA-137387785-1
Proctor Rails

Recap for the 05/26/2015 game vs. Hermantown (Playoffs)

Preview Box Score Recap
  1.  
    HermantownH
    Proctor RailsPR
  1. 1
    2
    0
  2. 2
    0
    7
  3. 3
    0
    0
  4. 4
    0
    0
  5. 5
    0
    0
  6. 6
    6
    0
  7. 7
    0
    1
  8. 8
    1
    2
  1. R
    9
    10
  2. H
    10
    10
  3. E
    2
    3

by Max Mercy

ELY, Minn. -- Matt Sievert's sacrifice fly scored pinch runner Lucas Nordquist to lift Proctor past Hermantown, 10-9, in the bottom of the eighth inning of a second-round game of the 2015 Section 7AA Playoffs at Ely on Tuesday, May 26.

Nordquist was inserted as a courtesy runner for pitcher Brandt Forstrom, who had singled following Dylan Pionk's one-out single. Jake Malec batted after Fostrom and hit into what would have been a fielder's choice forcing Nordquist out at second, but an error on the play allowed Pionk to score the game's tying run and put Nordquist on third. An intentional walk to Matt Morris set up Sievert's game-winning fly out to right field.

Brandt Forstrom (1-1 W-L, 4.31 ERA) worked two innings of relief for the win. He allowed one run on one hit and five walks (one intentional), with four strikeouts.

Hermantown wasted little time by getting on the board with two runs on three consecutive hits in the first inning. Proctor stormed back with a seven-run second inning that resulted in an early exit for Hermantown starting pitcher Parker Hawk. Jake Galatz took over with one out in the inning, but he was tagged for a bases-loaded walk to Reid Morin and two-run hits each by Malec and Morris, with Morris's drive being a double. The Rails could not figure out Galatz in the middle innings, including a stretch of seven consecutive outs, and the scored remained 7-2 in favor of the Rails until the top of the sixth.

Proctor starter Malec was relieved by John Aase with two outs after facing seven batters in the sixth. Hermantown scored six runs in the inning to go ahead, 8-7. The inning saw four hits, three walks (one intentional), two errors, three wild pitches, and a passed ball. Malec pitched five and two-thirds innings and allowed seven runs (two earned) on eight hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

Sievert singled with one out in the bottom of the seventh. He advanced to second on Aase's single, took third on a wild pitch, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt Tracey to tie the score at 8-8.

Hermantown touched Forstrom for a run in the top of the eighth on an RBI double by Nathan Kieper. With the bases loaded and two outs, Hermantown's Taylor Absher had an 11-pitch at-bat in which he fouled off six two-strike pitches, two with a 3-2 count, before Forstrom won the battle on a strikeout to end the inning.

Aase and Matt Tracey collected two hits apiece, and Matt Tracey had two RBIs. Malec and Morris were both 1-for-4 with two RBIs.

Losing pitcher Thomas Madison tossed one and one-third innings in relief of Galatz. Madison allowed two runs (both unearned) on two hits and two intentional walks.

The Hawks' Eric Gotz had two hits and three runs scored, and Nathan Kieper had three hits and two RBIs..

Proctor, now 12-9, advanced to play agianst Cloquet in the winners' bracket's quarterfinals of Section 7AA Playoffs on Thursday, May 27, at Duluth's Wade Stadium. The game is slated to start at 4:30 p.m.