Justin Filzen, Dan Solarz and Kevin Schubert had two hits each as the Rails (2-0) won the home game.

Dan Anderson had two hits, and Justin Ambrozio scored two runs for Moose Lake-Willow River (0-2).

(Duluth News Tribune, April 18, 2006)

PHS boys baseball starts season with a bang

by The Sports Guy

Proctor boys baseball got its home season going Monday night at Terry Egerdahl Field with an 11-5 win over Moose Lake-Willow River.

The team had won their first game, an April 3 contest against Milaca, held at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. The Rails beat the Wolves 9-3.

Monday's game began on an ominous note, with ML-WR taking a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. But Proctor stayed as cool as the steady wind coming off Lake Superior, nibbling away at the Rebels' lead until Rails junior Jon Podgornik blasted a double that scored two base runners to tie the game. Proctor didn't let up, forging a 5-3 lead to end the first inning. The top of the second inning saw ML-WR load the bases. With one out, a Rebel batter drove in two runs to again tie the game. Proctor didn't score in the bottom of the second inning and the score remained 5-5.

But the Rails would drive for another six runs while holding the Rebels scoreless the remainder of the game to come away with their first home win. Kevin Schubert pitched a complete game -- outstanding for a young sophomore. Schubert also had two hits, matching the tally by teammates Dan Solarz and Justin Filzen. Drew Scherber had two runs for the Rails, while Podgornik accounted for three RBI's total in the game.

"It was nice to win, especially at home," said Proctor head coach Tim Rohweder. "Although I'm not sure we can exactly call this field 'home' yet, since we've only had one practice on it and now this game."

"It's as foreign to us as it was to ML-WR," he laughed.

On a more serious note, Rohweder winced when congratulated on the win.

"I saw a lot of things we need to work on in those first couple of innings. Early-season things -- timing, sloppiness. Our guys really shined with their base running, though. Nearly every run we got was because we capitalized on their mistakes and got an extra base in the play."

Proctor came right back with a Tuesday game at Ely, with the results unavailable at deadline, before heading to Aurora today (Thurs.) for a game with Mesabi East. Nashwauk-Keewatin is host for a Mon., April 24, contest. Both games are scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.

(Proctor Journal, April 20, 2006)