CLOQUET -- Proctor defeated Cloquet in a Lake Superior Conference baseball game at Ed Mettner Field. The Rails broke a 2-2 tie with five runs in the top of the fifth inning, including a three-RBI double by Tyler Pionk. It was the Rails' first win against Cloquet since 2004. Pionk had two doubles, and Justin Scanlon, Ryan McCarthy, and Jimmy Merling had three hits each as Proctor pounded out 16 hits.
Alex Oachs (5-2, 3.12 ERA, 42.2 IP) earned his fifth win of the season in a complete-game effort. He allowed three earned runs on six hits and three walks in seven innings. He had four strikeouts. Oachs became the first Rails pitcher to record five wins in a season since Ryan Vanderscheuren in 2004.
Pionk set a new PHS single-season record for doubles in a season, with nine. The previous record of eight was set by Ryon Morgando in 2000 and tied by Kyle Wojtysiak in 2005.
Pionk also recorded the 50th hit of his varsity career. He is the sixth player in PHS history to reach 50 hits. Pionk started the week with 46 career hits, tied for 10th with Bill Moen (1971-73). His one hit on Mon. against Denfeld moved him in a tie for ninth place with Jay Nelson (1974-78) with 47. His one hit against Crosby-Ironton on Tues. placed him in a tie for eighth place with Terry Egerdahl (1970-72) with 48. With his two hits today, he passed Jeff Merling (1975-77) and Mike Pehl (2000-02) (49 each).
PHS 50 Career Hits Club
1. Drew Scherber, 69 (2004-07)
2. Charlie Habermann, 66 (2006-09)
3. Kyle Wojtysiak, 62 (2002-05)
4. Dan Carlson, 58 (2003-06)
5. Dan Solarz, 57 (2004-06)
6. Tyler Pionk, 50 (2008-)