by Max Mercy
PROCTOR -- Proctor clinched its first conference championship since 1992 and the Rails improved to 12-0 with a win in a Lake Superior Conference baseball game against Hermantown at Proctor.
Proctor jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run home run by Justin Scanlon and an RBI double by Cody Dolsen. The Rails scored three runs in the third inning on doubles by Ryan McCarthy and Pat Everson and a sacrifice fly by Nick Nylund to take a 6-0 lead.
Hermantown scored two runs in the fourth inning on a two-run single by Cody Baker. The Hawks added another run in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by Billy Grillo to cut Proctor's lead to 6-3.
Nylund hit a two-run double in the fifth inning to bring the score to 8-3.
Winning pitcher Jake Lewis (5-0, 1.86 ERA) allowed three runs on 12 hits and three walks in seven innings. Lewis had three strikeouts and threw his third complete game of the season.
Kevin Folman picked up the loss. He allowed four earned runs on nine hits and one walk in five innings. He had three strikeouts.
Baker, Grillo, Connor Lucas, and Mike Robertson each had two hits for Hermantown (11-3).
Proctor has now won the Lake Superior Conference five times (1977, 1980, 1981, 1992, and 2011). The conference was established in 1975.
The Rails are back in action in a non-conference game on Friday, May 20, at Eveleth-Gilbert.
>>> box score
Rails Notes: Jake Lewis became the ninth pitcher in PHS history to record 100 career innings pitched. He now has 102.2 career innings pitched.