by Max Mercy

PROCTOR -- Proctor advanced to the Final Four with a 17-0 win against International Falls in a Section 7AA Playoffs second-round game at Proctor. The game was shortened to five innings due to the 10-run rule.

 

Winning pitcher Jake Lewis (6-1, 2.57 ERA) and reliever Chase Lundberg combined on the shutout. Lewis threw four innings and allowed two hits, one walk, and one hit batsman. He had three strikeouts.

 

Ryan McCarthy put the Rails ahead with a two-run home run in the first inning, his sixth round-tripper of the season.

 

Proctor broke the game open with a seven-run second inning, which included four walks, two hit batsmen, two errors, and a three-run double by Tyler Pionk.

 

Pionk was two-for-two with two runs scored and three RBIs, and Justin Scanlon was two-for-three with three runs scored and four RBIs.

 

The win marked Proctor's second consecutive Final Four appearance, and their third in five years.