by Max Mercy

HERMANTOWN -- Proctor defeated Hermantown 7-5 in a Lake Superior Conference baseball game at Hermantown. Hermantown, ranked #2 in Minn. Class AA, was 16-0. Proctor overcame a 5-3 deficit with a three-run sixth inning.

 

Winning pitcher Ben Nelson (4-2, 1.92 ERA) tossed his sixth complete game in six starts. He allowed three earned runs on nine hits and three walks. He had five strikeouts.

 

Proctor took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Jimmy Merling walked, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jesse Scanlon, moved to third on a single by Ryan McCarthy, and scored on a wild pitch.

 

Hermantown answered with a run in the bottom of the first on a two-out double by Jared Thomas and an RBI single by Kevin Folman.

 

Proctor went ahead 2-1 in the second when Evan Scherber led off with a single, advanced to second on an error, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Ian Scherber, and scored on an RBI groundout by Merling.

 

Proctor went up 3-1 in the third on a lead off home run by Ryan McCarthy, his third round-tripper of the season.

 

Hermantown tied the score 3-3 in its half of the third. Austin Klingsporn led off with a single, and Thomas and Folman both walked with two outs to load the bases. Klingsporn and Thomas scored on a fielding error and a thowing error, respectively.

 

Hermantown took a 5-3 lead with two runs in the fifth. Neal Pionk walked with one out, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on an RBI double by Thomas. Thomas reached third base on a single by Folman, and scored on an RBI single by Brian LeBlanc.

 

Proctor went ahead 6-5 in the sixth. Cody Dolsen singled with one out, Evan Scherber walked, and Jack Nikko singled to load the bases. Ian Scherber walked, earning an RBI and scoring courtesy runner Joe Carter. Merling then hit into an RBI fielder's choice, scoring pinch runner Jake Malec, that resulted in an errant throw. After Nikko scored on a wild pitch, Hermantown starting pitcher Folman was replaced by Lane LeGarde, who got two outs to sandwich an intentional walk to McCarthy.

 

Proctor added a run in the top of the seventh. Paul Hegstrom led off with a single and was replaced by pinch runner Carter. Carter advanced to second base on an errant pick-off throw, and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Cody Dolsen. Carter scored on an RBI single by Evan Scherber.

 

Folman picked up the loss. He pitched five and one-third innings, and allowed four earned runs on five hits, four walks, and one intentional walk. He had five strikeouts.

 

McCarthy and Evan Scherber had two hits for Proctor. Thomas, Folman, LeBlanc, and Klingsporn had two hits apiece for Hermantown.

 

Proctor (9-4) is in the Hibbing "Wood Bat" Tournament tomorrow and Saturday. Hermantown (16-1) hosts Greenway tomorrow.