by Max Mercy

HIBBING -- Proctor defeated Two Harbors 7-1 in the second round of the Section 7AA Playoffs at Al Nyberg Field, and returned to the Final Four for the third straight season and fourth time in six years.

 

Winning pitcher Ben Nelson (6-2, 1.89 ERA) threw his eighth complete game in eight games started. He allowed one run on five hits, two walks, and two hit batsmen. He had nine strikeouts.

 

Nelson put the Rails ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning with an RBI single. Two Harbors tied the score in the top of the fourth on an RBI single by Trygve Lodin.

 

Proctor scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth on a go-ahead RBI single by Jack Nikko and a sacrifice fly by Jesse Scanlon. Proctor added four runs in the fifth.

 

The Rails' Paul Hegstrom was 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, Evan Scherber was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, and Nelson was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

 

Sam Strom was 2-for-3 for Two Harbors.

 

Losing pitcher Kyle Omtvedt allowed six runs on nine hits, two walks, and a hit batsman in four innings pitched.

 

Two Harbors finished the season with a 12-7 record.

 

Proctor, 14-6, advanced to play Cloquet, a 7-3 winner over International Falls in other second-round action, at 7:00 p.m. at Hibbing.