by Max Mercy

HERMANTOWN -- Proctor defeated Cloquet 9-2 for its second consecutive Section 7AA Championship on Thurs. at Hermantown.

 

Winning pitcher Jake Lewis (7-1, 0.74 ERA) allowed one earned run on four hits and six walks in six innings. He had seven strikeouts, including the last three batters he faced in the sixth inning. Ben Nelson pitched a scoreless seventh inning.

 

Proctor took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single by Cody Dolsen, but Cloquet took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third on two hits, a walk, and an error.

 

Proctor tied the score 2-2 in the bottom of the third on an RBI fielder's choice by Ryan McCarthy. The Rails added three more runs in the fourth on RBI singles by Jimmy Merling and Jesse Scanlon, and a sacrifice fly by McCarthy. Proctor went ahead 7-2 in the fifth inning on a two-run home run by Ian Scherber. Two insurance runs were added in the sixth on an RBI single by Paul Hegstrom and a sacrifice fly by Scherber to make the score 9-2.

 

Adam Hanson picked up the loss in relief of starter Brandon Conklin, who left with an injury in the first inning. Hanson allowed five earned runs on nine hits and four walks in five innings. Conklin allowed one run on two hits and a walk in one inning.

 

Merling was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Jesse Scanlon was 2-for-3 with an RBI. McCarthy contributed two RBIs. Hegstrom was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, and Scherber was 1-for-3 with two runs scored, a home run, and three RBIs.

 

Derek Anderson and Hanson had two hits apiece for Cloquet.

 

Proctor advances to the state tournament for the second year in a row and third time overall.