"Take me out to the ball game..."

That first step onto the hallowed artificial turf of the Minneapolis Metrodome was to members of the Proctor Rails baseball team something like an individual journey into each player's own "Field of Dreams."

Some of the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins could still be seen leaving the dugouts as Proctor and Becker High School players filed through the tunnel and onto the surface of the Metrodome.

Just minutes before, the likes of Torii Hunter, Corey Koskie, A.J. Pierzynski, Doug Mientkiewicz, and a host of other Minnesota Twins, not to mention the Boston Red Sox, had been in hard-hitting action on this very same field.

The Rails were destined from start to finish to dominate play against Becker High School. Proctor picked up their third win of the season. Proctor played their best game.

About 100 loyal boosters made the trip to take in the Twins' loss to Boston.

Proctor 5, Becker 2

Ryan Anderson stepped up to the plate to start the action with a free pass to first base on an error by the Becker shortstop.

Next up was Rails' catcher Seth Reinke who blasted the ball to right field enabling Anderson to round second and third and head home for the 1-0 lead.

Jake Comnick smacked a short RBI single to left field to drive Reinke home.

Comnick became the first out of the inning thanks to a Becker trick play. The Bulldogs' catcher threw a pick-off toss that the shortstop seemingly missed. The center fielder went scrambling like he was chasing a loose ball. Meanwhile Comnick slid into first [sic] and started heading for third on the overthrow. The only thing was the shortstop had the ball in his glove the whole time and tagged Comnick out as soon as the Proctor runner left second base.

In Comnick's defense the play even failed Becker fans, who admitted they had not seen that trick play before.

Dan Carlson reached first base on a walk before Bud Brandon Tessier popped a ball up. Carlson was caught off first base for a double play to end the inning.

Tessier was on the pitcher's mound. The senior hurler was at the top of his game. He retired the Becker batters in order in the first inning with a ground out, strike out, and then a spectacular play with a throw from third base to first baseman Doug Anderson, who made a stretch to snag the ball for the third out.

Proctor scored again in the third inning. Ryan Anderson led off with a walk to first base.

Minutes later Carlson slapped a short hit to right field to put runners at first and second. That was followed by Tessier hitting to deep right center to score Ryan Anderson, before the inning came to a close.

Tessier and his defense crippled Becker, setting down one batter after another. Tessier had a no-hitter going through five and a third innings. A handful of Becker players reached base on errors, but there were no solid hits until the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Bulldogs scored runs in the fifth and sixth innings.

Tessier pitched five and two-third innings before Dan Carlson stepped in to close out the game.

In the top of the seventh inning the Rails lead had been trimmed to 3-2.

Ryan Anderson ripped a shot deep to right center for a stand-up double. He was sent home when Comnick sent a shot to left field. Carlson added another hit with a shot over the first baseman's head to send Comnick to third.

Comnick scored when Carlson launched a trick play. He let himself get caught in a rundown on a steal to second. That allowed Comnick to race home. Once the Bulldogs realized how they had been duped the ball was fired to the catcher, but the throw was too late. Meanwhile Carlson reached second base.

Ryan Anderson scored three runs, while Seth Reinke had the longest and hardest base hit. Comnick and Carlson went two-for-three with Comnick stealing two bases, [and recording] two RBI's, and one run.

Rails head coach Tim Rohweder commented after the outing, "This game was a blast to play and coach. Our pitching and bats came together and allowed us to play our most complete game of the year."

(Proctor Journal, May 22, 2003)