Hardballers to play today, Friday

by Phil Berkheimer

PLAY BALL!

Those two words signal the official arrival of spring as high school athletes take to the diamonds across the northland for America's favorite pastime, baseball.

Proctor High baseball is off to a very good start as the Rails' sluggers posted a 2-1 record in their first full week of play.

The 1997-98 baseball season opener took the Rails to Duluth Marshall on April 14. The Hilltoppers diamond proved to be extremely kind to the visiting green clads as they rolled past the host crew by a lopsided 21-3 [the Proctorian yearbook lists the score as 11-3] margin. Along the way the Rails' bats worked overtime, including several balls that were planted over the outfield fence. Admittedly, Hilltopper Stadium is the smallest baseball field in the area with fence distances measuring less than 300 feet away from home plate in spots.

Tenth grader [Chuck Forsythe] went the distance on the mound for Proctor.

Two days later, the Rails played their home opener as they took on non-conference rival Esko at Egerdahl Field. That outing again proved to be an easy victory as Proctor rolled to the 9-3 [the Proctorian yearbook lists the score as 5-3] win.

Leading the team from the pitcher's mound was Kyle Gustavson, who went the distance for the Rails. At the plate, 11th grader Justin Blackmer was the big story as he crushed a pitch to send it sailing well over the center field fence. Proctor coach Jim Bordson said of Blackmer's clout, "The fences at Marshall were really short so home runs happen a lot, but when you put one out on our field (Egerdahl) that is definitely a legitimate home run and something worth writing about."

Unfortunately, the magic came to an end Friday afternoon as the Rail crew dropped a heartbreaker to Duluth Denfeld at Egerdahl Field.

Despite a mighty effort by the hometown heroes, they came up one short at the end of the 3-2 game. Bordson indicated that in this nail-biter his team did not turn in the performance that he felt they were capable of.

The six seniors will provide key leadership as the Lake Superior Conference race heats up. They are Chad Ward, Terry Dunbar, Travis Warnygora, Dave Engstrom, Joe Dardis, and Kyle Jonland, who is splitting time between baseball and track this spring.

Also key to the Rails game plan are juniors Jay Monroe, Kyle Gustavson, Jay Dardis, [Mike McLeod], Justin Blackmer, and Graham Schultz.

Sophomores who are expected to see a fair share of varsity action are Erik Esala, [Chuck Forsythe], and Erin Thompson. One ninth grader, Scott Wojtysiak, will see some time as a varsity squad member.

"Scott is a very good young player, but he does seem to be sort of intimidated when we face the tougher teams or in pressure situations," said the coach. "But as he gets more playing time, he is going to be a very good ball player."

The Rails will be playing back-to-back home games today (Thurs.) and tomorrow. First, they will play host to Duluth Central in a key LSC contest. On Friday, the Rails will look to up-end the North Branch Vikings. Both games are scheduled for a 4:30 start.

(Proctor Journal, April 23, 1998)