by Max Mercy

Proctor defeated Greenway, 14-6, in the Mike Bugliosi Wood Bat Classic at Al Nyberg Field in Hibbing on Saturday, May 21, 2016.

Matt Morris broke the game open with a three-run triple in the top of the fourth inning that put the Rails ahead 7-2, and a seven-run sixth inning gave the Rails a 14-3 cushion and a chance for the game to be called after six innings due to the 10-run rule. But Greenway scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth and the game continued on to a scoreless seventh frame.

Proctor took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Jake Malec singled with two outs and scored from first on a hit-and-run play off of Morris's single. Morris advanced to second on the play, took third on a single by John Aase, and scored on an RBI double by Bryce Huffman.

Greenway got a run back in the second inning on a bases-loaded walk to Dyllan Herr, scoring courtesy runner Sam LaDoux.

A two-run top of the third put the Rails ahead 4-1. Matt Tracey led off with a double, moved to third on Malec's groundout, and scored on an RBI single by Aase. Aase scored from first when Huffman reached on an outfield error.

Again, Greenway got a run back in the third when Bay Zuehlke scored on a sacrifice fly by Ben Steel, making the score 4-2.

Luke Nordquist walked with one out in the fourth and was followed by a Derek Dahlgren single and a two-out walk to Malec to set up Morris's bases-clearing three-bagger.

The Raiders scored another solidary run in the fifth. Steel's RBI single plated Kole Kalisch for a 7-3 score after five complete innings.

Proctor exploded for seven runs on five hits, one walk, two hit batsmen, and one Greenway error for a commanding 14-3 lead in the sixth. But the Rails coughed up three runs in the bottom half. Zuehlke's two-run double and Kalisch's RBI triple were the big hits for Greenway.

Winning pitcher Zach Gunderson (3-1 W-L, 4.67 ERA) worked the first six innings. He allowed six runs on 10 hits and four walks with three strikeouts. Nordquist pitched a scoreless seventh.

Morris was 3-for-5 with two runs and five RBI. Dahlgren, Tracey, Aase, and Huffman had two hits apiece. Dahlgren and Huffman had two RBI each. Malec scored three runs.

Losing pitcher Jacob Neumeyer allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts in three innings.

Proctor improved to 12-4. The Rails played against Hibbing directly following the Greenway game.

Rails Notes

The Greenway game was the 92nd of Jake Malec's varsity career. He broke the previous PHS record of 91 set by Jimmy Merling in 2013.