by Max Mercy

Hibbing overcame an 8-6 deficit with a four-run sixth inning and hung on to beat Proctor, 10-9, in the final game of the 2016 Mike Bugliosi Wood Bat Classic at Hibbing on Saturday, May 21.

Anthony Kanipes hit a two-run double to break an 8-8 tie in the Bluejackets' big sixth, and he picked up a save as he came in to pitch in the top of the seventh after Blake Koski led off with a double that chased winning pitcher Andrew Mickelson. Koski ended up scoring when Luke Nordquist reached on a two-base error with one out, but then Kanipes recorded two strikeouts to end the game.

Proctor took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on consecutive singles by Matt Tracey, Jake Malec, and Matt Morris, the latter two for RBIs.

Hibbing got a run back in the first on four hits, all singles. Travis Carruth drove in Riley Versich with a bases-loaded single with two outs.

In the third, Morris reached on a two-base error, took third on a wild pitch, and scored on John Aase's RBI single to make the score 3-1.

Hibbing took a 4-3 lead in the third with a three-run outburst that included five singles. Versich's two-RBI hit put the Bluejackets in the lead.

But Proctor answered right back with a four-run fourth, ending the day for Hibbing starter Zach DeBoom. Koski led off with a single and moved to second when Zach Gunderson singled as a pinch-hitter with one out for his first varsity hit. Derek Dahlgren's RBI single plated Koski and Tracey was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Malec, who delivered a two-run single. Morris reached on a fielder's choice error that sent Tracey home for the fourth run of the frame.

Nordquist relieved starter Tracey in the fourth. Hibbing scratched across a run after DeBoom reached on an error with one out and two walks loaded the bases for an RBI groundout by Trevor Erickson. The score was Proctor 7, Hibbing 5 after four complete innngs.

Hibbing's Jon Boggia walked to lead off the fifth and stole second. Jaimin Lanphere walked with one out, and Kanipes hit into a fielder's choice forcing Lanphere out at second. A walk to DeBoom loaded the bases and ended Nordquist's day on the mound. Malec came on in relief and got a fly out to end the inning, but not before Hibbing scored on a passed ball to close the gap to 7-6.

Tracey singled to lead off the sixth, advanced to second on Malec's groundout, stole third, and scored on Aase's RBI single with two outs.

Hibbing's big sixth included two hits -- a single by Erickson and Kanipes's double -- three walks, and three Proctor errors. Koski made his varsity pitching debut as he got the Rails out of the inning by getting the only batter he faced to hit into a fly out.

Mickelson earned the win in relief of DeBoom; he allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits with no walks and one strikeout in two innings.

Malec (0-1 W-L, 0.00 ERA) was saddled with the loss. He allowed four runs (all unearned) on two hits and three walks with one strikeout in one inning.

Tracey and Koski had three hits apiece to pace the Rails, with Malec and Aase contributing two hits each. Malec had three RBI, and Tracey scored three runs.

Hibbing had 13 hits, with five players getting two apiece. Versich, Kanipes, and Erickson had two RBI apiece.

Proctor is now 12-5. The Rails are back in action on Tuesday at Wade Stadium as they face Duluth Denfeld in a Lake Superior Conference showdown. The winner of Tuesday's game is the LSC champion.