HIBBING -- Superior erased a 2-0 deficit with an eight-run fourth inning and went on to defeat Proctor, 14-2 in six innings, in the Mike Bugliosi Wood Bat Classic at Al Nyberg Field on Sat., April 20.

Proctor scored two runs in the bottom of the third to take the short-lived lead. Zach Gunderson singled with two outs, and four consecutive walks to John Aase, Bryce Huffman, Blake Koski, and Ryan Lear led to Gunderson's and Aase's runs.

Winning pitcher Ben Rhodes relieved starter Derek Fender after the walk to Koski. Rhodes pitched three and one-third shutout innings and allowed one hit and three walks with two strikeouts.  

Proctor's starting pitcher, Cole Johnson, made his varsity pitching debut. He retired the first nine batters of the game before the fourth-inning quagmire.

Superior's Conner Fonger led off the fourth with a walk. CJ Fortune was then hit by a pitch, and both runners scored on Justin Reinkall's double. Dominic D'Auria's sacrifice hit moved Reinkall to third and Reinkall scored on an RBI single by Jared Danovsky. Danovsky was forced out at second on a fielder's choice off of the bat of Judd Erickson for the second out, but then a single by Rhodes and a walk to Devin Samarzia loaded the bases.

With the score 3-2, Proctor could have escaped further damage but for an error that plated Erickson and kept the bases loaded. Fonger then hit a two-run single that chased Johnson. With Koski on in relief, Fortune walked to load the bases again and Reinkall delivered a two-run single.

Koski walked Danovsky and Erickson to lead off the fifth before being replaced by Ricky Steel, who also made his varsity pitching debut. With runners on second and third following a wild pitch, Devin Samarzia's infield hit drove in Danovsky, and Erickson also scored on the play following an error.

Ben Harnell, also making his first varsity pitching appearance, worked the sixth inning. He allowed four runs on one hit, four walks, and a hit batsman.

The game was called after six innings due to the 10-run rule.

Fonger was 1-for-4 with two runs and two RBI; Reinkall was 2-for-3 with a double, a run, and four RBI; D'Auria was 1-for-3 with a double and a run; Danovsky was 1-for-2 with two runs and an RBI; Rhodes was 1-for-2 with two runs and an RBI; Devin Samarzia was 1-for-2 with a run and two RBI; and Drake Samarzia was 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI.

Gunderson, Aase, and Huffman got Proctor's three hits, all singles.

Proctor, now 7-7, is back in action at Wade Stadium on Tues., May 23, against Denfeld. The game is at 6:00 p.m.