by Max Mercy

PROCTOR -- Esko defeated Proctor, 12-1, in a non-conference baseball game on Thurs., May 25. The game, shortened to six innings due to the 10-run rule, was the last game scheduled to be played on natural grass at Terry Egerdahl Memorial Field as artificial-surface installation will begin in June.

The Eskomos took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a home run by Ryan Nelson.

Proctor tied the score in its half of the inning. The Rails loaded the bases with no outs on a lead-off walk to Reid Morin and back-to-back singles by Luke Nordquist and John Aase. Ben Harnell, the courtesy runner for Morin, scored on Bryce Huffman's sacrifice fly.

Esko plated four runs in the third inning. Riggs Olson led off with a single and Reid Davidson was hit by a pitch. Nelson knocked in Olson and sent Davidson to third on an RBI double. Tyler Peterson then delivered a two-run single and advanced to second on the play. Peterson scored from second on an RBI single by Ryan Bourgeault.

Two Esko runs in the fourth made the score 7-1. Carter Northey led off by reaching base on an error, and Olson followed by also reaching base on an error on a sacrifice hit. Both runners advanced a base on Davidson's sacrifice hit for the first out. Brody Kaldahl's RBI single scored Northey. Olson scampered home when Kaldahl was caught stealing.

In the sixth, the Eskomos scored five runs on two hits, one walk, one hit batsman, and two Proctor errors. Peterson had the only RBI of the inning, on a single that plated Davidson.

Winning pitcher Kaldahl worked all six innings and allowed one run on five hits, one walk, and two hit batsmen with seven strikeouts.

Proctor's Mason Flick (0-4 W-L, 2.80 ERA) tossed his third complete game in his third varsity start. Flick allowed five earned runs on nine hits, two walks, and three hit batsmen. He had one strikeout.

Kahdahl, Nelson, and Peterson had two hits apiece. Peterson had three RBI and Nelson had two. Nelson scored three runs, and Davidson, Peterson, and Olson scored twice each.

Nordquist, Aase, Huffman, Ryan Lear, and Cole Johnson had Proctor's five hits. Huffman's was a double.

Proctor finishes the regular season with a 7-10 W-L mark. The Rails begin defense of their Section 7AA Playoffs title on Tuesday, May 30, at a site and time to be determined.