by Max Mercy

DULUTH -- Proctor defeated Mora, 10-3, in an elimination round game in the Section 7AA Playoffs at Wade Stadium on Thurs., June 1.

Mason Flick (1-4 W-L, 2.85 ERA) earned his first win at the varsity level. He tossed his fourth complete game in four starts and allowed three runs on six hits and two walks. He had four strikeouts.

Offensively, Bryce Huffman batted 3-for-4 with two doubles, five RBI, and a run; John Aase was 1-for-1 with four runs, an RBI, and two stolen bases; and Cole Johnson was 3-for-3.

Proctor took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Aase was hit by a pitch with two outs and scored from first base on an RBI double by Huffman.

Mora tied it at 1-1 in the second inning. Noah Foster led off with a single, stole second, moved to third when Brycen Schritz singled, and scored when Schritz stole second.

Luke Nordquist led off the third inning by reaching third base on a dropped fly ball to the outfield. He scored on Aase's RBI single. Aase stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Zach Gunderson was hit by a pitch with one out. Aase scored, for a 3-1 lead, when Gunderson was caught stealing.

Proctor added two runs in the fifth. Nordquist singled with one out. An outfield error on the play allowed him to reach third base. Aase was hit by a pitch and stole second. Both runners scored on Huffman's two-RBI single.

The score was 10-1 after Proctor's five-run sixth. Johnson singled with one out and Ricky Steel ran for him. Steel stole second and advanced to third on Jordan Linder's single. Linder then stole second. Steel scored and Linder took third on an errant pick-off attempt. Reid Morin knocked in Linder with an RBI single and Ben Harnell entered as Morin's courtesy runner. Harnell stole second and took third on a wild pitch. Aase drew a two-out walk. Huffman's two-RBI double plated Harnell from third and Aase from first. Gunderson then traded places with Huffman by hitting an RBI double.

The Mustangs scored twice in the sixth. Back-to-back triples by Matthew Peters and Foster started the inning. Logan Sjoberg then drew a walk and Schritz bounced into an RBI fielder's choice for the final run of the game.

Losing pitcher Chase Oslin allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits, one walk, and three hit batsmen in five innings. He had seven strikeouts.

Foster was 2-for-3 with a triple, two runs, an RBI, and a stolen base.

Mora finished the season with a 14-9 record. Proctor advanced to play the loser of the Esko vs. Eveleth-Gilbert game at Wade Stadium.

Aase set a new school record for career hit by pitch. He now has 16, which broke Jon Podgornik's record of 15 set in 2005-07.