by Max Mercy

DULUTH -- Proctor defeated Eveleth-Gilbert, 17-6, in an elimination game of the Section 7AA Playoffs on Thurs., June 1, at Wade Stadium. The 10-run rule shortened the game to five innings.

The Rails scored one run in the first, four in the second, and 12 in the third for a 17-0 lead. The Golden Bears scored six runs in the top of the fourth.

Luke Nordquist earned his first varsity win. He pitched three and two-thirds innings and allowed five runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks. He had three strikeouts.

Reid Morin led off the bottom of the first with a double and Ben Harnell took over on the bases as his courtesy runner. Nordquist singled, sending Harnell to third. Jerid Parrott entered as Nordquist's courtesy runner. Harnell scored when Parrott stole second.

Cole Johnson reached on an error with one out in the second inning. Ricky Steel followed with a single, sending Johnson to second base. Both runners advanced on a double steal, and both runners scored on an error on the play. Morin drew a walk with two outs and Nordquist was hit by a pitch. Their respective courtesy runners scored on John Aase's two-RBI single.

The Rails sent 16 batters to the plate in their big third inning. The inning featured six hits including a three-RBI double by Bryce Huffman, a two-RBI double by Jordan Linder, and two-RBI singles by Linder and Johnson. There were seven walks in the inning. Linder had two hits and four RBI, and Zach Gunderson had two walks.

The Golden Bears had five hits and Proctor committed two errors in E-G's six-run fourth.

Jake Pioro, who relieved Nordquist in the fourth, retired the side in order in the fifth to preserve the five-inning, 10-run-rule victory.

Morin was 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI. Aase was 1-for-3 with a run and three RBI. Huffman was 1-for-4 with a double, a run, and three RBI. Gunderson was 1-for-2 with a triple and two runs. Blake Koski was 1-for-3 with two runs. Johnson was 1-for-2 with three runs and two RBI. Steel was 1-for-3 with a run. Linder was 2-for-3 with a double, two runs, and four RBI.

Eveleth-Gilbert finishes the season with a 13-9 record. Proctor, now 10-11, returns to action on Tues., June 6.