by Max Mercy

SUPERIOR -- Dylan Quade's RBI single plated Wyatt Sanford from second base for the walk-off win with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning as Aitkin defeated Proctor, 2-1, in the quarterfinals of the Section 7AA Playoffs at Superior NBC Spartan Sports Complex on Tues., June 6.

Aitkin advanced to face Esko, which lost 2-1 to Duluth Marshall, in the semifinal game later in the evening.

In the ninth, Wyatt Sanford led off with a walk and moved to second base on a sacrifice hit by Jack Kuppich. Sam Peterson was then intentionally walked, and Jeb Sanford flew out for the second out. Quade cracked pitcher John Aase's 1-1 pitch to center field and Wyatt Sanford sprinted home for the winning run.

Proctor went ahead 1-0 in the third when Ben Harnell, catcher Reid Morin's courtesy runner, scored on a wild pitch.

Aitkin knotted the score in the fifth when Jeb Sanford reached on an error with two outs and Jake Westerlund scored on the play.

Winning pitcher Jeb Sanford tossed three shutout innings in relief of starter Caleb Curtiss. Sanford allowed two hits, no walks, and had three strikeouts. Curtiss allowed one run on five hits, four walks, and one hit batsman. He had six strikeouts.

Aase (4-3 W-L. 3.03 ERA) took the loss in relief of starter Zach Gunderson. Gunderson worked seven innings and allowed one run (unearned) on six hits and five walks (one intentional). He had two strikeouts. Aase allowed one run on two hits and two walks (one intentional) with two strikeouts.

Jeb Sanford and Westerlund had two hits apiece for the Gobblers.

Morin had two hits and Bryce Huffman hit a double for Proctor.

The Rails finish the season with an overall record of 10 wins and 12 losses.