by Max Mercy
CLOQUET -- The Lumberjacks' four-run third inning broke a 1-1 tie as Cloquet defeated Proctor, 9-3, in a Lake Superior Conference baseball game on Thursday at Ed Mettner Field.
Cloquet scored a run in the first inning. Gavin Rasmussen reached base on an error with one out. He stole second and reached third on a throwing error on the play, and scored when Jon Baker reached on an error.
Proctor tied the score in the third. Ben Harnell walked to lead off the inning. He advanced to second on a wild pitch before Lucas Nordquist also drew a walk. Bryce Huffman's single loaded the bases and Harnell scored on a wild pitch.
The 'Jacks' third started when Cooper Grashorn reached on an error and subsequently stole second. Then Jon Baker drew a walk with two outs. Nick Baker delivered an RBI double, scoring Grashorn. Noah Witte followed with a two-run double that plated Jon Baker and Nick Baker. Witte scored on Noah Neimi's RBI single.
Cloquet scored a run in the fourth to make the score 6-1. Adam Luing led off with a single and advanced to second on a hit by Grashorn. Tim Pokornowski hit into a fielder's choice which sent Luing to third and forced Grashorn out at second for the second out. Pokornowski then intentionally allowed himself to be picked off of first and remained in a run-down long enough for Luing to score.
Cloquet made the score 9-1 with a three-run fifth. Nick Baker and Witte drew back-to-back walks with one out. Nick Baker scored on an RBI single by Neimi, whose at-bat was extended after an error on a foul pop-up. Patrick Delizo's groundout advanced Witte to third and Neimi to second. Witte then scored on a passed ball and Neimi scored when Luing reached on an error.
Proctor scored twice in the sixth for the game's final runs. Matt Johnson and Conner Pavlowich drew back-to-back walks with one out. Tanner Olson, making his varsity debut, hit into a fielder's choice which sent Matt Johnson to third and forced Pavlowich out at second. An error on the play allowed Matt Johnson to score. The inning continued with three straight walks to Harnell, Nordquist, and Ethan Bakke. Olson scored on Bakke's free pass.
Proctor, with seven hits, nine walks, and a hit batsman, left 12 runners on base in the game.
Pokornowski earned the win by pitching the first five and one-third innings. He allowed two runs on six hits and four walks with six strikeouts. Parker Lundberg tossed one and two-thirds innings in relief. He allowed one run on one hit and five walks with two strikeouts.
Zach Gunderson (1-2 W-L, 3.89 ERA) was the losing pitcher. He allowed six runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts in four innings. Ryan Lear pitched the fifth inning and allowed three runs (all unearned) on one hit and two walks. Nordquist pitched a scoreless sixth inning.
Neimi led Cloquet with two hits and two RBI. Witte had two runs and two RBI.
Proctor, now 8-3, is back in action at home on Tuesday, May 15, against Duluth Marshall.
Rails Notes
Zach Gunderson surpassed 100 career innings pitched in Thursday's game. He is the 13th known Rails pitcher to reach the milestone.
Rails Career Innings Pitched Leaders
- Dale Nikko 232.0, 1975-78
- Jake Lewis 196.2, 2009-12
- Ben Nelson 152.0, 2010-13
- Dan Carlson 151.2, 2003-06
- John Aase 145.0, 2014-17
- Alex Oachs 137.1, 2008-11
- Jim Masterson 123.2, 1970-72
- Chris Kindgren 123.0, 1985-87
- Bill Moen 109.0, 1971-73
- Mike Grover 105.1, 1975-78
- Matt Morris 105.0, 2012-16
- Zach Gunderson, 101.2, 2015-
- Nik Peterson 100.1, 1979-81
- Bill Richardson 99.2, 1978-81