by Max Mercy

PROCTOR -- Jimmy Merling was 4-for-4 and set a school record for career hits as Proctor defeated Two Harbors 10-0 in a non-conference baseball game at Proctor. The game was called with no outs in the bottom of the fifth inning due to the 10-run rule.

Going into the game, Merling's 89 career hits was tied with 2012 graduate Ryan McCarthy for the most in the history of Proctor High School baseball. Merling now has 93. Merling also broke the school record for career plate appearances. The previous record was 301 set by Tyler Pionk in 2011. Merling now has 303 career PA's. He also tied the school record for most career at bats, at 247 with 2012 graduate Ian Scherber. Merling also stole three bases in the game and surpassed 60 career steals. He now has 62, which is 34 more than the second-most in school history.

Jake Malec and Michael Gales, both making their varsity pitching debuts, combined on a three-hit shutout. Malec worked the first four innings for the win. He allowed two hits and three walks with three strikeouts. Gales allowed one hit and had one strikeout in one inning.

Proctor's Paul Hegstrom was 2-for-3 with a double, two runs, and three RBIs. Ben Nelson was 1-for-2 with two runs and an RBI. Malec was 1-for-3 with a run. Evan Scherber had two RBIs. In his first varsity plate appearance, Gales connected for a single and an RBI on a suicide squeeze play to score Joe Carter to end the game in the fifth inning.

Tim Bott was the losing pitcher. Bott allowed nine earned runs on 10 hits and eight walks in four innings. Lucas Kempfter hit a double for the Agates.

Proctor is now 5-3.