By Max Mercy

AURORA -- Proctor opened its 2023 season by defeating Mesabi East, 9-1. Winning pitcher Nick Terhaar (1-0, 0.00 ERA) had 12 strikeouts in five innings. He allowed one hit.

The Rails plated two runs in the first inning. Blake Imhoff led off with a walk, advanced two bases on a wild pitch, and scored on an RBI single by Tanner Ross. Ross scored on an RBI double by Terhaar.

Proctor got two more runs in the third frame. Mason Imhoff entered as a courtesy runner after Terhaar singled with one out. Imhoff advanced to second on a groundout and took third when Tyler Berglund reached on an error. A subsequent balk sent Imhoff across the plate and Berglund to second. Berglund then scored on an RBI single by Ethan Carter.

Proctor went ahead 6-0 with two more runs in the fifth. Cooper Johnson singled with one out and was replaced by courtesy runner Breckin Ross. Carter's RBI single with two outs plated Ross with Carter advancing to second on the play. Carter then scored on an RBI single by Ian Gilles.

Blake Imhoff scored in the sixth for a 7-0 lead. He led off with a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored on an RBI groundout by AJ Reyelts.

The Rails added two more runs in the seventh on three walks, three wild pitches, an error, and a single by Carter.

Mesabi East loaded the bases on two infield singles and an error with no outs in the bottom of the seventh off Berglund in his second inning of relief pitching. Berglund then got two strikeouts before the Giants scored a run on an infield error. On the play, Terhaar, playing left field, fielded the caromed ball and fired a strike to catcher Johnson to get the game-ending third out on the runner advancing from second base on a bang-bang play at home plate.

Carter was 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. Tanner Ross and Terhaar contributed two hits.

Proctor, 1-0, is next in action at home on Monday, April 17. The Rails host Moose Lake-Willow River at 11:00 a.m.