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Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. ~George F. Will, Men at Work: The Craft of Baseball, 1990
Casey Gazdik Memorial Tournament
August 24, 2008
Game 3 -- Sun., Aug. 24 -- Proctor 8, Port Wing 3
The Proctor Padres earned the Consolation Championship in their first appearance in the Casey Gazdik Memorial Tournament in Solon Springs, Wis., as they defeated the Port Wing Boilers in a seven-inning baseball game Sunday. The Boilers were a hodge-podge of players from Port Wing, Oulu, and St. Croix. Proctor had its own ringer: first baseman Steve Basty was on loan from the Blooming Valley Devils, who were borrowing him from the Exeland Braves for the Gazdik Tournament. Proctor's offense came alive right away, as the Padres amassed six runs on six hits in the top of the first inning, capped by Basty's three-run double. Anthony Bush earned the win; he allowed two runs on three hits and two walks in five innings. Bush had four strikeouts. Joe Collier allowed one unearned run in two innings of relief. Basty, Collier, Alan Schmidt, Nick Koubsky, and Dan Solarz all had two hits apiece for Proctor. Basty had four RBI. St. Croix's Rich Hailey had two hits and two RBI for Port Wing.
Game 2 -- Sat., Aug. 23 -- "Iron City Merchants" 10, Proctor 0
The Proctor Padres lost on Saturday to a mix-'n'-match team consisting of players from four different teams in their second baseball game of the Casey Gazdik Memorial Tournament in Solon Springs, Wis. The "Iron City Merchants", a combination of the Iron City Miners and the Ashland Merchants, used thinly-veiled aliases. Bayside's Bob Eastman appeared as "Eddie" Eastman, and Superior's Nick Garramone appeared as "Rocko" Garramone. Nick Koubsky doubled in the first inning for Proctor's lone hit. Koubsky took the loss. He allowed four earned runs on nine hits and two walks in three innings pitched. "Antonio" Clark had two hits and three RBI for the Merchants. The game was shortened to five innings due to the 10-run rule.
Game 1 -- Fri., Aug. 22 -- St. Croix 5, Proctor 4
Reed Coil struck out 14 batters and former PHS Baseball Assistant Coach Kris Minor led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run on the first pitch as the St. Croix Ravens defeated the Proctor Padres in a seven-inning baseball game in the Casey Gazdik Memorial Tournament late Friday. Bob Baxton took the loss for Proctor. He allowed four earned runs on four hits and six walks in a complete game effort. Baxton had six strikeouts. Coil went the distance for St. Croix, allowing one earned run on five hits. Jason Melander had two hits for Proctor. The game featured two runners thrown out at first base on what seemed to be base hits to right field. Proctor third baseman Joe Collier was out on a nifty wrong-foot throw by the Ravens' R.J. Keur in the fifth, and Keur was gunned out by Proctor rightfielder Dan Solarz in the sixth.
WBA Semi-Finals -- Brill 8, Proctor 5
August 9, 2008
The Brill Millers defeated the Proctor Padres in the first round of the Wisconsin Baseball Association Semi-Finals in Haugen, Wis., eliminating Proctor from the post-season.
Proctor jumped to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first with a combination of a two-out error, three consecutive walks, and a grand slam off the bat of Bob Baxton. Brill capitalized on an error and two walks with a two-run single in the bottom of the first.
Brill added a run each in the second and fifth innings. They threatened for more in every inning but the fourth, but Proctor managed to dodge several bullets thanks in part to outfield assists by Mike Gerard in the second and Baxton in the sixth.
Proctor had back-to-back hits in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings, and had the bases loaded with one out in the fifth, but were unable to score beyond the first inning. The Padres were led by Baxton (1B, HR, 4 RBI) and Buddy Carlson (1B, 2B), as they pounded out nine hits.
Proctor starting pitcher Anthony Bush left with a 5-4 lead after six innings pitched. Bush allowed three earned runs on 10 hits and six walks with one strikeout. He left the bases loaded in the second and fifth innings.
Joe Collier, who had allowed two earned runs in 10 relief appearances going into the game, was touched for three runs in the seventh inning to give Brill a 7-5 lead. Collier allowed two hits and two walks.
Nick Koubsky pitched the eighth inning, allowing one run on one hit and one hit batsman.
Collier (1-4) took the loss for Proctor. It was the Padres' first appearance in the WBA Playoffs in just the second year of the team's existence.
Brill will play the winner of the Ashland Merchants/Augusta Athletics game Sunday at Haugen for a chance to play in the WBA State Tournament at Ashland Aug. 15-17.
Proctor will next play in the Casey Gazdik Memorial Tournament in Solon Springs, Wis., Aug. 22-24 to wrap up the 2008 season.
Padres Lose in Extra Innings
August 4, 2008
The Proctor Padres lost 4-3 to the Itasca Indians in a non-league baseball game in Grand Rapids, Minn., Monday night. Itasca scored the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning with one out on a fielder's choice. With a runner on third, third baseman Nick Koubsky threw to the plate after fielding a bounding ground ball. The runner slid under the tag of catcher Jason Melander on the close play to end the game.
Proctor scored a run the top of the first inning on Koubsky's daring head-first slide into home plate. He scored from second base when Joe Collier reached on a throwing error. Koubsky had also reached on an error. Itasca wasted no time in tying the game in the bottom of the first on a double and an RBI single.
Itasca went ahead 2-1 in the third. A single scored a runner from first base who had reached on a walk. The throw home beat the runner by several steps, but he was able to get by catcher Collier.
Proctor went ahead 3-2 in the fifth when Luke Dalchow, making his first appearance since an ankle injury sidelined him on May 18, doubled down the left field line and scored when Alan Schmidt reached on an error. Schmidt reached second on the play, and when he stole third the ball got away from the catcher far enough so there was no play as he streaked across home plate.
Schmidt was pitching in relief when Itasca tied it at 3-3 in the sixth. Schmidt allowed two walks and a hit batsman. The run scored on a wild pitch.
Itasca could not get much going after that until the 10th, and even though Proctor got two runners on base each inning between the seventh through 10th, they could not get a hit to push a run across.
Collier was in his third inning of relief in the 10th. He walked the leadoff batter and when the next batter bunted to move the runner to second, third baseman Koubsky had to field the ball to throw to first and record the out and Proctor neglected to cover third base, allowing the runner to advance two bases uncontested. The next batter was intentionally walked, setting up the game-ending fielder's choice.
Proctor used four pitchers and three catchers in preparation for their WBA Semi-Finals appearance on Saturday. Anthony Bush started and worked three innings. He allowed two runs on three hits. He had four strikeouts and one walk. Koubsky pitched two innings and allowed no runs on two hits. Schmidt went two innings as well, allowing one run on no hits. Collier pitched the final two and one-third innings. He allowed one run on no hits. It was only the second earned run allowed by Collier in 10 relief appearances.
Proctor struggled at the plate, with Koubsky, Collier and Dalchow collecting the only three hits.
Proctor travels to Haugen, Wis., on Sat. to take on the Brill Millers in WBA Semi-Finals action.
Padres Are Playoff-Bound
July 30, 2008
The Proctor Padres have been selected to participate in the Wisconsin Baseball Association's Semi-Finals. The WBA met on Tues. night in Eau Claire to set playoff seeding and scheduling. Proctor joins fellow Upper 13 League members the Oulu Blue Jays, Ashland Merchants, and Bayside Vipers in the 32-team field. The Padres will travel to Haugen, Wis., to take on the Brill Millers at 3:00 p.m. on Sat., Aug. 9, in the single-elimination playoffs. With a win, Proctor would play the winner of the Ashland Merchants/Augusta Athletics game on Sun., Aug. 10, at 3:00 p.m., also at Haugen. The winner of that second game will advance to the state tournament in Ashland Aug. 15-16.
Proctor finished 7-5 in the Upper 13 League, tied for third with Bayside. The Padres will make their first appearance in the WBA Playoffs in only the second season of the team's existence. Brill finished in first place in the Independent League with a record of 15-1.
Haugen is located on US Hwy 53 between Spooner and Rice Lake. It is about 95 miles from Proctor. Detailed directions to the baseball field will become available soon, as will a projected starting lineup.
In other WBA Playoff action, Bayside plays against La Crescent, Minn., on Sat. at Osceola and Oulu faces Abbottsford on Sat. at Rib Lake. The Ashland Merchants game against Augusta will follow the Proctor/Brill game in Haugen.
Click here for the entire WBA Playoffs schedule.
Padres Finish in 3rd Place Tie
July 28, 2008
The Proctor Padres finished the 2008 Upper 13 League in a third-place tie with the Bayside Vipers. Proctor had a chance to be alone at third, but the combination of their loss at Ashland and Bayside's pounding of the Port Wing Boilers sealed the tie.
It was Proctor's second season in the league, and they improved from a dismal 4-14 record in 2007. The league cut back its schedule from 18 to 12 games, and Proctor ended up with a 7-5 record. They swept both two-game season series with Port Wing and Ashland C&S Design, split with Bayside, Superior and Oulu, and lost both games against the Ashland Merchants.
The Oulu Blue Jays defeated the Superior Lakers Sunday to finish the season 11-1. With the win, Oulu maintained sole posession of first place. Their only loss was to Proctor. The Ashland Merchants defeated Proctor 6-4 on Sunday, improving their record to 10-2. Both losses were to Oulu.
Bayside, the two-time defending league champions, lost a few key players to injuries down the stretch. They still managed to win three out of five league games in the final eight days of the season to earn a playoff berth.
Superior swept Port Wing and Ashland C&S Design and split their series with Proctor. The Lakers lost 5-1 against Oulu on Sunday, to finish 5-7 and in fifth place. They played highly competitive baseball, losing four games by one run, and outscoring their opponents 69-54.
Ashland C&S Design also lost four one-run games. They swept Port Wing for their two wins. Despite going 2-10, they were only outscored 50-63 in their twelve league games.
Port Wing suffered their second season without a win in their three years in the Upper 13 League. They lost to Bayside 16-0 on Sunday.
Ashland Merchants 6, Padres 4
July 27, 2008
Home runs by Buddy Carlson and Chris Musolf were not enough for the Proctor Padres to keep up with the Ashland Merchants as they lost in Ashland for their final 2008 Upper 13 League game.
The game was scoreless into the third inning until Ashland scored on a first-and-third steal play. Proctor took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth. Carlson led off the inning with a smash into the tall grass past the left field fence and after singles by Tim Nylund and Corey Pavlich, Alan Schmidt drove in Scott Lustig, who had reached base on a fielder's choice, with a single.
Ashland tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth on three singles and an error. Proctor got out of a one-out bases-loaded jam when third baseman Joe Collier alertly touched third on a ground ball before throwing across the diamond to get the batter-runner out at first base for a double play.
Ashland took a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning on a pair of Padres' errors. They tacked on another run in the sixth on two singles and a sacrifice fly, but Proctor was able to turn another double play on the runner who tagged up from second and attemped to take third as the throw from Proctor centerfielder Jason Melander went home. The throw was up the third base line and catcher Tim Nylund's one-hop throw beat the runner to third.
Ashland added two more in the seventh off of Proctor reliever Nick Koubsky. Two errors allowed the leadoff runner to advance to second and he later scored on a wild pitch. Koubsky was lifted in favor of Alan Schmidt after a walk and single with one out. Ashland again scored on a first-and-third steal play as the ball got away from Koubsky, now playing second base, allowing the runner from third easy access to the plate. Ashland again attempted a first-and-third steal play but this time the runner from third base was caught in a rundown and tagged out by Collier. Schmidt ended the inning with a strikeout.
Carlson walked to lead off the eighth with Proctor down by four. Musolf pinch hit for left fielder Mike Gerard and after missing on one swing, connected for Proctor's second hard-hit homer to left field and to bring the Padres back into the game, now trailing 6-4.
Collier pitched a scoreless eighth, and Proctor had the top of the lineup due up in the ninth inning. They went down 1-2-3, eliminating Proctor's chances of making the post-season outright. Now their fate lies in the hands of the region administration. The Padres will receive word of their potential participation in the playoffs on Wednesday.
Proctor starting pitcher Anthony Bush took the loss. He worked five innings and left with the Padres behind 3-2. He allowed six hits, two earned runs and no walks. He had four strikeouts.
Proctor finishes the Upper 13 League season with a mark of 7-5, good for a tie with the Bayside Vipers for third place. Bayside defeated Port Wing on Sunday to even their recored with Proctor after losing to the Merchants in Ashland on Friday. Proctor's final game of the regular season has been changed to Mon., Aug 4, at Grand Rapids. They play against the Itasca Indians, a non-league opponent.
Click on the Ashland Daily Press logo for more information.
Oulu Clinches Pennant
July 24, 2008
The Oulu Blue Jays defeated the Ashland Merchants 5-4 on Sun., July 20, to clinch the Upper 13 League pennant and the Superior Lakers were eliminated from playoff contention as they lost to Bayside 9-8 in 11 innings on Tuesday, July 22.
Oulu has secured first place in the league and a WBA playoff berth. Two more teams will also represent the Upper 13 League in the playoffs, and it has come down to the league's final weekend to determine which two go on and which one goes home. Ashland is in second place and will advance to the playoffs with a win over Bayside on Friday or Proctor on Sunday. Both games are at Ashland. If they lose both games, the run differentials in their season series with Bayside and/or Proctor will determine their fate.
Bayside split its league games with Proctor but will advance should the two be tied for third because of the run differential in their head-to-head games. Bayside hosts Port Wing (0-11) on Sunday for their final league game.
Proctor is as close to a must-win situation as possible when they go to Ashland on Sunday regardless of Friday's outcome, unless Bayside loses to both Ashland and Port Wing. If Bayside wins at Ashland, Proctor would need to beat Ashland by more than two runs to gain a run differential advantage since they lost to the Merchants 8-6 on Memorial Day in Proctor. If Bayside loses Friday, Proctor would need to win Sunday to make the playoffs.
In other Upper 13 League action, Superior travels to Oulu on Sunday.
Click on the Ashland Daily Press logo for a roundup of Upper 13 League games from Sun., July 20.
Hibbing 7, Proctor 3
July 22, 2008
The Hibbing Miners defeated the Proctor Padres 7-3 in a nonleague baseball game at Hibbing. The Padres out-hit the Miners, but again the Padres' defense caused an early deficit.
Proctor scored a run in the top of the first inning as Alan Schmidt led off with a walk, advanced to second on a Nick Koubsky sacrifice bunt, stole third, and scored on a groundout by Joe Collier. Hibbing scored four runs in the bottom of the first, as the first two batters reached on errors.
Schmidt doubled with two outs and Koubsky drove him in with a single for a run in the third inning, but Hibbing put one on the board in their half of the third on a double, passed ball and sacrifice fly. Hibbing left the bases loaded when Proctor's shortstop Schmidt made a leaping catch in shallow left field to end the inning. The Miners added two more runs in the fourth when Proctor made two errors on the same play.
Proctor starting pitcher Nick Koubsky (2-4, 5.18) took the loss, allowing one earned run in four innings. He allowed three hits, but had five walks. Schmidt and Collier combined on four scoreless innings of relief, with each pitching two innings. Neither allowed a hit, but Schimidt walked four and Collier three.
Schmidt and Koubsky had two hits apiece.
Proctor will be in Ashland on Sunday for their final league game. They play the second-place Ashland Merchants at 1:30. The Padres will end their regular season on Tuesday as they travel to Grand Rapids to take on the Itasca Indians.
Click on the Hibbing Daily Tribune logo to read about the game.
Padres Split With Vipers
July 20, 2008
The Proctor Padres and the Bayside Vipers split an Upper 13 League doubleheader at Proctor on Sunday. Bayside won the first game 7-1 and Proctor took game two 7-4. The teams were supposed to have played one game on Saturday night but it was moved to Sunday after rain canceled a game and half of the three-team tournament between Proctor, Bayside and White Bear Township. WBT defeated Bayside 12-7 and Proctor was ahead of WBT 4-3 when the games were rained-out.
Proctor struck first in the bottom of the first inning of game one. Joe Collier hit a two-out single, advanced to second as Dan Solarz walked, and scored from second on a single by Jason Melander. Those were the only two "hits" the Padres could muster against the Vipers' Marcus Besonen. Both hits were pop flies that were lost in the sun. The only other threat was in the fifth inning when Besonen walked the first two batters but then retired the next three. Besonen struck out 13 Padres in the complete game performance.
Proctor had been idle for two weeks due to a schedule change and the vacation showed as the Padres' typically sound defense (.926 team fielding average) faultered in the second inning as they allowed three unearned runs on two errors and a passed ball. Another passed ball contributed to an unearned run in the fifth inning to put Bayside ahead 4-1. Bayside tacked on three more runs in the seventh inning to hand Proctor a 7-1 drubbing. Pat Davy put an exclaimation mark on the game with a two-run home run in the seventh. Davy's run was the only earned run allowed by Proctor's pitchers. Davy had four hits and was only lacking a triple in his bid to hit for the cycle.
Padres' starting pitcher Kyle Hall (2-1, 1.64 ERA) took the loss in five innings of work. Hall allowed four unearned runs on four hits and one walk. He had five strikeouts. Nick Koubsky pitched a perfect sixth inning but was the unlucky recipient of the lackluster defense in the seventh as two errors contributed to the three-run inning that put the game away and in the pocket of the Vipers.
Bayside needed to get through a pair of former Vipers' pitchers to earn the sweep. Proctor turned to Anthony Bush to keep their playoff hopes alive. Bush made his Vipers debut in 1996 but was lost to the expansion Padres in 2007. The pitching-depleated Vipers looked to Besonen to keep up his dominance in the first game as he started game two. The Vipers were now the home team and Besonen started strong as he pitched a scoreless first inning.
Bush, who had pitched the three innings in the rain on Saturday, fell behind leadoff batter Casey Morsette before inducing a groundout. It was the only batter he faced in six innings where the count went to three balls. Robbie Trettin then singled and reached second on a steal attempt when second baseman Koubsky dropped the ball on the apparent easy out. Corey Verhel made it all the way to third and plated Trettin when Proctor right fielder Scott Lustig dropped a routine fly ball. Verhel scored on a sacrifice fly by Besonen to give Bayside an early 2-0 lead.
Jason Melander led off the top of the second with a double and quickly scored on a base hit by Koubsky. After a walk to Hall, Besonen got the next three batters out to leave Padres on second and third and the score remained 2-1.
Bayside lifted Besonen in the third inning, going with outfielder Trettin on the mound. Schmidt led off with a walk, stole second and third and scored when Dan Solarz reached on an error to tie the game 2-2.
Bayside took the lead back in the bottom half of the third when Trettin tripled to the vast Egerdahl Field right-center gap and scored on a single by Verhel.
The Padres' bats finally came to life in the fourth inning. When the dust finally settled, they were ahead 7-3. Lustig reached on an error and scored on a double by Schmidt. Schmidt stole third as Joe Collier walked. Solarz again reached on an error scoring Schmidt. Melander hit a double to score Collier, which spelled Trettin. Besonen returned to the mound and was promptly greeted by a sharply-hit two-run single by Koubsky. Besonen walked Hall and Mike Gerard singled, but he got out of the inning without any more runs scored.
Bayside scratched a run across in the fifth inning when Trettin doubled down the left field line and scored on a single by Besonen, and Besonen kept the Padres at bay for two more innings, allowing only Solarz to reach base on an error in the fifth.
Davy came on to pitch the top of the seventh. Proctor could finally say good riddance to Besonen, who accumulated 18 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings pitched over the two games. Davy hit Lustig by a pitch and Lustig stole second but was picked off by Vipers' catcher Morsette before Corey Pavlich walked. Davy got two comebackers to finish the Padres.
Flame-throwing closer Collier came on to pitch the seventh inning with Proctor ahead 7-4. Collier pitched for Bayside in 2007 but came over to the Padres in an off-season acquisition. Besonen singled with two outs, but Davy grounded into a fielder's choice to end the game and force a tight playoff race. Collier has saved three of the Padres' seven league wins.
Bush (2-3, 2.25 ERA) earned his second win of the season and first against his former team. It was his first appearance against Bayside after nine years of service in a Vipers uniform. He pitched six innings, allowed four runs (two eaned), and eight hits. He did not walk a batter and had three strikeouts.
Bayside (5-4) hosts the Superior Lakers (5-5) at Proctor on Tues. night (8:30) in a league game with huge playoff implications. Superior needs to win to stay alive and Bayside will fall a game behind Proctor (7-4) with a loss.
Proctor is in Hibbing for a nonleague game on Tues. and is back in league action on Sunday as they travel to Ashland to take on the Merchants (8-2) for their final league game. They travel to Grand Rapids for a Monday night nonleague game against the Itasca Indians to close their regular season.
Bayside has upcoming league games against the Merchants and the Port Wing Boilers (0-11).
Proctor 4, Oulu 2
July 4, 2008
Kyle Hall earned his second league win of the week as the Padres defeated the Oulu Blue Jays in an Upper 13 League baseball game at Proctor on the Fourth of July. Proctor moved to one game behind Oulu in the league standings. Hall combined with relief pitchers Nick Koubsky and Joe Collier on a four-hitter with no earned runs allowed. Collier earned his second save in league play.
Proctor scored first with a run by Alan Schmidt in the third inning. Schmidt reached base on an error, stole second and scored on a base hit by Collier on a close play at the plate.
Oulu answered with a run in the top of the fourth inning when Jeff Lahti led off by getting hit by a pitch. He advanced to third base on a single by Keith Johnson and scored on a passed ball that got away from Proctor catcher Tim Nylund.
Proctor broke the 1-1 tie right away with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Bob Baxton singled and moved to third as the Blue Jays elected to get the lead runner out on Jason Melander's bunt, but the throw was off-line. Hall then delivered a two-run double to the left-center field gap.
Melander led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a ground-rule double but the Padres were then retired in order.
Schmidt added an insurance run for Proctor in the seventh inning. He reached base on a walk, advanced to second base on a single by Collier and scored from second when the throw to first base from the shortstop on a ground ball off the bat of Baxton got past the first baseman. Melander then singled to load the bases, but Proctor was unable to capitalize on the scoring opportunity as Nylund struck out to end the inning.
Tom Simonson scored a run for Oulu in the eighth inning to close the book on the game's scoring. He reached base on an error, stole second base, moved to third base on a passed ball, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jeff Lahti.
Oulu got the potential go-ahead run to the plate in the ninth inning as Collier allowed a walk and a single before recording the final out.
Proctor improves to 6-2 in the Upper 13 League. Oulu was handed their first loss in league play. Oulu is now 7-1.
Proctor travels to Superior for an Upper 13 League contest against the Lakers on Sun., July 6, at Morrie Arnovich Field. The game will begin at 1:30 p.m.
Padres Earn 5th League Win
June 29, 2008
Proctor 7, Port Wing 0
Kyle Hall pitched a complete game shutout en route to the Padres breaking their club record for Upper 13 League wins in a season as the Proctor Padres defeated the Port Wing Boilers in an Upper 13 League baseball game Sunday at Proctor. Hall faced four batters over the minimum. He scattered six hits, had nine strikeouts, and did not allow a walk. Hall was aided by two double plays -- a routine ground ball to end the sixth inning, and a diving catch by shortstop Corey Pavlich that doubled off the runner at first base to end the game in the ninth inning.
Proctor scored two runs in the second inning. Mike Gerard singled and advanced to second base when Tim Nylund walked. Gerard scored from second base on an errant pickoff attempt to first base which sent Nylund to third base. Nylund then scored on a single by Hall.
Proctor plated three more in the sixth inning. Gerard led off the by getting hit by the pitch. Nylund moved him to second on a sacrifice bunt and Gerard scored on Hall's second RBI single. Pavlich grounded out and Alan Schmidt walked before Joe Collier delivered on an RBI single scoring Hall. Dan Solarz then beat out an infield hit down the third baseline. Schmidt scored from second base (he's fast). Collier reached second base on the hit (he's slow).
Gerard scored his third run of the game in the seventh inning after he reached base on a single and advanced to second base on a single by Nylund. Gerard scored on an errant throw on an attemped double play. Proctor tacked on one more run in the eighth inning when Schmidt singled, stole second base, reached third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Solarz.
Collier had three hits and four Padres had two hits each.
The Padres will face the Oulu Blue Jays on July 4 at Proctor. Oulu (7-0) is in first place in the Upper 13 League. The game will begin at 1:30 at Terry Egerdahl Memorial Field.
Proctor 8, Superior 7
June 8, 2008
The Proctor Padres welcomed their friendly rivals from across the St. Louis Bay to Terry Egerdahl Memorial Field in an Upper 13 League contest Sunday. Proctor was trailing 5-3 when they plated five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Superior threatened to tie the game in the ninth inning, but with two runs already across for Superior, former Padre Nick Garramone struck out with the tying run on third base to end the game. Alan Schmidt earned the win in a three-inning relief performance.
Bob Baxton hit his second double of the game to lead off the eighth and scored on a Jon Kent single. After a one-out single by Jason Melander chased Superior starter Josh Taran, Dean Bauers got Mike Gerard to ground out for the second out, but allowed Melander to steal second base during the at bat. Corey Pavlich then delivered the go-ahead single that scored Kent and Melander. Schmidt followed with a single, sending Pavlich to third base. Schmidt stole second before Joe Collier hit another two-run single for what turned out to be two much-needed insurance runs.
Superior gave Proctor a scare in the ninth inning as Jason Polikowski led off with a ground-rule double and scored on a Kyle Peterson single. Bauers forced out Peterson at second base and Justin Baker reached on a error. Schmidt got Zach Sitek to ground out but first threw a high pitch off of catcher Collier's glove that allowed Bauers to score easily and sent Baker to third base. Schmidt got Garramone out on a called strike on the inside corner.
Superior started the scoring with two runs in the first inning. Greg Aker walked to start the game and quickly stole second base. He scored on a one-out single by Peterson. Peterson later scored on a single by Sitek.
A couple of errors led to a three-run fourth inning for Proctor. Baxton reached on an error and scored on a single by Chris Musolf and after Melander also reached on an error, Gerard drove in both Musolf and Melander with a double.
Superior took the lead right back with two runs in the fifth inning. Aker singled, stole second, and scored on a single by Polikowski. Polikowski advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Peterson and reached third base on a passed ball. Polikowski scored on a mis-communicated infield pop-up off the bat of Baker.
Rob Scott's RBI single in the top of the eighth inning put Superior ahead 5-3 just before Proctor's big inning.
Proctor's starting pitcher Kyle Hall went six innings. He walked two and struck out four. Hall allowed six hits and left with a 4-3 deficit, handing the pitching duties over to Schmidt, his former teammate at Esko High School.
Padres Take Two League Games
June 1, 2008
Game 1:
Proctor 5, Ashland C&S Design 3, 7 Innings
Ashland's first three batters of the game scored off of Proctor starter Anthony Bush, but Bush then settled in for a complete game four-hitter. Bush walked one and struck out seven. Ashland managed just three base runners in the last six innings, two of which reached on Padre errors.
Marcus Hulmer and Brett Beeksma hit singles and Matt Hulmer walked to load the bases in the top of the first inning. Jake Schraufnagel hit a sacrifice fly scoring Marcus Hulmer. Blake Ellefson reached on a error plating Beeksma. Tom Schraufnagel finished the scoring by driving in Matt Hulmer with a double.
Proctor put one run across in the second inning when Dan Solarz led off with a triple and scored on a Matt Chruscielski single. Proctor scored four runs in the fourth inning to take the lead and to end the game's scoring. Jason Melander singled, Jon Kent walked, and Scott Lustig singled to load the bases. Corey Pavlich then hit an infield single to the shortstop, who attepted to make a play at first base. The ball got away on the play, leaving Pavlich on second base and all three base runners safe at home. Lustig, a track and field participant at Minnesota State-Mankato, scored from first base. Pavlich later scored on a wild pitch.
Bush, the Padres' manager, earned his first pitching win in a Padres uniform.
Game 2:
Proctor 10, Ashland C&S Design 2, 7 Innings
Game two was Ashland's home game. Proctor scored one run the top of the first innings when Joe Collier walked, advanced to second base on a wild pitch, and scored on a Dan Solarz single. Proctor added to the lead with one run in the third inning. Nick Koubsky reached on an error, was moved around the bases on a hit batsman and a single by Alan Schmidt, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Collier.
Ashland pushed one run across in the bottom of the third inning on a Marcus Hulmer single and a Jake Schraufnagel RBI single.
Proctor exploded for five runs in the top of the fourth inning as they sent nine batters to the plate. Bob Baxton led off with a walk, advanced to second on a botched fielder's choice off the bat of Jason Melander, and advanced to third base when Jon Kent was hit by a pitch. Koubsky grounded out, scoring Baxton, Pavlich drove in Melander on a safety squeeze play, and Schmidt hit a single which plated Kent. The inning was capped off by a two-run double by Solarz.
Ashland scored another run in the bottom of the fifth inning as they had four hits. Two of their runners were gunned out by Padres right fielder Baxton -- one at third and one at the plate.
Baxton replaced Padres' starter Koubsky for the last two innings. He did not allow any hits or walks the rest of the way.
Proctor added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Matt Chruscielski drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk in the sixth inning, and after Jason Melander led off the seventh inning with a double, he scored on a single by Scott Lustig. Lustig scored on a Joe Collier groundout.
Koubsky earned the win for Proctor, going five innings while allowing eight hits, two runs (both earned), and two walks. He had two strikeouts. Baxton struck out three batters.
Proctor improved to 3-1 in the Upper 13 League. Ashland C&S Design dropped to 0-4.
Proctor Wins League Opener @ Port Wing 8-2
May 25, 2008
The Proctor Padres broke open a 2-2 tie with four runs in the top of the seventh inning as they defeated the Port Wing Boilers in an Upper 13 League baseball game at Port Wing. Four consecutive batters produced an RBI each for Proctor in the seventh inning.
Winning pitcher Nick Koubsky pitched the first six innings. He allowed a run in the first inning on a hit batsman, a stolen base, and an RBI single. Proctor manufactured a run in the fourth inning to tie the game 1-1 on a lead off double by Dan Solarz, a sacrifice bunt by Jason Melander and a sacrifice fly by Alan Schmidt. The Padres went up 2-1 in the fifth inning when Corey Pavlich singled, advanced to third on an error and scored on a fielder's choice. Port Wing tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning on a solo home run.
The seventh inning started with a Joe Collier single. After Collier was forced out at second on a bunt attempt by Dan Solarz and a walk to Matt Chruscielski, consecutive singles by Chris Musolf and Melander plated two runs. Schmidt next hit a chopper to the Boilers' shortstop who elected to throw home, but Musolf was safe on the play. A Mike Gerard groundout plated Melander to end the scoring and put the Padres ahead 6-2 at the seventh inning stretch.
Third Baseman Joe Collier switched positions with Koubsky to earn a Bruce Sutter-like three-inning save. Collier was not touched for any hits or runs.
Proctor added two insurance runs in the ninth inning when Schmidt singled, stole second, advanced to third on a Gerard sacrifice bunt, and scored on an RBI single by Pavlich. Collier was hit by a pitch to move Pavlich to second base and Pavlich scored the game's final run on an RBI single by Solarz.
The Padres are home against the Ashland Merchants on Memorial Day. Game time is 1:30 p.m.
Padres Win Home Opener
May 11, 2008
Proctor 2, Iron City 1
Chris Musolf hit an RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Proctor Padres won a non-league amateur baseball game at Proctor. Winning pitcher Joe Collier pitched three innings in relief of starter Anthony Bush. Bush pitched six shutout innings and left with a 1-0 lead due to a Jason Melander solo home run in the second inning. Bush allowed two hits and one walk. He had two strikeouts. Collier allowed one run on one hit and two walks. He had four strikeouts. Iron City (Mellen, Wis.) scored in the seventh inning when Mike Karlinski walked, advanced to second base on a wild pitch and scored on a seeing-eye single through the left side by Ozzie Kozup. Dan Solarz doubled to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning and advanced to third base on a wild pitch before scoring the winning run on the line-drive single to left field by Musolf. Solarz was 3-for-3 with two doubles, and Luke Dalchow was 2-for-3 with a double for Proctor. Jesse Henri had two hits for Iron City. It was Proctor's home opener. They lost two close non-league games (4-2 and 2-0) against the Spooner Cardinals at Spooner on Saturday. They travel to Mora next Sunday for a non-league doubleheader against the Blue Devils. Their next home game is Friday, May 23, as they host the Bayside Vipers in a non-league game at 7:30 p.m. at Terry Egerdahl Memorial Field in Proctor.
The Proctor Padres Baseball Club was established in 2007 to allow baseball players from Proctor and the surrounding area an opportunity to continue playing America's Pastime, to provide a summer hometown baseball experience for players from Proctor and the surrounding area who are currently playing baseball in college, and to promote amateur baseball in the Western Lake Superior region. The Padres compete in the Upper 13 League of the Wisconsin Baseball Association.
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