Josh Potter scattered 3 runs and 6 hits pitching 5 1/3 innings in relief Thursday when International Falls’ baseball team overcame a 4-run deficit to defeat Greenway, 14-7, at Scheela Field.
“It was pretty good — I haven’t pitched in a while,” Potter said. “I was happy to get on the mound again and do my team some good out there.”
Caleb Dahlin started for the Broncos. After a scoreless opening frame, Dahlin gave up 4 runs in the second inning and switched from pitcher to second baseman after Greenway’s Alex Troumbly doubled to drive in a pair of runs.
Falls got a run back in the bottom of the second and then took a 6-4 lead in the third inning when all nine batters went to the plate.
Greenway starter Derrick Finke left the mound without an out being recorded in the third following a single by Ben Humbert, the third Bronco to record a hit that inning.
The game deadlocked at 6-6 when Greenway scored twice in the top of the fourth. Troumbly drove in another run and then scored himself when Jayden Gangl singled before being picked off at second while going for an extra base on the play.
Falls sent 10 batters to the plate while scoring 5 runs in the bottom fourth and taking the lead for good. Greenway reliever Derek Bundy took the loss in two innings of work after allowing 6 runs on 6 hits with 2 walks and a strikeout.
The Broncos tallied 15 hits for the game. Gunnar Anderson had a triple, a pair of doubles and 2 singles. Humbert, Christian Kittelson and Wyatt Ulrich each added 2 hits.
Of Greenway’s 8 hits, Troumbly, Gangl and Bundy each had two.
Falls’ home victory avenges a road loss to Greenway from earlier this season and improves the Broncos’ record to 12-5.
“We have a possibility of playing (Greenway) in the first game of playoffs,” Potter said. “We hope to...come out with a higher seed, so we can play (at) home.”
Falls has won eight games in a row and hasn’t lost since May 1 against Hibbing, which hosts the Broncos next Thursday.
“After the Hibbing game we turned everything around,” Potter said. “We’ve been hitting better. We’ve been fielding a lot better.”
Falls closes out the regular season next week with three games, the first of which is at home Tuesday against nearby rival Littlefork-Big Falls.
I. Falls 14, Greenway 7
Gre. 0-4-0 2-1-0 0 — 7 8 3
Falls 0-1-5 5-1-2 X — 14 15 1
WP—Josh Potter;
LP—Derek Bundy
