Falls’ VFW baseball team is entering this weekend’s Sub-District Tournament with the No. 1 seed in the western division after closing out the regular season by sweeping a pair of road doubleheaders.
In Monday’s twin bill at Ely, which will be hosting the Sub-District Tournament and has the top seed in the eastern division, the first game went 10 innings before the Falls won, 5-3.
“It was just a good game overall,” said Falls VFW head coach Tim Mellstrom. “Again, we pitched well.”
Ben Humbert started on the mound for the Falls and pitched eight innings, allowing three runs on two hits with five walks while striking out 11.
Wyatt Ulrich recorded the pitching victory working the final two innings as he gave up a walk with no runs or hits.
Ely scored first with two runs in the bottom of the third, before the Falls took the lead with three runs in the sixth inning.
Jackson Vollom walked and scored Falls’ first run after Jack Bartkowski singled. Cole Miggins reached base on an error and then tied the game after Jack Mellstrom singled. Bartkowski then gave Falls a 3-2 lead when he scored on an error by Ely’s second baseman.
Ely scored a run in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game and, after no one scored in the seventh, the contest continued into extra innings before Falls scored twice in the top of the 10th.
Both of Falls’ extra-inning runs came in without a hit when Luke Spilde walked and scored and Vollom reached base on a third strike that got away from Ely’s catcher and later crossed the plate on a passed ball.
Of Falls’ six hits for the game, Jack Mellstrom had two. Taylor DeLack added a double, while Humbert also singled.
I. Falls 4, Ely 0
In the second game that went five innings, Falls shut out Ely, 4-0.
Ulrich pitched the first two innings as he allowed two walks without a hit. Spilde closed out the final three innings to record the pitching victory, giving up two hits while striking out four.
Of Falls seven hits, two players had two apiece. Vollom tripled and singled, while DeLack doubled and singled.
I. Falls 9, Deer River 3
Falls downed Deer River in both games of Thursday’s road doubleheader.
In game one, Jack Mellstrom pitched a complete game in Falls’ 9-3 victory. He allowed the three runs on five hits with three walks while striking out nine.
Of Falls’ eight hits, Humbert and DeLack had two each.
I. Falls 5, Deer River 4
In game two, Miggins pitched all seven innings, allowing seven hits with two walks while striking out eight, when the Falls won, 5-4.
DeLack again recorded two hits as part of Falls’ seven hits for the game.
Falls enters tourney 21-3
Falls closed out the regular season 21-3 overall and opens the eight-team, double-elimination Sub-District Tournament at 10 a.m. Saturday in Ely against the winner of the play-in game between the eastern division’s No. 4 and 5 seeds.
In the western division after the top-seeded Falls, Grand Rapids is seeded No. 2 with Hibbing also having qualified for the tournament at No. 3. Greenway and Deer River will face each other in a play-in game for the fourth and final tournament spot from the west.
Of the eight teams to play in the Sub-District Tournament, four will advance to the eight-team District Tournament to be held in Proctor/Hermantown starting July 26.
Monday’s results
Game one
I. Falls 5, Ely 3, 10 innings
I. Falls 0-0-0 0-0-3 0-0-0 2 — 5
Ely 0-0-2 0-0-1 0-0-0 0 — 3
WP—Wyatt Ulrich
Game two
i. Falls 4, Ely 0
I. Falls 0-0-3 1-0 — 4
Ely 0-0-0 0-0 — 0
WP—Luke Spilde
Thursday’s results
Game one
I. Falls 9, Deer River 3
I. Falls 3-3-0 0-0-2 1 — 9
Deer River 1-0-0 0-2-0 0 — 3
WP—Jack Mellstrom
Game two
I. Falls 5, Deer River 4
I. Falls 0-5-0 0-0-0 0 — 5
Deer River 1-0-0 0-1-0 2 — 4
WP—Cole Miggins
