Falls’ Junior League baseball team engaged in a see-saw battle Wednesday against Lake Park to open the 2011 Minnesota State Tournament in Cloquet before ending up on the losing end, 10-9.
“We dug ourselves a big hole early,” said Falls head coach Jay Bartkowski. “Lake Park swings the bat really well.”
Lake Park, which represents the Duluth area in the tournament, led 4-0 after two innings before Falls pulled in front, 5-4, in the top of the third.
The game deadlocked at 5-5 in the bottom of the third after one Lake Park run.
Falls pulled back in front with three runs in the top of the fifth, before Lake Park responded with five runs in the bottom of the frame to regain the lead by two.
Falls cut the deficit to a run in the top of the sixth, but came no closer.
Of Falls’ six hits for the game, Jack Bartkowski registered three of them plus 3 RBI.
Five pitchers saw action for the Falls — Ben Humbert, Jack Mellstrom, Cole Miggins, Jackson Vollom and Wyatt Ulrich.
Based on the round-robin results of the games Wednesday through Friday between Falls, Lake Park, and Plymouth/New Hope, all three teams will be seeded to set up two games today to decide the championship.
The No. 2- and No. 3-seeded teams will face each other today at 10 a.m. That winner will play the No. 1 seed for the state championship tonight at 7.
