By Brian Larsen
International Falls’ Sr Legion baseball team used strong pitching and late inning runs to power past the Cook County/Silver Bay Sr Legion in the Division ll District playoff game that followed the Vikings’ game against Proctor.
With the 11-1 victory, International Falls advanced to the Northeast Substate Tournament, and the Sr Legion CC/SB team’s loss ended their playoff hopes.
International Falls took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Cody Joslyn drew a walk that brought in one run. Neither team scored in the scored in the second, but the Falls managed two in the third, one run coming when Bryant Koenig drew a walk and one run coming from a wild pitch from Viking pitcher Jacob Dorr that allowed a second run to score.
The Vikings put up their lone run on the scoreboard in the third but that was it. The Broncos salted the game away with four runs in the fourth and four in the fifth. RBIs by Julius Maish, Jett Tomczak and Joe Talmage provided all the offensive firepower the Broncos needed.
Riley Larson was outstanding on the mound for International Falls. Riley pitched five innings, allowing one run off one hit while striking out six and walking four.
Jacob Dorr took the loss for the Vikings. Jacob pitched four innings, allowing eight runs on six hits and six walks. Patrick Pierre relieved Jacob. Patrick gave up four hits and three runs in relief.
Jett Tomczak was 2-4 with two RBI’s; Joe Talmage was 2-2 with two RBI’s and Riley Larson was 1-3 with two RBI’s. Tucker Hell ended his night by going 2-3 at the plate while Bryant Koenig walked twice, scoring one run, and getting an RBI on a walk. Julius Maish was 1-1and had one RBI in his only appearance at the plate. Matt Wherley also saw the ball well, going 2-3 in his at-bats.
Both teams finished with two errors.
Next up for the Broncos was match-up against Aitkin on July 21, after the paper has been put to bed. Results of that game will be in next week’s paper.
