Strong pitching from Kittleson, Meyer key sweep

The Falls VFW baseball team used solid pitching and late inning heroics Thursday to sweep a doubleheader 7-3 and 11-10 in nine innings over Deer River at Scheela Field.

“We talked about getting a winning streak going and we were able to do that,” said Falls coach Eric Walls. “Christian Kittleson pitched a complete game and Mason Meyer had an outstanding seven innings of relief in Game 2.”

The Falls was 0-4 in league play and had lost 3-2 to Deer River last week. Kittleson got the call for the rematch and breezed through the first three innings without allowing a base runner. The Falls pushed across two runs in the third but Kittleson issued three walks and allowed a hit in the fourth to allow the game to be tied.

Deer River took a 3-2 lead in the sixth on a sacrifice fly, but the Falls made its move in the bottom of the inning. A two-out hit by Chris Steinbach tied the game, and a fly ball to left field that was misplayed allowed two more runs to score to give the Falls the lead. Hits by Jonny Little, Kittleson and Misner plated two more runs to put the Falls up four. Kittleson walked two with one out in the seventh, but first baseman Misner ended the game with a double play — fielding a ground ball to retire the hitter before throwing to second base to retire the runner.

“With Jesperson not available to play today and the other kids with sore arms, we debated on who to pitch in the second game,” said Walls.

Regular starting centerfielder Chris Steinbach got the call for Game 2.

“Chris did what we asked by throwing the ball over the plate,” said Walls.

Deer River used a four-hit second inning to score five runs and take a 6-1 lead. Meyer entered the game in the third.

Deer River added three more runs in the third to take a 9-1 lead, but Meyer settled down and shut out Deer River over the next five innings.

After scoring one run in the fourth, the Falls used a four-run fifth to close the gap to 9-6. The Falls added one in the sixth and tied the game in the seventh on an infield out by John Bartkowski.

Meanwhile, Meyer faced just two batters over the minimum. Deer River scored on a sacrifice fly in the ninth to take the lead, but the Falls quickly ended the game when Ames Bryant scored on a single to left field.

“Mason kept us in the game until our bats got going,” said Walls.

Meyer walked just one and posted three strikeouts. The Falls had a total of 13 hits in the two games with Bryant leading the way with three. Meyer and Little had two hits apiece.

The Falls will host Chisholm in a doubleheader Monday at Scheela Field beginning at noon.