It was the Tanner Bakke show Saturday in Menahga as the right-handed pitcher captured a pair of wins on the mound for the Becker Buzzards. 

Bakke went seven innings in the first game, a 4-1 win over the Menahga Relics, and followed it up by taking a no hitter into the fifth inning of the second game, a 15-0 trouncing of the Urbank Goldtimers.

“I started the day thinking about how we would cover the day for pitchers,” said Bakke, who noted that he knew most of the other pitchers on staff were not able to make the games. 

“Fast forward to the first game and when I showed up I was told I was starting both.”

The first game went well and Bakke started the second game thinking someone else would relieve him.

“I was getting the outs and in the fourth inning, (Rich) Petty tells me to stay in the game and then I started thinking.” 

Petty was filling in as manager for the day, as Jason Baune was out of state seeking a second opinion on a troublesome hip injury that has kept him out of the lineup this season.

Once Bakke realized he had a no hitter going, he went back out for the fifth inning and ended up giving a leadoff hit that glanced off the glove of Becker’s diving left fielder.  But that was the end of the line for the Goldtimers, as Bakke gobbled up two quick outs and then struck out the last batter of the inning and Becker had the big win.

“I left the park feeling like I did the job I set out to do that day, winning two games,” said Bakke.  “I was most thrilled about the fact that my wife and kids were there to watch and be part of the day.”

Becker 4 Menahga 1

In the opener, Becker scored first as Jason Wald led off the game with a single and scored on Todd Klaers’ RBI hit.  In the second inning, Petty stepped to the plate with a borrowed bat, two runners on and two outs and deposited the ball over the fence for a big three run home run.  That would be it for the scoring for the game, as Becker never advanced another runner to third base.  Bakke cruised through the game, giving up a meaningless run in the late innings.

Becker 15, Urbank 0

In a game that resembled batting practice for the Buzzards, the runs came fast and furious as Becker scored six runs in the first inning and never looked back.  The offensive effort showed balance, as four different Buzzards had three hits in the game and the team amassed nineteen total hits. 

Deron Trovall was again hit by a pitch, as he remains the all time leader in HBP for the franchise, while Troy Schroeder scored three runs in the game.

For his efforts on the mound, Bakke was named Tri County Lumber player of the game for both games.

The Buzzards’ final tune-up of the regular season is Sunday when they host the Morris Brewers in a double header starting at 2 p.m.