Sunday evening was the latest chapter in the budding rivalry between the Becker Bandits and Clearwater River Cats amateur baseball teams, as the two squads faced off in a Region 11C elimination game.  

Becker used a strong pitching performance from Kellan Graning to score a 7-1 victory, as the Bandits stayed alive in the team’s pursuit of a first ever MBA State Tournament appearance.

Becker pounded out 15 hits on offense, with Dalton Fouquette going four-for-five to lead the team, while Will Thorn collected three RBI’s in the win.

Becker opened the scoring in the second inning, as Graning reached on an error and then scored on another Cats’ miscue after a Ryan Groskreutz hit.

The Bandits added three in the fifth, two in the seventh and one in the ninth, while the Cats scored their lone run in the fourth inning.

Graning was a beast on the bump, going six innings and collecting eight strikeouts while scattering three hits.

Matthew Moe went the final three innings and gave up just one hit as he closed the door.

The win propelled the Bandits into Saturday’s (today) loser’s bracket semifinals as they will take on the Luxemburg Brewers in a 2:30 p.m. matchup.  The winner of that game will immediately face the winner of the Monticello vs. Kimball Noon game in a battle for the third seed for the state tournament.

The Sartell Muskies and St. Joseph Joes will play for the Region 11C title, as both teams have secured a spot in the state tournament.

Express

Becker opened the Region 11C tournament last Saturday with a 9-1 loss to the Kimball Express.  Becker couldn’t get anything going offensively against Ben Johnson, the Kimball pitcher who ironically now lives in Becker.  Johnson went the distance, scattering four hits and giving up just a single run in the fourth inning.

Will Thorn, Ryan Groskreutz and Andrew Kolbinger all saw action on the mound for the Bandits.