Manager Cole Hanson and the Becker Bandits amateur baseball team start the playoffs today (Saturday) against the St. Joseph Joes and will be looking to turn around their fortunes after losing their final three games of the season.

Last Wednesday, the team dropped a 4-3 game to the same Joes team in a game that went extra innings.  It was a game of missed opportunities for the Bandits, as they were just one clutch hit away from the league win.

Dalton Fouquette and Matthew Moe each picked up a pair of hits while scoring a run, while Nolan Murphy was 2-for-5 with an RBI at the plate.

Moe started on the mound and pitched well, going seven innings and striking out five batters.  Cam Fischer picked up the loss in his 2.2 innings of work, while striking out three and giving up one earned run.

Things didn’t get much easier last Saturday as the team dropped an 11-0 contest to the league leading Sartell Muskies.

Connor Rolf was the lone highlight at the plate for the Bandits, as he went 2-for-3 against the Muskies, who are one of the top teams in the state in Class C.

Fischer went six innings on the mound in picking up the loss, giving up eight runs, four of which were earned.

Andrew Kolbinger went three innings in relief, allowing just one hit and three earned runs.

In their final tuneup before playoffs, Becker traveled to Rogers on Sunday and dropped a 16-9 affair against the Red Devils.

Kreeden Blomquist was the offensive leader with a 3-for-4 performance that included a walk, two RBIs and a run scored.

Fischer was 2-for-4, while Mitch Louden and Weston Schug each picked up a pair of hits for the Bandits.

On the mound, Moe started and went five innings, striking out four and scattering four hits.  Schug picked up the loss in his three innings of work, allowing six earned runs and 13 overall.

Times and locations for the Bandits’ opening playoff series against the Joes had not been finalized as of press time.  Look for details in next week’s Patriot.