BY BILL MORGAN, STAFF WRITER
The Becker boys baseball team lost in the second round of Section 5AAA play, sending them to the loser’s bracket to battle to get to the championship game.
The Bulldogs played Sauk Rapids-Rice Friday at 2 p.m. (full report on game will appear in next week’s Citizen-Tribune). The winner will advance to play Saturday at St. John’s.
Becker 7, Milaca 0
In the first round of the playoffs and on a night deemed “Strike Out Cancer”, the Bulldogs came away with a seven-inning shutout at home last Friday night.
No. 7-seeded Becker secured the victory thanks to a five run fifth inning and great pitching. The Bulldogs put the pressure on, led by singles by Zack Wenner and Matthew Moe, a triple by Kreeden Blomquist and a double by Dalton Fouquette.
In the second, Becker got things started when Moe drove in one run when he singled. Becker scored another later on to jump out to a quick 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth.
Becker pitchers gave up just three hits while the offense notched 10.
Moe earned the win for Becker. He allowed two hits and zero runs over six innings, striking out six and walking one. Camron Fisher threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen, earning the save.
Moe led Becker with three hits in three at bats.
Rocori 5, Becker 4
A walk-off hit sealed Becker’s fate as No. 2-seeded Rocori advanced in playoff competition with a one-run win.
The game was tied at four with Rocori batting in the bottom of the ninth. Mason Primus singled on a 1-2 count, scoring the deciding run.
Becker lost despite out-hitting Rocori 10 to eight.
Becker got things started in the first inning when an error scored one run.
Rocori answered with two in the third, one on the fourth and one in the fifth to go ahead 4-1.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Bulldogs tied things up with Matthew Krenz driving in the tying run on a single. The offensive firepower was led by Weston Schug and Krenz, all knocking in runs in the inning.
Brady Klehr was credited with the victory for Rocori. He lasted nine innings, allowing 10 hits and four runs while striking out seven and walking zero.
Dalton Fouquette took the loss for Becker. He lasted four and two-thirds innings, allowing three hits and two runs while striking out four.
Schug started the game for the Bulldogs. He allowed three hits and two runs over two and a third innings, striking out one and walking zero.
Zack Davidson, Kreeden Blomquist, and Krenz all managed multiple hits for Becker.
