Last weekend, both of Becker’s amateur baseball teams returned to action for the 2021 season.
The Buzzards 35 and over team will again compete in the Northwest League South Division of the MSMABA as they try to defend their Class AA Title, while the Bandits are looking to earn the franchise’s first trip to the state MBA tournament and will again compete in the Sauk Valley League.
Bandits
Becker lost its season opener Saturday to the Sartell Stone Poneys in a game that fifth year manager Cole Hanson said reflected the first game action of the season. There was some sloppy play and a few mistakes that Hanson said will need to be cleaned up for the team to be successful.
The bats were alive early for the Bandits, as they scored three runs in the second inning when Mitch Louden scored on a bases loaded walk, Kreeden Blomquist nailed an RBI single and Matt Krenz provided a sacrifice fly. However, the offense went silent the rest of the way and Becker suffered from some shaky defense in allowing several unearned runs.
Louden was the leading hitter for the Bandits on a 2-for-4 performance and a run scored.
On the mound, Cam Fischer started and went 4-1/3 innings, scattering seven hits, striking out three and giving up four earned runs. Weston Schug came on in relief and was sharp, netting seven strikeouts in his 3-2/3 innings of work, while Ryan Groskreutz finished up the last inning on the mound.
Lake Cafe Loss
Sunday, the Bandits dropped a close game to the Lake Cafe of Big Lake Stingers, 5-3.
“Our play in the field has cost us in both games this year and we have left lots of guys on base,” Hanson said.
Against Big Lake, the Bandits were able to score one in the first and then added two in the third to take a 3-0 lead, but from there it was all Stingers. The Big Lake team scored three in the third inning and two in the fifth to put the game on ice.
For the Bandits, Connor Rolf led the offensive attack with a 3-for-4 performance, while Dalton Fouquette also had three hits.
Matt Moe was effective on the mound, starting and going five innings, scattering nine hits, striking out three and giving up just two earned runs. Weston Schug was again great in relief, going three innings and striking out three.
Andover
Tuesday night, the Bandits kept up a busy schedule and fell to the Andover Aces, 5-0.
“Our pitchers threw well and got outs efficiently,” Hanson said. “We just didn’t come through at the plate.”
Offensively, the Bandits were led by Weston Schug, Matt Krenz and Wyatt Flint, all of whom had multi-hit games.
The Bandits are off until June 2 when they travel to Maple lake to take on the Lakers, followed by games at Watkins on June 4 and a home game with the Albertville Villains on June 6.
Buzzards
The Buzzards opened play Sunday at home against the Class A Champion Apple Valley A’s, who are managed by ’01 Becker graduate and former Bandit player Josh Stoll.
The game started well for the defending Class AA champions before things fell apart in a 5-3 loss.
“Things were looking good early as Tanner Bakke threw a scoreless top of the first and we plated three in the bottom of the inning,” fifth year manager Jason Baune said.
Becker’s runs came as Steve Newman was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Jason Wald followed with a wind-aided 321-foot home run over the 320-foot sign in the left field corner. Jason Pfingsten then reached on a dropped third strike and eventually scored on a Kyle Sytsma single.
After a scoreless second, the A’s came back with a vengeance in the top of the third. The first five batters reached on four hits and a walk making the score 4-3. A bases loaded walk later in the inning would plate a fifth run and make it 5-3.
“We had a few opportunities to score runs, but some questionable baserunning decisions cost us in both the fourth and sixth innings and the A’s held on for the 5-3 win,” Baune said.
Bakke took the loss on the mound, giving up five runs in two-plus innings, while Pfingsten, Dave Kreft, and Brian Kolbinger all saw action on the mound and held the A’s scoreless.
Baune gave credit to Stoll, who is in his second year managing the A’s.
“Josh was our nemesis on the day as he went 4–for-4 at the plate and also closed out the game with the save on the mound,” Baune said.
For Stoll, it was a chance to come back to the field where he spent several years playing for the Bandits along with current A’s teammate Greg Hillesheim.
“Greg and I helped build those dugouts when we were with the Bandits,” Stoll said. “It was our first time on the away side, but still felt like home.”
Stoll was also quick to praise the Buzzards, who have won four consecutive state titles since Baune took the helm as manager.
“They are a great team and have done really well,” said Stoll, who has assumed his team’s closer role on the mound. “I’ve known Baune for a long time and Pfingsten is still an amazing player and one of the best in the league — he throws hard and still hits missiles all over the field.”
Baune and the Buzzards are off until June 6 when the team travels to Morris for a doubleheader.
