The Becker Buzzards mens baseball team hosted a double header Sunday against the Cold Spring Silver Springers — the perennial powers in the MSMABA, who have won numerous state titles in the past eight years. 

 

In the first game, Becker came away with a huge, one-run victory featuring a dramatic rally in the sixth inning.  

 

The game was scoreless  through five innings as Jason Pfingsten battled through a leg injury to keep the defending state champions at bay. 

 

“Jason made some huge pitches for us and he did this while battling a severely pulled muscle in his leg,” said Manager Mark Kolbinger.  “He couldn't push off the rubber but went out there anyway and was dynamite.”  

 

The Buzzards committed an error in the sixth inning that allowed the Silver Springers to score their one run. 

 

“Our defense wasn't perfect on the day but Jason Baune had some great catches in center field,” said Kolbinger. 

 

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth, the Buzzards went to work.  Baune beat out an infield bunt and Mike Doetkott followed with a single to put runners at the corners. Pfingsten stepped to the plate and launched a line drive triple to center field despite a strong wind.  Doetkott was running hard from the crack of the bat and scored at home as the ball was juggled by the catcher.  

 

“I knew it would be a close play, but I was sending Mike the whole way,” said Kolbinger, who was coaching third. “As he rounded third I told him to get on it and he did a nice job to score the go ahead run.” 

 

The Buzzards again had a defensive lapse in the top of the seventh, but Pfingsten covered the mess by getting a pair of strikeouts to close out the game.  

 

“It was a huge win for us as we knocked off a team riddled with former division one players,” said Kolbinger.   “Pfingsten was amazing with his arm and bat and Doug Watercott called a wonderful game behind the plate as the veteran catcher made several nice defensive plays.” 

 

In game two, the Buzzards lost by six runs despite a good overall pitching performance from Brian Kolbinger. 

 

“Brian did a good job mixing his pitches but we had a couple of errors behind him and stranded too many runners,” said Kolbinger.

 

Doetkott was the team’s hot hitter and Jason Newman also had a decent game at the plate.

 

The Buzzards play another doubleheader at Fort Ripley June 26 against the Silver Rebels. Game times are 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.