Jeff Haus and Kevin Krenz have donned uniforms for the first time with the ever-popular “old-timers” team.  

 

Haus was a great player for Becker in the 1980's and Krenz also has a lot of experience in the game, playing amateur ball for a number of teams when in college.  According to Co-Manager Mark Kolbinger, both guys are already proving they fit in very well.  

 

“They understand the need to have thick skin as part of our team, as there is a lot of friendly razzing that goes on,” Kolbinger said.  “I've coached a lot of baseball teams over the years and its the same with the Buzzards. We try our best to get everyone involved in the game and get them innings.”

 

Kolbinger says the guys on the team are great at wanting to get everyone involved, so there's no problem getting the new guys into games and no threat to other player’s positions. 

 

“In fact, they both started on opening night for us this year,” said Kolbinger.  “Not just because we were short on guys, but because they both know the game well and can contribute to the team.”

 

“For me personally, it's great to see Jeff on the field,” said Mark. “Having played with him some when we were younger on the Becker Legion team.”  

Haus's dad, Don, was Kolbinger’s coach for a couple of seasons of Legion ball and Mark says Don Haus was a stellar baseball player himself for Palmer many years ago.  

 

“There's a long baseball tradition in the Haus family and we're happy Jeff decided to give it a go this year.”

 

Gary Anderson, the elder statesman for the Buzzards team, decided to “retire” this year yet Kolbinger says he still comes out at practices and stays in shape should the team need him in an emergency.

 

“He's still one of our top practice players,” said Kolbinger of Anderson.  “That's the cool part about baseball, guys just love to be around the field and around the sport.  We're all too old on the Buzzards to get cranky about playing time.  It's about the love of the game and the respect we have for the sport.”

Buzzards Future

 

Kolbinger says the team’s biggest need right now is “some clarity about our field” and the future of the BAC.  He says the City of Becker has a long-term plan for a trail to come through the BAC and that project would affect their playing field.

 

“We've really appreciated the City of Becker and them allowing us to play at the B.A.C. They are gracious hosts and we try to give a lot back to the sport and the field,” Kolbinger said.  “The Buzzards do a lot of the maintenance on the field and we try to make improvements where we can.  A  lot of our guys also volunteer with youth baseball tryouts and the program in general.”

 

The co-manager says his team would like to install lights and a press box, but it doesn't make sense if they are going to have to relocate.   “We would love to get a field established at the future Fairgrounds in Becker,” he said.  “Imagine a lighted ball field right off Hwy. 10 on a Friday night,  one where the kids could play at as well.  It could really be a community gathering place.”  

 

Mark says he and fellow Buzzard Deron Trovall have had a vision for many years of a field there and they could have senior citizens out for ballgames and it could also be something to inspire the next generation of baseball players.   “Baseball is a game that inspires tradition and much of that is built around having an awesome ballpark,” said Kolbinger. “That's what we would like to do for Becker.  It would be a great legacy for so many of our guys who have spent 30+ years enjoying America's pastime.

 

Kolbinger wants all stakeholders to gather and put together a 5-to-7 year plan to develop a top-notch baseball field.  

 

“We are willing to be the driving force, both monetarily and in developing the field, on this community project,” he said.  “We've never asked for a handout and we finance our team without sponsors because we have such a love for the sport.  That's not to say we wouldn't welcome a sponsor if someone stepped forward to partner with us.”

 

Saturday, the Buzzards take on Burnsville, who is one of the top three teams in the state.  Becker will play at 3 p.m. at the BAC. The youth softball tournament is going on that day as well.   “We play this game like the rest of them,” said Kolbinger of his team’s gusto.  “Winning is always our goal, but having fun and the camaraderie of the games overshadows the final score.  We're all competitive, but not to the point that it's all about winning.”   Kolbinger says his team enjoys it when a few people stop by the field and heckle them.  

 

“It's also really cool when some of the old timers will swing by and share stories about the great tradition of baseball in this area,” he says. “There's a lot of great former players that I still run into and talk baseball with.  Virgil Gilyard is one of them, he has a great knowledge of the game and the history of baseball in the Becker area.”

 

June 21 at home versus Burnsville (3 p.m.); June 22 at home versus Miesville (3 p.m.); June 27 at Minnetonka Saints (8 p.m.); July 12 at home versus Minnetonka Lakers (3 p.m.); July 13 versus St. Croix (time and location TBD); July 19 at Alexandria doubleheader (noon and 2 p.m.); July 27 at Monticello ( 2p.m.); Aug. 2 at home versus Cold Spring ( 1p.m.) and Aug. 3 at home versus Apple Valley (2 p.m.).