It was a great day for baseball and a beautiful ballpark, as the Buzzards played just before the Blue Anchors Northwoods team was gearing up for their night game.

 

Becker got off to a great start in the first game, loading the bases on a Jason Baune walk followed by a pair of hits by Mike Doetkott and Jason Pfingsten to score the game’s first runs.

 

Catcher Terry Gruenhagen then laced a line drive up the middle and it looked like the Buzzards were going to add to their score, but the Alexandria shortstop made a great play by nabbing the line drive in the air, stepping on second base and throwing to first to complete a very rare triple play.

 

“It's the first time I've seen that in our league in my seven years and it was a big momentum shift,” said Co-Manager Mark Kolbinger.

 

Alexandria went on to put one run on the board in the second inning off starter Matt Eigen, who went 4-2/3 innings, striking out two batters while scattering seven hits.  

 

Becker scored a run in the fourth inning as Pfingsten singled home Doetkott.

 

Alexandria scored a pair of runs in the fifth inning, so the Buzzards turned to Pfingsten to come in and close the game.  He walked the first batter he faced and then retired seven straight for the save.

 

“Both pitchers threw really well for us,” said Kolbinger. “They continue to do a great job.”

 

Becker added three runs in the fifth inning, as Dave Hinnenkamp, Eigen and Jeff Haus all hit doubles.  Eigen had a great at-bat, fouling off five pitches before lacing the double down the line to score a pair of runs for the visiting team.  Doetkott added an insurance run in the sixth, scoring on Gruenhagen's sacrifice.

 

“Overall, it was a great game for us and we played good defense and strung together 10 hits,” said Kolbinger.   

 

Doetkott and Pfingsten each had three hits, while Eigen added a pair.

 

In the second game, Pfingsten stayed aboard the mound and pitched into the fifth inning before giving way to Hinnenkamp.

 

Becker took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth with Mark Graham and Eigen getting a pair of hits to again score Doetkott and Pfingsten.  

 

Alexandria answered with three runs in the fourth, two in the fifth and one in the sixth inning.  

 

“We played pretty well in game two as well,” said Kolbinger. “But, we just didn't get the hits we needed.”  

 

Jason Baune led the Buzzards with a pair of hits.

 

The Buzzards are at Monticello on Sunday for a 4 p.m. game and will play at home on Aug. 2 and 3.