Jason Pfingsten pitched a gem last Sunday in the first game of a doubleheader against Fort Ripley at home.

 

Pfingsten put on quite a show as he threw a one-hitter and came away with a tidy 3-0 win.

 

“Their lead-off hitter opened the fourth inning with a single past a diving Matt Oneill at shortstop,” said Co-Manager Mark Kolbinger. “That’s all the offense they could muster against Jason. He was dialed in.”

 

Pfingsten went the distance, striking out seven batters.  He did walk one batter in the first inning, but he promptly picked him off first base.  

 

“He still has the best right handed pickoff move I’ve ever seen,” said Kolbinger.

 

At the plate, Becker had runners on the bases in every inning, stranding nine while pushing across three.

 

They picked up their first run in the fifth inning as Pfingsten singled, moved to second on a hit by Oneill and scored on a single by Mark Graham.

 

In the sixth inning, Becker scored two as baserunners Deron Trovall and Jason Baune each scored following hits.  

 

Becker tallied nine hits, including a 3-for-4 performance from Baune in the leadoff position.  

 

“Jason is really swinging the bat well and he does a great job in the leadoff spot,” said Kolbinger. “He can hit or bunt to get on and has the speed to steal bases for us as well.”

 

In the second game, Becker kept it close until the seventh inning, as a 3-2 deficit turned into a 7-2 loss with a couple of swings of the bat.

 

Brian Kolbinger started on the mound for the Buzzards and went 4-2/3 innings before Dave Hinnenkamp came on in relief. Kolbinger left while trailing just 3-2, as he scattered seven hits and struck out three hitters.  

 

Fort Ripley put it out of reach with the big four-run seventh inning, including a bases clearing long fly ball that popped out of the Buzzards fielder’s glove with two outs.

 

The Buzzards scored its runs in the third and fifth innings with Jeff Haus and Brian Kolbinger getting the RBI’s.

 

Again, the team stranded too many runners (eight) to make it a closer game.

 

Mike Doetkott and Graham had a pair of hits as the Buzzards were finally able put together a full lineup that could resemble their playoff best.

 

“We aren’t stringing a lot of hits together, but guys are taking really good at-bats and battling even with two strikes,” said the co-manager. “That will be a key for us since we continue to have pitching that rivals the best teams in the league.” 

 

The Buzzards’ next game will be a double header at home Saturday versus Alexandria.