The Becker Buzzards advanced in the state playoffs and will play in the semi-finals today (Saturday) in Belle Plaine.

Playoff Recap

Last weekend was the first round of state playoffs for the Minnesota Senior Men’s Amateur Baseball Association.  The Buzzards traveled to the historic Mini Met in Jordan to take on Waconia in a seeding game.

Unfortunately, the Buzzard bats didn’t have their best game.  

After a scoreless first, the Islanders took the lead in the bottom of the second inning with a double and an RBI single.  

The Buzzards threatened in the top of the fourth when Todd Klaers singled and Kyle Sytsma followed with a double to put runners on second and third, but a strikeout would end the inning.  

In the bottom of the  inning, the Islanders added to the lead with three runs on three doubles and a single to make the score 4-0.  

The Buzzards put some runners on again in the fifth.  Brian Kolbinger reached on a single and after a fielder’s choice, Jason Baune singled to put runners on first and second with one out.  After an infield pop up, Rich Petty hit a deep fly ball to right center field that looked like it would score two runs, but the centerfielder made a great running grab to keep the Buzzards off the board.

The Islanders added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning and held on for a 5-0 win.  

Tanner Bakke took the loss, going four innings, allowing four runs on six hits.  He struck out five.  Brian Kolbinger threw the final two innings and allowed one run on one hit and struck out two.

With the loss, the Buzzards moved to the Class A quarterfinals against the host, Jordan Alers Sunday morning.  The game was another low scoring affair as neither team was able to plate a run through five scoreless innings.  

Finally, in the bottom of the sixth, the Buzzards were able to get something going at the plate.  Petty led off the inning with a bunt single and stole second base.  Jason Pfingsten followed with an RBI single to score Petty.  Todd Klaers then roped a double to left center that scored Pfingsten to make it 2-0.  After two strikeouts, Jason Wald slapped a single to right to put runners on the corners.  Two pitches later, Klaers would score on a wild pitch and Wald scored the fourth and final run of the inning on an Aler’s error.  

With a 4-0 lead, Pfingsten returned to the mound to finish off the complete game shutout and the victory.  He allowed six hits, didn’t walk a batter, and struck out six.  Petty and Matt Koester each reached base twice in the game for the Buzzards.

The quarterfinal victory moved the Buzzards to the Class A semifinals Saturday evening in Belle Plaine.  They will take on the Apple Valley A’s at 7:30.  

With a win, the Buzzards would move to the Class A championship game  Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. in Belle Plaine against the winner of Verndale and Rosemount.  A loss would move the Buzzards to the third place game Sunday at 6:30 p.m.