The Becker Buzzards 35 and over baseball team improved their Central Minnesota League record to 4-6 after sweeping the Ft. Ripley Silver Rebels in a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon 2-0 and 4-3 in Becker. The Buzzards jumped on the Silver Rebels of Ft. Ripley in the first inning as the top of the order, Steve Newman, Mike Doetkott, Jason Pfingsten and Craig Hern each singled to start the game to score the only two runs of the game. Becker's starting pitcher, Jason Pfingsten pitched his first complete game since a knee injury sidelined him for 6 weeks. He improved his record to 3-0 as a starter. 

 

The second game of the doubleheader was another pitcher's duel. Matt Eigen took the mound for the Buzzards. Leading 1-0 in the fourth inning, Silver Rebel's Thor Wicklund hit a parking lot homerun to extend the Ft. Ripley lead to 2-0. The Buzzards tied it up at two in the bottom of the fourth  frame as Newman walked but was called out on a fielder's choice ground ball hit by Brian Kolbinger. Pfingsten singled and Craig Hern  doubled to score Kolbinger. Former Ft. Ripley star, Jim Schmitz proceeded to single in Pfingsten for to tie the game 2-2. Ft. Ripley reclaimed the lead in the 6th inning and took it into the final inning. In the 7th inning the Buzzards were down to their last strike when things began to unravel for Ft. Ripley. An error on the Ft. Ripley's 3rd baseman allowed Steve Newman on first base. Brian Kolbinger walked to move the tying run to 2nd base.

 

The Silver Rebel's 3rd basemen had trouble once again as he couldn't handle a ground ball hit by Pfingsten to load the bases. Craig Hern was hit by a pitch to tie up the game 3-3. Newcomer and former Silver Rebel Jim Schmitz, beat his old team  with a single to win it for the Buzzards.

 

"I'm glad Schmitty decided to play for us this year, he's a great addition to our team", co-manager Deron Trovall said after the game. "He lives in the area and was driving to Fort Ripley every weekend to play with the Silver Rebels, Jim couldn't play the first couple of games because of Ft. Ripley's reluctance to release him from his contract", Trovall added. 

 

Every player needs to sign a contract to play in the Minnesota Senior Men's Amateur Baseball Association. A player has to be released by their former team before they can play for another team. 

 

"I'm glad I can contribute to the Buzzards, they are a great bunch of guys", Jim Schmitz said after the game. "It was pretty special to beat my former teammates.”