The Becker Buzzards kicked off their regular season June 2, participating in the Clear Lake Tournament and finishing with a 1-2 record.

 

 

Becker’s first game was against the Marble Mallards, a team from the Grand Rapids area.  

 

The Mallards got a run in the first before the players were pulled off the field for a five-hour rain delay. The teams finished up the game later that afternoon and the Mallards took advantage of several Buzzard errors and came away with a 9-0 win.  

 

 

In Becker’s second game, the Buzzards took on the Sartell Stone Poneys and despite a quality effort on the mound from Jason Pfingsten, they fell 5-3.  

 

 

The two losses put the Buzzards in the fifth place game against the Becker Bandits Sunday.  The Buzzard bats finally came alive as they pounded out a 12-run win in six innings.  

Pfingsten and newcomer Kyle Sytsma each homered in the game.  

 

 

The Buzzards’ next game is Saturday with a Freedom Days rematch with the Bandits at 1 p.m. on the high school varsity field.  

 

“We would encourage people to stop over after the parade as us old folks look to sweep the season series from the Bandits,” said Buzzard Manager Jason Baune.

 

The Buzzards compete in the Central Minnesota League, which is one of three leagues that comprise the MSMABA, Minnesota Senior Men's Amateur Baseball Association.

 

They return a majority of their roster from last year's Class B state championship roster. However, their two big losses will be Craig Hern — who has decided to return to amateur baseball and Mark "Paul Bunyan" Kolbinger — who has decided to commit his summer to the lumber and forestry industry.  

 

Newcomers to the team include Kyle Sytsma, Dustin Blomquist, and Nick Allerson.  Returners are: Baune, Jim Schmitz, Tony Graning, Josh May, Doug May, Dino Diaz, Matt O’Neill, Rich Petty, Brian Kolbinger, Pfingsten, Amos Blomquist, Steve Newman, Matt Eigen, Tanner Bakke, Matt Marquette, Kevin Krenz, Mike Doetkott and Deron Trovall.

 

After Freedom Days, the Buzzards play Carlos on the road June 24 in a doubleheader (2 & 4 p.m.), the travel to Clarissa June 29 for a 7 p.m. game. They host Alexandria for a double header (2 & 4p.m.) July 8, then play Alexandria July 15 at 2 p.m. and Fergus Falls that same day at 4 p.m.

 

July 21, the Buzzards have a  2 p.m. game against Urbank on the road, then a 4 p.m. game against Menagha. The Buzzards return home July 29 for a 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. doubleheader against Morris, then head to Kensington Aug. 5 for another doubleheader (2 & 4 p.m.).

 

The first weekend of state baseball is Aug. 18-19 with the location and opposition to be determined and the second weekend of state ball is Aug. 25-26.