One of two of the area’s adult baseball teams began play this month with the other set to start this weekend. Clear Lake Lakers The Lakers opened their 2015 season last Sunday with a doubleheader — and an 8-0 loss to the Sartell Muskies in the first game.
Pitcher Max Koprek kept the Lakers in check throughout his seven-inning stint, giving up just two hits while striking out 10 and allowing three walks.
The Muskies got offensive support from Tim Burns, who went 3-for-5 with a double and Jace Otto, who was 2-for-3 with a pair of walks and two stolen bases. The Muskies scored runs in five of the first six innings, then topped off the win with a three-run eighth.
In the second game, the Lakers faced off against the St. Joseph Joes and again were thwarted by good pitching, losing 12-1 in seven innings.
The Joes got strong pitching efforts from Alex Kendall and Mike Ashwill as Kendall threw five innings, giving up four hits, one walk, one run, while recording eight strikeouts.
Ashwill threw two innings of relief, notching two strikeouts, zero hits and zero walks.
Sam Schoeberg was the pitcher of record for the Lakers, who could only muster four base hits, from Rich Petty, Mark Korto, Jake Samuelson and Sam Samuelson.
Ethan Carlson went 2-4 with two RBI's for the Joes, scoring one run. Brandon Bloch went 2-5 with two RBI's and a run scored and Alex Kendall went 2-for-5 with two RBI's.
The Lakers got their first win of the year later when they topped the Litchfield Blues 7-2 in a rain-shortened game.
Matt Korte was the pitcher of record for the Lakers, giving up four hits while walking five and striking out seven.
Korte also helped the team at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one RBI. Rich Petty went 1-for-4 with one RBI and Brett Watercott went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI's.
The pitcher of record for the Blues was Kaleb Kalkbrenner. He gave up eight hits, walked two and tallied seven strikeouts. Dylan Koll threw two innings of relief, giving up one hit, five walks and one strikeout.
Derek Koll led the Blues’ offense, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and Jake Jones and Dylan Koll each recorded base hits.
The Clear Lake Lakers roster includes Chase Aleshire, Chris Aleshire, Tony Bergman, Craig Breitkreutz, David Burkeholder, Israel Carper, Bryce Cash, R.J. Cervenka, Conner Dostal, Mike Golombiecki, Sam Iten, Matt Korte, Cole Kotschevar, Jason Kotschevar, Scott Peterson, Rich Petty, Darren Prom, Jake Samuelson, Sam Samuelson, Andrew Setrum, Joe Setrum, Ryan Spengler, Bret Stinogel, Kyle Systma, Brett Watercott and Jeremy Welle.
Becker Buzzards
The Becker Buzzards amateur men’s baseball club begins their 2015 season with a doubleheader at home Saturday against the Cold Spring Springers. Game times are at 1 p.m. and 2 3 p.m.
The roster includes Deron Trovall, Terry Gruenhagen, Gary Anderson, Mark Kolbinger, Jason Pfingsten, Mark Graham, DeWayne Sommerdorf, Scott Brake, Mark Wold, Gary Gilbert, Tim Bucholz, Brian Kolbinger, Loren Holthaus, Brian Smith, Mike Walberg, Jeff Sackett, Tommy Grandy, Matt Eigen, Matt Marquette, Dan Baird, Jim Hanson, Jason Baune and Jeff Haus.
