By Nick Gerhardt
In an anticipated pitcher’s duel Fairmont outdueled Sartell Saturday for a 7-0 win at the Mini Met in Jordan to reach the final eight for the first time since 2020.
Martins starter Spencer Chirpich toed the rubber against Muskies ace David Deminsky and Fairmont scratched just enough runs across to advance to the next round.
Luke Becker singled down the third base line in the fifth inning to score Ethan Hurn, who led off the inning with a walk. A bunt single gave the Martins two runners on and one away before Becker collected a single.
Becker’s back with Fairmont after retiring from professional baseball this season. He picked up MVP honors in 2020 when the Martins won the title and he’s again leading the team to a deep state tournament run.
“I was just ready to settle down a little bit,” said Becker, who wrapped up his professional career last year in Maryland in the Atlantic League. “I had a lot of fun. It was a heck of a journey. This is also fun. I’m having a lot of fun playing right now. I’m not missing it too much.”
Becker played at Kentucky and got drafted by the San Diego Padres in the ninth round in the 2018 draft. He played A ball for a couple of years and a couple of years of independent ball before going back to Fairmont. He’s married with a three-month-old child and he’s operating a baseball training business with his brother and teammates from a remodeled hayloft on the family farm.
“I’ve been around a lot of really good players so I try to teach the young kids what I’ve learned,” he said.
Deminsky started to labor in the seventh inning and surrendered a second run on a bases loaded hit by pitch. Sartell turned to reliever Adam Wenker and Lincoln Becker drilled a double to the gap in right center field to clear the bases and put Fairmont up 5-0. Tyler Tennyson added a bloop single to score Lincoln Becker to make it 6-0.
Fairmont added a run in the eighth inning after Luke Becker tripled to start the inning and Derek Shoen delivered his third hit of the game to score Becker to make it 7-0. Shoen finished 3-for-4 with a run.
Chirpich cruised in his start. He threw a complete game shutout and gave up eight hits while walking one and striking out six to pick up the win.
Fairmont moves on to face Young America Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in Jordan.
