The Becker Bulldog High School baseball team will be looking to take a big step towards a goal during the 2014 season.
That goal is a trip to the 8AAA Sections in May and a possible journey to Target Field in the state tournament.
The Bulldogs have shown quite an improvement on the field during the last few seasons and Head Coach Chuck Stanger is excited to get the season underway.
“We’re going to have good pitching, good defense and better hitting this year,” said the coach. “I think we’re going to be a better all-around team and should compete well with some of the better teams.”
Stanger is really excited about the great senior leadership of Zack Zimmer, Jon Crowley, Brandon Croatt, Tyler Madsen and Ryan Swanson. He’s also excited because he has a solid group of sophomores — including Andrew Stanger, Cody Gruenhagen, Robbie Benson and Casey Vesledahl — who will get a lot of playing time and bring their skills to the plate for years to come.
“My seniors work on good leadership with the younger guys and they are always getting the guys ready when we get together at practice and before games,” said Coach Stanger. “They seem better prepared and are really showing good direction.”
Croatt, who will play in the infield has a lofty goal of hitting around .500 for the year. Swanson wants to prove to himself and others he is a dominant pitcher, Zimmer hopes to stay healthy and play his best and Crowley wants to make some spectacular catches in the outfield and trigger some morale boosters for the team.
“We have a lot of young guys on this team that are going to be pretty important to our success,” said Croatt.
“We need to set examples for these younger players and demonstrate good leadership, just as the coaches have taught us,” said Zimmer.
“We’re improving and we are anxious to make this program better than it has been,” said Swanson.
“We hope to win a few more games this year and make the playoffs and do well,” said Crowley. “The guys are enthusiastic and excited to start the season.”
Stanger has Assistant Coach Steve Hill returning but has added a few new faces to his staff including Derrick Snell and possibly a few past Bulldog players interested in helping out to make the team that much better.
“These guys are pumped up to play and everyone is getting along very well,” said Stanger. “The coaches seem to be intuned with the players and vice versa.”
Last year, Gruenhagen led the team in hitting with Andrew Stanger having the best on-base percentage. Croatt was named all-conference honorable mention and most improved.
Crowley turned in the best defensive play of the year and Zimmer was named the best defensive player.
The team was scheduled to play Princeton last Friday, but that game was postponed to a later date as well as this past Tuesday’s game against St. Cloud Cathedral. The boys played a home game against Zimmerman Thursday (see report below), then traveled to Brainerd Friday to take on the Warriors.
Next week (weather permitting), the boys travel to Milaca Monday and Mora Tuesday, both games starting at 5 p.m.
Becker Bulldog varsity roster: Tyler Thorson (10), Jake Fobbe (10), Matt Yoerg (10), Zimmer (12), Stanger (10), Crowley (12), Croatt (12), Madsen (12), Matt Conzemius (11), Gruenhagen (10), Tanner Neidenfeuhr (11), Eric Blomgren (11), Robbie Benson (10), Clayton Gallus (10), Beau Pauly (10), Morgan Kramer (10), Ryan Swanson (12), Hayden Fassler (11) and Vesledahl (10).
Bulldogs3, Thunder 2
The Bulldogs eked out a close win over the Thunder, 3-2 i extra innings in Becker’s first official game of the season at Becker High School Thursday.
Zack Zimmer scored the winning run on Brandon Croatt's squeeze bunt in the bottom of the eighth inning in Granite Ridge Conference play.
Cody Gruenhagen was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles. Casey Vesledahl picked up the win on the mound.
