The Becker Bulldog girls softball team held their end-of-the-season banquet Monday night at the high school to celebrate another successful season for their softball program.  

 

After a meal provided by Nix Bar and Restaurant, the coaches spoke about their season.  

 

Coach Reyan Robinson spoke on behalf of Coach Scott Brake and herself about the seventh and eighth grade team’s seasons after both teams had successful seasons with only a few losses between the two teams.  The coaches were excited with how all of the girls worked together.  With a total of over 30 middle school softball players, the future looks bright.

 

Coach Sara Peterson was unable to attend the banquet, but shared with the other coaches that the ninth grade team finished 8-5.  Peterson was particularly happy with how the girls supported each other during the ups and downs of the season.  She also made note of how great the defense was.  

 

Coach Jesse O'Neill spoke about the JV season and commented on how the girls were willing to accept roles on the team which was especially important with the large number of girls on the JV team this spring.

 

Academic awards were then presented and the student-athletes on JV and varsity were recognized for having a cumulative GPA between 3.0 and 4.0. Those mentioned are named to the Spotlight on Scholarship award,  given out to 90% of the girls on the team.  

 

Academic all-conference awards were given to varsity athletes with a GPA over 3.75.  These athletes were  Alexa Hanowski, Rachel Thiesse, Brianna Corey, Megan Hoppe and Ellie Schwartz. Hanowski and Thiesse were honored with academic all-state awards as seniors with a GPA over 3.75.  

 

Hanowski was also awarded the scholar athlete award as the student-athlete with the highest GPA in the softball program.  

 

The varsity team was awarded the all-state silver academic award for finishing with a team GPA between 3.5 and 3.75.

 

Participation awards were then given to JV and Varsity athletes who were in good standing, but didn't earn a varsity letter.

 

That was followed with those that earned a varsity letter, receiving either a softball pin (first time letter winners) or bar (multiple letter winners).  Captains also received special pins.

 

First time letter winners were Thiesse, Brinley Zoller, Hoppe, Kaylyn Wiehle and Corrie Weise.

 

Multiple letter winners were Payton Williams (fourth), Erika Schwartz (fourth), Hanowski (third), Hailey Fitzpatrick (fourth), Corey (third), Sydney Lamott (second) and Ellie Schwartz (second).

 

Captains this year were Erika Schwartz, Thiesse and Williams.

 

The St. Cloud Times named two Becker players to their all-area team in Hanowski and Corey.

 

The St. Cloud Times honorable mention all-area were Erika Schwartz, Fitzpatrick, Williams, Weise and Kaylyn Wiehle.

 

The Granite Ridge all-conference honorable mention awards went to Weise and Wiehle.

 

The Granite Ridge all-conference players were Erika Schwartz, Fitzpatrick,  Williams, Hanowski, Corey and Ellie Schwartz.

 

The Granite Ridge co-MVP player and co-MVP pitcher went to Corey.

 

All-section awards went to Fitzpatrick, Williams, Hanowski and Corey.

 

Williams was named to the Wells Fargo all-state tournament team for going 8-for-12 with two home runs in three games (setting the state tournament record for home runs in a game and a tournament.

 

The all-state second team player was Corey.

 

Senior all-star game participants were Erika Schwartz, Williams and Fitzpatrick.

 

The team voted Brinley Zoller and Weise as the most improved players (tie). The most dedicated player was Erika Schwartz and the most valuable player was Williams.

To wrap up the banquet, Coach Jason Baune discussed the varsity season which included many successes.  

 

“We finished as Granite Ridge Conference champions for the fourth straight season and won our ninth conference championship in the past 11 years,” he said.  “With a 10-0 conference record, we have now gone 48-0 in conference play since joining the Granite Ridge.”

 

Baune also pointed out the team won the Section 5AAA tournament and advanced to the state tournament for the fifth time in the past nine years.  

 

His team’s final record was 20-7 and they finished sixth at the state tournament.  

 

Baune closed out the evening by bringing up his five seniors (Williams, Erika Schwartz, Hanowski, Fitzpatrick and Thiesse) and discussed how their leadership unified the team and identified what great role models they were for the younger girls in the program.  

 

“They have really set an example for the other athletes in the program,” Baune said.  “Their hard work, dedication and leadership are models for others to follow.  We will certainly miss all five of them, both for their success on the field, but also for the example that they set off the field.”  

 

Despite losing such high-quality student/athletes as the five seniors, Baune couldn’t help but speak about the future of the program.  

 

“The returning players have shown that they know what it takes to be successful and I'm confident that they will continue to build on the success of previous teams.”

 

Williams, Erika Schwartz and Fitzpatrick  are all college-bound to continue their education and their playing of the sport of softball they love. Williams is heading to Bemidji State University, Fitzpatrick to the University of Minnesota-Crookston and Schwartz to Bethel University.

 

The three good friends and teammates have been together on Becker teams such as the 10U Blast, the 12U Gold Team that finished fourth at nationals and have now concluded their high school playing time together with a sixth place finish at state.

 

Williams and Fitzpatrick (along with Corey) — last year helped the Minnesota Moose 16U softball team win a state championship in July of 2015, then go on to nationals to capture the third place title.

 

Schwartz and Williams were part of a 2011 14U team that finished with a 28-19-1 record that included qualifying for nationals in May, finishing third at a STMA tournament in June and finishing 3-3 at nationals in Omaha.