(Editor’s Note: Spring season articles for Becker Baseball and Becker Girls and Boys Lacrosse will appear in next week’s edition of the Patriot.)

With nine varsity sports and a pile of snow on the ground following a snowy winter, Becker Activities Director Dave Niemi expects the spring season to be predictably . . . unpredictable.

“The spring can always be unpredictable,” Niemi says.  “This year it is the prolonged winter, but we’ve been through rainy spring seasons and have dealt with the challenges of COVID that we made it through.”

Niemi says right now the season is a waiting game, and discussions have started between the Activities Directors at the school about how to move forward.

One thing working in favor of the Bulldogs is the addition of lights to the varsity baseball and softball fields.  Niemi expects the addition to be beneficial this year and the years to come. 

“The lights will help a lot, especially if doubleheaders become part of our plans,” Niemi says.  “Not having to worry as much about getting games finished before the sun sets will be a big advantage that we have not had before the addition of the lights.”

Niemi also notes that the construction project at the school will have an impact on several playing surfaces, as well as the parking for spectators. 

“We ask for understanding as fans arrive and maybe need to park and walk farther away from our fields or courts than they may have in previous spring seasons,” Niemi says.  “We will get there and we will make it the best spring season for those participating in our spring activities just as we do in our more predictable seasons.”

As always, fans are encouraged to check out missippippi8.org for the most up to date schedules for their favorite local team.  Here’s a look at those individual sports and their respective coaches’ expectations for the season.

Tennis

Head Coach Hokan Bengtson returns for his 22nd season with a team loaded with talent and experience.  Nine returning letter winners highlight a squad that last year made its first state tournament and finished with a record of 23-3 overall.  Because of the returning talent and experience, Bengtson and Niemi scheduled the toughest schedule in team history in the hopes of preparing for another postseason run.

“This team has high expectations, but it will be a huge challenge to out-perform last year because our schedule is quite a bit tougher,” Bengtson says.

Softball

The Bulldogs and their head coach, Jason Baune, are no strangers to the state tournament and they just might have enough talent this year to challenge for a spot in the final eight.

“I believe our eight seniors will provide a lot of leadership and that we have an exciting group of underclassmen that will have a chance to fill roles on the varsity team,” Baune says.  

One of the reasons for his optimism is that the team has a number of players who can produce on the mound, and this year’s snow might mean several games are pushed back from the first couple of weeks.  Any team with pitching depth will then be a leg (or arm in this case) up on the competition.

Girls Track

Head Coach Trish Reimer-Kealy is back for season 18 and says the Bulldogs are a bit of a mystery team.

“For the season we should expect the unexpected!” Reimer-Kealy saiys.  “We have many unknowns and our conference is loaded with lots of talent.”

She does have a total of 14 returning letter winners returning from last season’s squad, and her teams have developed a knack for showing great improvement over the course of a season.  With 40 participants out for the team this year, Becker will have the depth to make things interesting in the Mississippi 8 Conference.

Boys Track

Head Coach Paul Schmidt has some excellent returning performers from last year’s Section runners-up team, including state entrants Tyson Ricker and Owen Angell.  Schmidt is also happy with his numbers, as the team has 15 freshmen and 14 sophomores on the squad.

Schmidt is hoping the Bulldogs’ facilities will also be an edge early in the season.

“While other teams are running hallways, jumping in cafeterias and utilizing any space they can, we have an indoor track for our workouts,” Schmidt says.  “In many ways the late spring won’t affect us too much.”

Girls golf

Head Coach Anna Babler and her team are hoping to claim their third straight Mississippi 8 Conference title.  With five returning letter winners, that goal is certainly within reach.

“I think the conference title is definitely attainable again and we have a few golfers that could potentially advance to the state tournament held at Bunker Hills in June,” Babler says.

Senior Emma Benson will serve as this year’s team captain. 

Boys Golf

The Becker boys golf team returns good numbers, with 15 golfers vying for a spot in the top six and a chance to tee off for the varsity team.

Coach Hunter Moen returns for his second season at the helm.

Becker’s schedule was originally scheduled to start on Monday, April 10 with an Invitational meet to be held at Pebble Creek, but that appears to be in jeopardy barring a sunny miracle from Mother Nature.