The Becker Bulldog girls softball team captured their fourth straight Granite Ridge Conference title as they closed out the regular season with wins over Zimmerman and St. Cloud.
Becker 10, Zimmerman 8
Erika Schwartz went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and two RBI and Ellie Schwartz went 2-for-3 with two RBI for Becker in a Granite Ridge Conference win over Zimmerman at home Tuesday.
The victory wrapped up sole possession of the conference title for the Bulldogs.
Brianna Corey earned a complete-game win. She gave up 10 hits, four earned runs and struck out five. Kayla Trisko went 3-for-3 with two runs scored for Zimmerman.
Tuesday’s game against Zimmerman was key to the Bulldogs that would determine the conference champion. Had Becker lost, the Thunder would move into a first place tie with them.
The game was all Bulldogs early as they scored three in the bottom of the first inning. Corrie Weise drove in the first run with a single and two batters later, Ellie Schwartz singled to plate two more.
Becker continued to hit the ball all over the yard in the second inning and scored three more times to go up 6-0. Erika Schwartz had a big two-run single in the inning.
A single run in the third pushed the lead to 7-0 before the Thunder got on the board with a run in the top of the fourth.
Two more Bulldog runs scored in the bottom of the inning, pushing the lead to 9-1.
However, the Thunder weren't done and they answered with four runs in the top of the fifth to make the score 9-5.
Becker responded with a lone run to increase the lead, but the Thunder stormed back with three in the sixth to bring them within two. Brianna Corey shut the Thunder down in the top of the seventh to preserve the win and the conference championship.
Becker 3, Cathedral 2
The Bulldogs finished up their regular season Thursday at home with a matchup against third place St. Cloud Cathedral on senior day.
This game was a briskly played pitcher's duel and the home team jumped on top with a run in the third when Sydney Lamott reached on an error and scored on a single by Hailey Fitzpatrick.
In the top of the fourth, Cathedral answered when their clean-up hitter drilled a solo home run to tie the game up at one.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Bulldogs went back in front with a two out rally when Payton Williams and Fitzpatrick each singled with two outs and Erika Schwartz drove them both in with a single to make the score 3-1.
Cathedral wouldn’t go away and answered the Bulldogs’ run with another solo home run by their clean-up hitter to make the score 3-2 entering the seventh. In the final frame, Corey gave up a single, but eventually shut the Crusaders down to eke out the one-run win.
Fitzpatrick and Ellie Schwartz each had two hits on the day.
Corey picked up another win, going all seven innings and allowing two runs on six hits. She didn't walk a batter and struck out six.
After the game, the coaches and fans honored the team’s five seniors — Rachel Thiesse, Alexa Hanowski, Hailey Fitzpatrick, Payton Williams and Erika Schwartz.
“They have had great success on the field as well as in the classroom,” said Head Coach Jason Baune. “Even more importantly, all five of them are good people and I'm confident that they are going to have great success in college and beyond.”
With the two wins this week, the softball regular season comes to a close with a record of 15-4 overall and 10-0 in the conference. It is Becker’s fourth straight conference championship and moves their Granite Ridge Conference record to 48-0 since joining the GRC in 2013.
“We are looking forward to the challenge of the playoffs and hope to make another run to the state tournament,” said Baune.
Up Next
Section play begins Tuesday with Becker expected to be the #2 seed and hosting a playoff game. If they are the #2 seed, they will also host four teams Thursday with game times and opponents to be determined by a draw Sunday night.
