The girls finished 21-4 and won their conference as well as their section playoffs.

 

To begin the evening of festivities, the four senior captains (Cassie Althoff, Marikate Wegeleben, Allison Cieslak and Kadee Vesledahl) spoke about the team’s sixth grade student managers — Avery Tamm and Corrie Weise — and presented them with autographed state tournament programs and softball bags.

 

The Lady Bulldogs had over 20 players receive the Spotlight on Scholarship award for having a GPA over 3.0 for their high school careers.  

 

The Academic All-Conference awards went to the following varsity players who had a GPA over 3.75: Cieslak, Wegeleben,  Althoff, Haley Harmon, Alexa Hanowski and Brianna Corey.  

 

Cieslak was named Academic All-State and the entire team received the Silver Team Academic All-State with a team GPA of 3.7.  

The final academic award was the scholar athlete award for the student-athlete with the highest GPA in the softball program and that went to Cieslak.

Following the academic awards, freshman coach Sara Peterson spoke about their season.  The team finished with a record of 11-0 and allowed only 28 runs the entire season.  

 

Coach Jesse O'Neill then spoke about the junior varsity season which ended with a record of 14-1 and undefeated in the Granite Ridge Conference at 13-0.  Coach O'Neill commented on the teamwork shown by all of the members of the team and how proud she was of the effort everyone made to make the two foreign exchange students feel welcome.

 

To finish up the banquet, head Coach Jason Baune spoke about the great season he and his team had finishing with the third most wins in school history.  Becker finished their second straight undefeated conference schedule at 13-0 and won their first section title as a AAA school.  

 

“Despite the two losses at the state tournament, I was very proud of how the girls competed,” said Baune.  “It was great to see our four seniors end their hugely successful careers in Mankato at the state tournament.

 

Thirteen girls were varsity letter winners this year, with four of them being first time letter winners.  Maddy Mohrman, Hailey Fitzpatrick, Alexa Hanowski and Corey were first time letter winners.  Althoff, Vesledahl, Cieslak,  Wegeleben, Sam Lorette, Lindsey Lorette, Harmon, Erika Schwartz and Payton Williams also repeated as letter winners.  

 

Each member of the state tournament team received awards for participating in the state tournament.  

 

The Granite Ridge All-Conference award winners Wegeleben, Althoff,  Cieslak, Sam Lorette, Williams and Schwartz.  Vesledahl and Corey were each named honorable mention All-Conference. Wegeleben, Sam Lorette, Williams and Harmon were each named to the all-section team for their performance in the section tournament.  

 

Cieslak received a plaque as recognition for being named to the Minnesota Fastpitch Coaches Association All-State Second Team.  

 

The final three awards handed out Monday were voted on by the players. Williams was named the Most Improved Player for the season.

 

Wegeleben was named Most Dedicated  and  Cieslak was voted the 2014 Most Valuable Player.

 

“We will definitely miss our four seniors for their ability on the field, but also for their leadership off the field,” said Baune. “With a strong core of our team returning and a number of players ready to step into bigger roles on the varsity team, we look forward to another successful season in 2015.”