By Bill Morgan, Staff Writer
The Becker Lady Bulldogs softball team gathered together one last time Monday to celebrate another very successful season.
The coaching staff honored all five of the school’s teams with around 70 girls in grades 7-12 who came out for softball this season.
Coaches of the seventh, eighth, C-squad and JV teams spoke about successful seasons and how hard the girls worked despite the terrible spring weather. Highlights included the seventh grade team finishing undefeated and the JV finishing with a record of 14-2.
The varsity team had a very successful season, finishing with a record of 15-9. They won the Granite Ridge Conference for the sixth consecutive year with a record of 8-2. They finished third in the section, losing out to the section champion, Rocori, by a score of 4-3 in 12 innings.
Varsity Head Coach Jason Baune said even though it was a tough spring weather-wise, the girls worked very hard during seven weeks of indoor practice and then competed very well when they got outside and played 19 games in 20 days.
“I was also very proud of how the team came together off the field,” he said. “We spent time collecting food for the food shelf and studied John Wooden's Pyramid of Success during a book study this spring. All of these things were part of our three goals for the team —; improve as softball players, improve as people and have fun.”
Baune said he and his staff are going to miss their seniors — Ellie Schwartz, Payton Bernstrom, Hannah Kolbinger, Haley Benda, Jamie Sommerdorf and Georgia Thom.
“They were great leaders on and off the field,” Baune said. “They set an example of hard work and selflessness. We were a very young team with many sophomores and freshman and I hope that they will learn from that example and carry it into next season.”
Numerous awards were passed out at the banquet for academic and athletic achievement.
Academic All-Conference: Jamie Sommerdorf, Payton Bernstrom, Emily Lamott, Krista Paulson, Brooke Hendrickson, Jenna Kringler and Cammie Varney.
Academic All-State: Jamie Sommerdorf, Payton Bernstrom and Georgia Thom.
Scholar Athlete: Payton Bernstrom.
Varsity Letter Winners: Ellie Schwartz, Payton Bernstrom, Haley Benda, Hannah Kolbinger, Jamie Sommerdorf, Georgia Thom, Kaylyn Wiehle, Jaida Johnson, Catrina Holm, Corrie Weise, Avery Tamm, Emily LaMott, Krista Paulson, Brooke Hendrickson, Cammie Varney and Jenna Kringler.
All-Conference: Ellie Schwartz, Haley Benda, Kaylyn Wiehle, Corrie Weise, Emily LaMott and Krista Paulson.
Honorable Mention All-Conference: Payton Bernstrom.
All-Section: Haley Benda, Corrie Weise and Krista Paulson.
Second Team All-State: Corrie Weise.
Most Improved Player: Krista Paulson.
Most Dedicated Player: Ellie Schwartz.
Most Valuable Player: Corrie Weise.
John Wooden Pyramid of Success Award: Jamie Sommerdorf.
