Jason Baune returns to lead the Becker Bulldog girls softball team for the 15th straight year. 

 

Baune has built an incredibly solid program that year-in and year-out is vying for a state title. Baune’s staff has evaluated the losses (seniors) and the gains (underclassmen) and determined this is most likely going to be another great season of softball and the team he is coaching should make another run for a fourth straight trip to the state tournament.

 

Most of Baune’s coaching staff returns, but he has added Dom Squires as the seventh grade coach and also added a couple of volunteers.  Heather Holien and Marikate Wegeleben are helping coach in the 9-12 program.

 

Baune has 40 girls vying for spots on the C-squad, JV and varsity teams. He says he’ll be looking at his veterans to help lead the younger players and show them by example how to lead a team.

 

“We have a great group of leaders this year,” Baune said.  “We have six seniors that have a lot of softball experience, along with a number of younger players that gained varsity experience over the past couple years.”

 

Returning this year are two core pitchers, Corrie Weise and Brianna Corey. That one-two punch should give opposing teams lots of headaches on how to solve their mastery of pitches.

 

The team looks solid around the infield, though the girls playing there have a lack of experience. Behind the plate, junior catcher Ellie Schwartz should provide great pitch-calling and a strong arm. Schwartz is a naturally-gifted athlete and Baune could probably put her just about anywhere and she would thrive. 

 

In the infield, Emily Lamott, Haley benda, Payton Bernstrom and others will provide a solid backdrop for the pitcher should the opposing team get a bat on a ball.

 

In the outfield, the Bulldogs will have Sydney Lamott, Brinly Zoller, Tina Martell, Kaylyn Wiehle and Megan Hoppe expected to make plays and stay fundamentally sound.

 

“Coach  (Matt) O'Neill and I really feel that our main goal is to put kids in position to be successful,” said Baune. “We have a lot of girls (especially in the infield) that are playing new positions and it is going to take some time for them to become comfortable and trust each other.”

 

The Bulldogs’ toughest foes in the Granite Ridge Conference most likely will be St. Cloud Cathedral and Zimmerman. Sections is very balanced and Baune expects Dassel-Cokato, Rocori and Monticello to have great teams this year.

 

“We haven't set goals as a team yet, but I think both the coaches and players feel that we are capable of winning a conference championship and making a strong run at a section championship and our fourth straight trip to the state tournament,” Baune said.

 

“I think we’ll have a really good season again this year and it’s been fun so far learning from Coaches Baune and O’Neill,” said Emily Lamott. “I’m looking forward to getting the season started.”

 

Schwartz, whose sister, Erika graduated and went on to play softball at Bethel, likes the idea of helping to inspire some of the younger girls.

 

“I hope to show the girls that the game can be fun and we also need to play smart in order to achieve our goals,” she said. “I’m really excited to see where this team lands.”

 

Payton Bernstrom, who will see time at shortstop and/or second base, agrees.

 

“It’s a challenge to learn a new position and work with new players, but when we get it down, I think this team can go far,” she said.

 

The team kicked off their regular season with a road game at Little Falls April 6. Their first home game was Friday, April 7 against Cathedral.