The Bulldogs traditionally have quality teams that reach postseason play and this year’s team should be no exception.

 

“This year we moved up from class AA to the biggest class AAA,” said Head Coach Jason Baune. “This will present some new opponents and challenges when it comes to playoff time, however we feel like we will be prepared come the middle of May. ”

 

The team will rely on the leadership of four seniors — Allison Cieslak, Marikate Wegeleben, Kadee Vesledahl and Cassie Althoff. Each senior brings key elements to the team that when combined, creates a lethal mix of great hitting, great defense and great pitching.

 

“We are a young but experienced team,” says Cieslak, who had the highest GPA on the team last year.

 

“We plan to use our knowledge of the game and our experience to help some of the juniors, sophomores and freshmen get better,” said Althoff.

 

Wegeleben, who was named all-conference honorable mention last season while playing solid defense in the outfield, said some of the younger players will be playing both JV and varsity, depending on the circumstances each week.

 

Vesledahl, who was named to the All-State first team by the Minnesota High School Softball Coaches Association and the 2013 St. Cloud Times All-Area player of the year, will not be able to pitch for the first month or so because of an injury she sustained to her pitching arm last year yet played through the pain and discomfort.

 

“The doctors are letting me hit right now, but it’ll be another month or so — maybe by playoffs — where I’ll be able to start throwing on the mound,” she said.

 

Vesledahl posted an incredible 15-4 record with a sparkling 1.27 ERA, helping to lead the 19-5 Bulldogs to a berth in the Section 5AA final.

 

She had 125 strikeouts and batted .413 with 21 RBIs in Becker’s 24 games.

 

“Haley Harmon got a lot of experience on varsity last spring and will be one of the strongest pitchers in the conference,” said Baune.  “Maddy Mohrman, Brianna Corey and Samantha Angell will also toe the rubber for varsity and JV this spring.  In other areas, we are plugging in some new starters, but things are going well and with some outdoor practices under our belt, I think we will be very competitive in the conference again.” 

 

With the Lady bulldogs falling just short of making it to state the last two seasons, Baune and his girls hope to take that final step this season and capture that elusive title.

 

Besides the solid senior players, Baune will be looking to sophomores Payton Williams, Erika Schwartz and Hailey Fitzpatrick to make an impact. Juniors Haley Harmon, Maddy Mohrman, Ellie Tabako and twin sisters Samantha and Lindsey Lorette look to provide team speed, solid hitting and dependability on both sides of the chalk line.

 

“I think our biggest strength is that we are balanced and have depth,” said Baune.  “I don't really see an area that we are particularly weak.  We have good pitching, solid defense and we should have a formidable line-up from top to bottom. Baune says he also hopes to increase his team’s speed this year with Payton Williams, Hailey Fitzpatrick and Alexa Williams joining Allison Cieslak as some of the speedsters on the team. “We also have a lot of depth with many girls on the JV team ready to step up if needed due to injury,” he said.

 

Coach Jesse O'Neill moved up from ninth grade to JV and has a lot of coaching experience.  Sara Peterson is a former Becker player and she has taken the ninth grade position.  Peterson coached ninth grade at St. Cloud Tech for a few years, so she is familiar with the job she is expected to conduct.  Laura Lee and Steph Nelson are both former Bulldogs that will be working with the middle school girls.

 

The Bulldog girls were hoping to start their season April 8 at home, but that game against Cathedral has been postponed to a later date. Thursday, the girls traveled to Zimmerman and a full report on the game can be read below.

 

Friday, the Bulldogs headed to Monticello to take on the Magic (full report on game in next week’s Citizen). Monday (weather permitting), they return home to face Milaca before trekking to Albany Tuesday to take on the Huskies.

 

The Bulldog varsity roster includes: Alexa Hanowski, Payton Williams, Erika Schwartz, Lindsey Lorette, Hailey Fitzpatrick, Ellie Tabako, Mckenzie Demant, Samantha Lorette, Allison Cieslak, Kadee Vesledahl, Cassie Althoff, Marikate Wegeleben, Emma Buntrock, Haley Harmon and Maddy Mohrman.

 

 

The Bulldogs got off the right foot Thursday as they whooped the Zimmerman Thunder 10-0 at home.

 

Senior Marikate Wegeleben went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI to lead Becker to its first win of the season in a game that was stopped after five innings due to the 10-run rule.

 

Cassie Althoff (2-for-3) and Allison Cieslak (2-for-4) both had two doubles for the Bulldogs.

 

Senior catcher Gabby Antolak went 1-for-2 to lead Zimmerman.

 

Becker junior Haley Harmon pitched a complete game shutout, allowing two hits and striking out eight batters to receive the win.