The Becker girls softball team  played four games this past week, going  1-3 against the Saints, Magic, Vikings and Wildcats.

St. Francis

Becker Bulldogs traveled to St. Francis last Tuesday to take on the 13th-ranked Saints.

The game started off slow with a scoreless top of the first, but then really picked up in the bottom of the inning with the Saints taking a six run lead. 

Three hits, three walks, and three Bulldog errors allowed the Saints to take the huge lead. The Saints would go on to add another run in the bottom of the second half, leaving the score 7-0 favoring the visitors. 

The Bulldogs were unable to make a comeback and fell by a score of 7-0.

North Branch

On the following Thursday, Becker Bulldogs played on their home turf against the North Branch Vikings. 

This game started off much better than their previous game when Bulldog Ady Petty was able to score off of a Kylyn Patnode single, boosting the score to 1-0. 

Four more runs would be added on to Becker’s score in the bottom of the third when Petty managed another run after Kylyn hit a double. The score would climb to 5-0 after pitcher Bella Hunter hit a three-run double. 

In the bottom of the fifth, Patnode hit the ball out of the park with her first varsity homerun, which pushed the score to 6-0. Even though the Vikings would end up scoring two runs, the Bulldogs would secure their win after Jaimee Cook struck out 14 Viking batters.

Monticello

The next game was held Friday at home for the annual StrikeOut Cancer game where the Bulldogs would face off against Monticello Magic. 

The Magic took the lead in the bottom of the second inning and then doubled their score in the top of the third. The game would remain 2-0 until Norah Fitzpatrick hit a single, which led Bella Hunter and Jackie Neumann to score. The Magic would follow soon after with a five-run lead, leaving the score 7-2. 

Jaimee Cook was able to strike out 11 Magic batters in the win.

Chisago Lakes

Becker traveled to Chisago Lakes last Monday to compete against the defending state runner-ups, the Wildcats. 

Both teams’ pitchers prevented runners from crossing home plate in the first inning. Allie Duncombe also kept the Wildcats from scoring by making an incredible running catch in centerfield and then doubling the Wildcat runner off of second base. 

Throughout the game, neither team was able to score any runs, so the game went into extra innings tied at 0-0. 

In the end, the Wildcats were able to score off of one run which ended the game at 1-0.

Bulldog players Allie Dumcombe, Lily Warren, and Maddie Gardner provided some excellent outfield defense, along with some amazing pitching by Jaimee Cook.

“I think we’ve learned a lot and will be better for it by the end of the season,” said Coach Jason Baune, after running the gauntlet of state-ranked Mississippi 8 teams.