12YR WARRANTY
Elk River Star News Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 31
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Elk River, MN 55330.
Zimmerman looks to take next step in Mississippi 8
Experienced roster aims for top-three finish and deeper section run
ERIK NELSON Sports Reporter
Zimmerman enters the
FILE PHOTO
Thunder pitcher Madyson Becker winds up her rotation during Zimmerman’ s 16-5 loss to Spring Lake Park on May 13, 2024.
2026 season with experience and enthusiasm as the Thunder continue to settle into their home field at Zimmerman Elementary School, which now features new bleachers, a sound system and a scoreboard.
Head coach Julie Beaver returns for her second season after previously serving as an assistant under former head coach Jim Doran.
“ Everybody loves to come play here because it’ s such a beautiful field,” Beaver said.“ I’ m excited to have a great season on our field. To have a good sound system with an announcer and walk-up music is a great place where the community can gather.” 2025 record: 5-15( lost to St. Francis in the Section 5-3A playoffs)
Key returning players: Senior pitchers Madyson Becker and Madilyn Tucker; senior catcher Jayci Daudt; senior outfielder Alyson
Spring Preview
Becker; juniors Ariana Martinez and Kaylee Martinez
Key departures: Ivy Borkoski, Hallie Kraft and Madison Roush
Important games: April 3 at Orono; April 6 vs. Spring Lake Park( home opener); April 7 vs. Becker( first Mississippi 8 Conference game); April 13 vs. Sauk Rapids-Rice; April 20 vs. North Branch( family night); April 21 vs. Chisago Lakes( youth night, doubleheader); April 23 vs. Cambridge-Isanti( Strike Out Cancer); April 24 vs. Princeton; April 28 vs. Mound Westonka( senior night); April 30 at Monticello; May 5 vs. Big Lake( staff appreciation); May 8 at Princeton; May 14 at Cambridge-Isanti
Coach Julie Beaver’ s expectations for 2026:
“ I’ ve been working with
these girls for a long time. We have eight seniors. They have been with the program for a long time. I’ m excited to get to work more with those seniors. Our varsity team will be made up of juniors and seniors this year.
“ I’ m looking forward to being an offensive force. Defensively, we’ re looking to replace three seniors who graduated, so we’ re still figuring out roles. Last year, we were in the middle of the pack in both Section 5-3A and the Mississippi 8. This year, we look to make it deeper into sections and hope to be in the top three in the conference.
“ These girls have been playing together for so long. They like each other as a team. We’ ve also been working with a sports psychologist on the mental game. I’ m excited to see how things come together.”
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