Stevenson senior catcher Sophia Becker’s frequent doctor visits may be behind her, but she hasn’t forgotten them.
The Case Western Reserve commit intends to study pre-med, and that’s not a coincidence.
“I really want to be a doctor,” Becker said. “I’ve been injured so many times in my sports career and had to go to the doctor a lot. I’ve found it so interesting about how to recover and really wanted to go into a pre-med track.
“Even in my recruiting process, I knew I wanted to go to a Division III school with a good pre-med and focus on being a doctor.”
But Becker, who missed much of last season with mononucleosis, is healthy and playing vital roles for the red-hot Patriots. She’s batting .452 with a 1.222 OPS, a home run, a triple, five doubles, 20 RBIs and 25 runs scored, and she has the trust of coaches and teammates behind the plate.
With Becker’s contributions, Stevenson (18-3, 8-1) won its 11th straight game on Monday, defeating 2024 Class 4A state semifinalist Mundelein 1-0 to stay in first place in the North Suburban Conference. Becker, who has started since she was a freshman, couldn’t ask for much more.
“It’s really great to be playing so well in my last year,” she said. “It’s really emotional because I’ve been playing on the team so long. It’s great to see everyone on the team on a roll and everyone willing to go all out on the field all the time.”
Like multiple teammates, Becker has been on the roll with the bat.
“She’s a good hitter, and her offense is solid,” Stevenson coach Vera Pflugradt said. “She has a good approach at the plate and makes solid contact. She worked hard in the offseason and came back physically stronger this year.”
But Becker, who also plays third base, is no less important behind the plate.
“She calls our pitches, so we trust her a lot,” Pflugradt said. “She’s really good at blocking and keeping the ball in front of her. She has a great arm and controls the game.”
Stevenson junior pitcher Ava Potempa, who leads the staff with a 1.40 ERA and 104 strikeouts, said Becker makes her job easier by studying opposing hitters and calling pitches.
“Sophia is such a talented athlete with a high IQ in catching,” Potempa said. “She is constantly one step ahead of everyone else while playing.
“Her bat is also outstanding. You can put her in any tough situation, and she will come out on top.”
Becker said she and Potempa work well together.
“I really like catching for her,” Becker said. “We both know exactly what we want to throw in each situation. We communicate a lot. We both have enough confidence in each other to shake off pitches.”
Stevenson senior outfielder/second baseman Addie Pak said Becker’s commitment to the sport and the team are obvious.
“Sophia is an exceptionally skilled player whose dedication is evident both on the off the field,” Pak said. “She consistently gives maximum effort during practices and games, approaching every moment with determination and grit. Her unwavering focus ensures she’s fully engaged in every play.
“She brings the same intensity to support teammates.”
Becker said the Patriots have aspirations to be one of the best teams in 4A. She noted they’ve made several comebacks this season, including a six-run rally in the seventh inning to beat New Trier.
“I think that when we’re losing, we never lay down because we’re always ready to fight back,” Becker said. “I think we can really make it to state and compete at state. We play up to our potential and don’t feel intimidated by teams.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
