Another sport, another Bernie squad that will 'find ways to win games'
The Bernie High School softball squad opened its 2022 season on Friday with a commanding rout of Charleston. The victory shouldn’t be surprising to anyone that has followed the Mules through the years. And that isn’t limited to softball.
“We have those expectations of being successful,” Bernie softball coach and high school principal Brad Botsch said in his return to the diamond after resigning from the position in spring of 2020. “We’ve had great tradition here.
“We’ve been fortunate to have lots of good coaches here and great kids and families that support wanting their kids to do things the right way.”
Botsch is guiding the Mules this spring while head coach Cendyl McGowen is away on maternity leave, and he knows a thing or two about winning games – regardless of the sport.
In 10 years as the Mules’ softball coach, Botsch led Bernie to a 147-69 record, two district championships, and six SCAA titles.
He first coached the Mules in 2002 and 2003 before joining the school’s baseball coaching staff from 2004 to 2011. He returned to softball for the 2012 season and coached the team through 2019.
During the winter months, Botsch coached the Bernie basketball teams before resigning following the 2018-19 season.
In 12 seasons, he won more games than any coach in school history, with a record of 268-107, a .715 winning percentage, while leading the Mules to four district championships and two Bloomfield Christmas Tournament titles.
The Mules advanced to the Class 2 state championship game in 2010 and 2011 and reached the state quarterfinals in 2009.
“When you have parents, and administration, and school board,” Botsch explained, “that will support coaches and want the kids to be coached, then you’re going to find ways to win games if you get out here and put in the time.”
It doesn’t matter the year or the sport, history shows Bernie will “find ways to win games.”
The softball program has had one losing season in 10 years, while the baseball team has won three District championships in the past seven years and hasn’t had a losing season in over a decade.
The Mules recently finished second in the state in basketball for MSHSAA Class 2 (for the third time in 13 seasons) and have strung together five consecutive seasons of at least 20 wins.
In volleyball, Bernie finished third in the state in 2015 and fourth in 2012 and hasn’t had a losing season since 2009, while the Mule cross country teams each sent athletes to compete at the 2021 Class 1 State Finals last fall.
This year’s softball team is coming off a 12-12 mark from a year ago, but Botsch believes he has the pieces to put together a solid season.
“In practice,” Botsch said, “I’ve been impressed with them defensively, and I think we are going to be able to manufacture some runs. We’ve got team speed.”