On a sunny opening day of May, Calvin head softball coach Becky Hilgert reached a career milestone in a 5-0 game one win over the Alma Scots.

The game one win was the 200^th of Hilgert's head coaching career of the Calvin softball program. She then picked up career win No. 201 in a 4-2 game two victory as the Knights completed the conference doubleheader sweep.

In just eight years as head coach, the Minnesota native has fashioned an impressive won-loss record of 201-80 for a winning percentage of .715. Hilgert has now led Calvin to six 20-win campaigns including a pair of 30-win seasons. Three of her teams have reached the NCAA III Tournament and two have claimed MIAA Tournament crowns.

When looking back on her eight years in the cockpit of the Calvin softball program, Hilgert offered words of appreciation for the players and coaches she has worked with.

"I owe so much to my players and my coaches," said Hilgert on the bus ride home from Alma. "I look at my current (assistant) coaching staff and all of them have been with me as either players or coaches or both. I have also been blessed to coach several talented players but even the players that did not always receive as much playing time have played a big role too. It's a cool accomplishment because I get to share this with so many people that have been a part of it."

Hilgert was named head Calvin softball coach in the summer of 2016 and went 20-20 in her first year as head coach in the spring of 2017. She followed with a rip-roaring 32-10 season in 2018 while leading the Knights to the NCAA III Regional Tournament finals.

"As a new coach, I made a lot of mistakes in my first year but the players remained bought in which was huge," said Hilgert. "I kept grinding on the recruiting trail while committing to developing the players in our program. It just showed the stark contrast of two years and how quickly things can turn around if everyone sticks together and doesn't look back."

One of Hilgert's biggest achievements came in the Covid-spring of 2021 as she led the Knights through the pandemic, captured a two-weekend MIAA Tournament and advanced back to the NCAA III Tournament for the third time in four years."

"We were talking the other day that my current seniors were freshmen on that (2021) team and they experienced a lot," said Hilgert. "Now they are seniors and they are telling our younger players what lies ahead if they keep their nose to the grindstone and keep winning games."

Despite losing two of her top offensive players and a key pitcher from her 2023 team due to graduation, Hilgert has the 2024 Calvin Knights back in the national rankings and sitting at 28-8 overall. Wednesday's doubleheader sweep clinched a spot in next week's four-team MIAA Tournament.

"The MIAA is always so tough in softball," said Hilgert. "Anyone can beat you on a given day and the teams at the top are always some of the best in the region and frequently the nation. One of our goals each year is to make the conference tournament. To do that, it means we need to finish in the top four in the league."

Calvin opened its conference season at 1-3 but has since gone 13-1 overall and 10-0 in league play including a doubleheader sweep over defending national champion Trine on April 13.

"I told our team that our goals were still ahead of us and that nothing has changed," said Hilgert. "To the credit of our players, they took that to heart."

One thing Hilgert has taken to heart is her love for Calvin University. A former softball standout at St. Thomas University in Minneapolis, Hilgert played in multiple NCAA III Softball World Series with the Tommies. Although her love for the state of Minnesota and St. Thomas will always be there, her love for Calvin is genuine.

"I hope people now consider me an honorary Calvin Knight," she said. "I truly bleed Maroon and Gold. I am so appreciative of the Calvin community that has welcomed me and supported me through the years. It's a great place to be and I am honored to be here."

Another love Hilgert has is for the game of softball and that love has little to do with wins or losses. "Softball is such a great game because of all the people it brings into your life," said Hilgert. "It's a game where people learn to build lifelong goals and go through failure and success together. I tell my players that God puts you in these positions because of the game. It's just a game but God is working through it. In that sense, anyone who plays this game is blessed."