When you watch an athlete that has reached a goal in their respective sport, they seem to play with a certain confidence and have a certain aura that shows they are striving to be better. If you can relate to this then you should not miss the chance to attend a Hornet softball game this year.

You will get the pleasure of watching a whole group of athletes that have reached a goal of playing collegiate softball. But there is one player whose story stands out from the rest.

Senior co-captain Andrea Becker has gone full circle in her 15 years of softball. Becker, who will see time at shortstop, second base, and outfield, goes through regular everyday life with tremendous pain in her lower back caused by degenerative disc disease and two herneated discs.

Despite the fact that she is in constant pain and has been encouraged by doctors and even her own coach to sit out this season, Becker keeps a quiet demeanor and a low profile from the spotlight, refusing to give up the sport that she loves. In fact this story would go untold if it weren?t pried out of her.

“Softball has been my passion since I can remember,” Becker said. “For me to play it is a constant struggle between mind and body and a race against time. I am constantly trying to convince myself that I can play the entire season.”

Longevity has been somewhat of a problem for Becker as far back as her senior year of high school. As a three-sport star at Alhambra High School in Martinez, Becker played basketball, volleyball, and softball all four years but missed a lot of time in each sport because of her condition. She went through three epidural cortisone injections to relieve the pain so that she could play, but nothing seemed to work.

“I have tried everything and nothing helps,” Becker said. “I?ve done acupuncture, acupressure, physical therapy, anything short of surgery.”

As a college freshman, Becker went off to Humboldt State to play softball, but as the year went on she realized that the Humboldt environment was not for her. She then searched for a school that was more geared to her style and walked on at Sac State in 1997. In her first season for the Hornets she made the move from shortstop to second base and got valuable experience as a part-time starter. With her back problems taking away from her abilities, Becker trained hard for the next season, but as it had in the past, her back gave out on her again and she was forced to take a medical redshirt and sit out the season.

“I remember standing out on the field and taking a deep breath and that was it,” Becker said. “My back just gave out on me and my season was over.”

As a junior, Becker struggled through the pain, but the achievement of playing an entire season was in sight. Ironically enough, with 12 games left in the season, Becker broke her thumb requiring surgery, ending her season again.

2001 is a new season and Becker has the same outlook as before. She returns as the two-time team captain and is determined to go the distance in her final round.

“Andrea is one of the best athletes that I have ever worked with in my 18 years of coaching,” softball head coach Kathy Strahan said. “She knows her time is limited as an athlete and she gives all she has and plays every game as if it is her last.”

Strahan has served as a motivation factor for Becker in a number of ways, not only as a coach but as a friend as well.

“Coach understands my situation and I have been fortunate in that she is willing to work around my physical limitations,” Becker said. “She has done anything she can to help me continue to play.”

One of Becker?s best qualities is that she never complains about the pain and leads by example.

“Andrea just wants to play,” Strahan said. “She can do everything except pitch and catch and she thrives on the thrill of making a play.”

With the only therapy for her back being weeks of rest, Becker has been told to do something that athletes hardly ever hear: to hold back during practice.

“I told her not to dive for balls in the infield during practice,” Strahan admitted. “I even told her to only do it during a game if it is necessary. With her injury we could lose her for weeks or even the season with the slightest thing.”

Becker also goes the extra mile in the classroom, sporting a 3.83 grade point average as a kinesiology major.

“She is our top student on the team,” Strahan said. “She is the complete package as a student athlete, she?s just great.”

With the respect of her coaching staff in hand, Becker has also attracted the attention of her teammates

“Andrea is easily the most respected player on this team,” junior teammate Lori Meixner said. “When she plays it is like an inspiration to everybody, including myself.”

With new players coming in every year, Becker?s commitment and desire is something that sometimes goes unnoticed at first, but as time goes on, each player learns the magnitude of what she has done.

“She has set the standard at Sac State for softball players on and off the field,” Meixner continued. “She is always giving her all whether it is school or softball.”

Although she is a great influence for her teammates, the rest of the team, has been an inspiration for her, as well.

“What keeps me going is the support from my teammates and coaches,” Becker said. “With all of that support and the continuous efforts of the athletic trainers to keep me healthy I can say that what I have learned here is something that cannot be taught in a classroom. It is something that is very special to me.”

This year also holds the promise of the most productive team that Becker has been a part of since she arrived in 1997.

“I am very optimistic about this season,” Becker said. “The spirit and chemistry of the players and coaches is better than it has ever been, and with the talent of this team, good things are going to happen for us.”