Bingham players celebrate their win over Herriman in the 6A softball state championship in Provo on Friday, May 26, 2023.
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Box score
Bingham’s bats came alive on Friday, and the Miners are champions of 6A softball once again.
After grinding out a shutout win in Game 1 with so-so hitting, Bingham pounded the ball in Game 2 at BYU, rolling past Herriman 11-5 to complete the 2-0 series sweep to secure its first state championship since 2010.
The title is the ninth in school history for Bingham, and for Bingham coach Mikki Jackson it’s her eighth state championship.
Jackson admits there were times during the 13-year drought — as new high schools kept popping up around her — that she wondered if she’d ever win another.
“It’s gotten tougher. Yeah, it crossed my mind if I’d see another one before I died,” she joked after Friday’s win.
After winning Game 1 3-0, Bingham jumped out fast on Herriman, scoring four runs in the second inning and then consistently ripping the ball throughout the game, finishing with 13 hits, three of them extra-base hits.
“We all were just having each other’s back and just feeding off of each other and that’s what a real team is supposed to,” said Bingham senior leader Shelbee Jones.
The win also extended Bingham’s winning streak over Herriman to nine straight dating back to 2021, an impressive stretch considering how competitive games in Region 3 always are.
Riverton was the mental block for Bingham, but after getting past Riverton on Wednesday to advance to the title game, it marched into the 6A championship series with next-level confidence.
All nine Bingham starters reached base, with seven getting base hits.
Oakley Clark had a huge game at the plate for the Miners, going 4 for 5 with four singles and two RBIs.
“That kid has been on fire through the playoffs. She absolutely has been our RBI queen for the last few weeks,” said Jackson.
In Bingham’s seven playoff wins, Clark went 13 of 28 with 12 RBIs.
Source:: Deseret News – Sports News
