Knights softball sees big turnout after 2023 state performance
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 6 months AGO
Royal pitcher Jillian Allred, shown here pitching against Lynden Christian in last year’s state softball tournament, is one of the Knights’ standout players this year.
FILE PHOTO
Royal shortstop Raegan Wardenaar makes contact with a pitch against Moses Lake in 2023. Wardenaar is one of three returning seniors on the Knights softball squad.
Royal senior Jaya Griffin, left, prepares to bunt in the 2023 1A state championship game against Montesano.
Royal senior Randi Allred, left, catches a pitch at last season’s state tournament in Richland.
Royal junior Audrey Bergeson keeps her eye on the ball as the runs to third base.
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | March 8, 2024 1:10 AM
ROYAL CITY — The Royal High School softball team is fielding its biggest roster in a long time this year.
“It’s exciting for Royal softball,” said Head Coach Lisa Lawrence. “We had around 36 girls turn out this year, which to my recollection is the largest turnout we’ve ever had, at least in the last decade or so.”
The Knights, last year’s second-place finishers at the 1A State Softball Tournament, lost three seniors, so the team is trending a little younger, Lawrence said.
The team will focus on pitching a lot this year, she said. One particular standout on the mound is only a sophomore.
“Jill Allred, who was a freshman last year, she teamed up with one of our seniors who was a pitcher,” Lawrence said. “And really the two were a combination that's probably unseen in Washington very often at the 1A level.”
“We’ve got three seniors that have been with the program all four years. They all have experience playing summer ball.”
One of those seniors is Jill Allred’s sister, catcher Randi Allred.
“She’s going to be a real solid force behind the plate,” Lawrence said. “And their cousin Raegan (Wardenaar) is our shortstop. She’s been starting shortstop all four years, so she’s really solid there.”
The third senior is outfielder Jaya Griffin, Lawrence said.
“All three have a ton of experience,” she said. “It’s going to be really great to have them as the backbone.
Lawrence attributed the swell in the team’s ranks to last year’s excellent showing.
“I think with a second-place finish at state last year, it's got this community excited to play softball and support the program.”
Joel Martin may be reached via email at [email protected].
Royal Softball Schedule
March 19 - vs Selah - 4 p.m.
March 23 - vs Deer Park, Riverside (doubleheader) - 11 a.m.
March 26 - at Connell (doubleheader) - 3 p.m.
March 29 - vs Eastmont (doubleheader) - 3 p.m.
April 9 - at Zillah (doubleheader) - 3 p.m.
April 12 - vs Montesano - 7 p.m.
April 13 - vs Colville - 9 a.m.
April 19 - vs Naches Valley - 4 p.m.
April 27 - at Wahluke (doubleheader) - 11 a.m.
April 30 - at Warden (doubleheader) - 3 p.m.
May 7 - vs College Place (doubleheader) - 3 p.m.
May 11 - vs Kiona-Benton (doubleheader) - 11 a.m.
Royal shortstop Raegan Wardenaar makes contact with a pitch against Moses Lake in 2023. Wardenaar is one of three returning seniors on the Knights softball squad.
Royal senior Jaya Griffin, left, prepares to bunt in the 2023 1A state championship game against Montesano.
Royal senior Randi Allred, left, catches a pitch at last season’s state tournament in Richland.
Royal junior Audrey Bergeson keeps her eye on the ball as the runs to third base.ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Quincy National Night Out scales down
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Quincy Police retirements leave big shoes to fill
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Big fun on a small scale
Wheat Land Communities’ Fair opens Thursday
RITZVILLE — The Wheat Land Communities’ Fair isn’t as big or as flashy as some of the county fairs around central Washington, but the folks who keep it going like it just the way it is. “It’s somewhere you can go and get an old-time traditional feeling, and you’re comfortable letting your kids roam the grounds and experience all that it has to offer,” said Board Member Lori Williams. “It’s more of a feeling than (one) specific thing,” The fair starts Thursday in Ritzville and runs through Sunday. Starting Friday, the 56th Ritzville Rodeo will take place alongside the fair at the rodeo grounds. This year the entertainment budget was expanded, Williams said, to be able to offer more fun that’s covered by the cost of admission. For the kids, there’s face painting, balloon art, Lego crafts, races, contests and games. Children can also ride on a little train towed around the fairgrounds behind a tractor.