Correction: The captions for the photos with Adalynn Anderson and Lily Delarosa initially had the two players switched. This has been corrected.

RICHLAND – The Royal Knights softball team finished their run in the state tournament in the semifinals of the consolation bracket. They entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed. 

“We were super excited, ready to come out here and just play our best,” said Knight’s senior Audrey Bergeson. “Gave everything we have and played together.” 

The Knights started their tournament run with a bye, placing them into the quarterfinals Friday afternoon against the No. 7-seeded Rochester. This first game was a battle at the mound with both teams’ pitchers playing strong. 

The Knights ended their season with an overall record of 21-5.  

Jill Allred started on the mound for the Knights, where she threw five strikeouts and allowed three runs on six hits. The pitcher would earn a total of 21 outs over the course of the game. Knights’ Avarie Hill went 2-for-3 at the plate and scored the only run for the team on an error in the bottom of the seventh. 

“We knew it was going to be tough going into it,” said Knights head coach Lisa Lawrence. “They’ve got a really good pitcher and so we just didn’t, quote, string them together to get the lead on that one, but it was a well-fought game for sure.” 

The Knights were sent into the consolation bracket for game two on Friday evening and faced the No. 6 seed, Klahowya. Royal got on the board first with a double play, leading to Knights’ senior Adalynn Anderson to score in the bottom of the second inning. 

Knights’ senior Lily Delarosa hit a single to left field for three more runs, putting the Knights up 4-0 in the third inning. Allred pitched six strikeouts and allowed six hits and two runs while the Knights' defense held their ground in the outfield and ended the game with a 4-2 victory. 

“We were excited that we made it to Saturday because that’s a big deal and we wanted to have fun as a team,” said Delarosa.  

The third game in the semifinals of the consolation bracket was against the No. 5 seed Elma. Once again Allred started on the mound, where she earned six strikeouts over the five innings played. 

The Knights got on the board early when Bergeson grounded out, resulting in a scored run by Emerson Eilers in the bottom of the first inning. Elma tied the game in the second before a triple by Hali Christensen allowed the Knights to regain the lead at 2-1. 

Starting in the third inning, despite the strong defensive efforts, the Knights were unable to keep pace with Elma and would fall 2-12 by the sixth inning, said the coach.  

“Making it to Saturday at state is always a success,” she said. “It’s what we aim for, and I couldn’t be more proud of the girls.” 

The trip to state was rewarding for the team.

“We were confident going in, and we had a lot of fun, so I’m happy,” said Anderson. 

“Our goals for the season were to win districts and make it to state and we did both of those,” said Bergeson. “Anything extra after that was just icing on top and that really was awesome.” 

As the three seniors on the team finish their high school careers after this season, they reflected on the time they’ve spent with the sport of softball throughout the years. They said that they have not only enjoyed the opportunity to play the sport, but also have had the chance to grow the program and watch as now new players come up to take their place. 

“It’s just the softball family, I’ll love these girls for the rest of my life,” said Anderson. “I’ll have them with me forever.” 

All three seniors will be heading to universities in the fall with Delarosa attending Grand Canyon University in Arizona, Bergeson to Brigham Young University and Anderson to Boise State. 

As the Knights lose these three seniors this season, they will also be bringing back a lot of players next season and will have even more young starters joining. 

“There’s always things to work on and continue to improve on, like we do all season, and I think the girls are going to work hard and I’m excited to see what happens,” said Lawrence. 

    Adalynn Anderson dives for a catch in the outfield in the Knights’ first game in consolation against Klahowya.
  

    The Knights’ Hali Christensen readies herself to hit in the Knights’ game against Rochester. Christensen would later go on to hit a triple against Elma for their second score of the game.
  

    First baseman Avarie Hill making a catch for an out in the first inning against Elma. Hill scored the only run for the team in game one.
  

    Knights’ senior Lily Delarosa making a catch in the outfield against Elma. Anderson said she will always see her softball team as family and enjoyed her time playing for the high school team.
  

    Pitching all three games for the Knights, Jill Allred readies herself to go into motion for a pitch.