ROYAL CITY — The Royal Knights’ Jill Allred has signed her letter of intent Tuesday to play softball at Big Bend Community College this fall. 

“I'm so proud of myself for getting to this point, and I'm so thankful for all the coaches and teammates that have been by my side throughout my whole career. I'm super thankful,” Allred said.  

As she began to assess her options of playing at the next level, Allred said the biggest thing that stood out to her was how Big Bend felt like home.  

“I grew up around Big Bend, and when I met the coach, I knew that was the right fit, and the assistant coached me when I was, like, 10 years old, and so I just loved the community there and those people,” she said.  

When Big Bend Lady Vikings Head Coach Kaitlyn Rizo saw Allred’s game tape for the first time, she needed her on their roster, she said.  

“She came down for a visit, and the girls just immediately were, like, ‘Coach, we need her on the team, she's going to be a great asset to the team.’ She even told me, ‘I just love it there. I love the atmosphere.’ We’re definitely very lucky to have a pitcher as well as a hitter, and just a person like Jill. I think she's going to be great for the team,” Rizo said.  

On the same day Allred put pen to paper, the Vikings were scheduled for a doubleheader at home. When she heard Allred made it official, Rizo was a little more excited.  

“Her plans to come to Big Bend in the fall are huge for me. I'm already thinking 10 steps ahead for next season, even though we haven't finished this season,” Rizo said.  

Allred has played competitive softball since she was 9 years old when she joined the Moses Lake Rattlers, according to Knights Head Coach Lisa Lawrence.  

“It was clear almost immediately (that) she had a gift for pitching, and she loved it. She worked hard to hone her craft and eventually moved on to play for the Maniacs organization. Along the way, she often played up two age classes with my Rattlers team because she was that great of a competitor as a 14-year-old playing with my 18U team,” Lawrence said.  

As a Knight, Allred has racked up several accolades with some still being updated as her senior season is not yet over.  

In her four years at Royal, she has totaled 82 wins and 22 losses which set a team record. In the 529 innings she’s pitched, she has faced over 2,300 batters and has thrown over 8,500 pitches. This season she set a school record with 749 strikeouts and counting.  

Allred also made an impact on offense for the Knights, totaling 55 extra base hits, 142 RBIs and a .495 batting average. Her performances on the diamond helped her earn WIAA athlete of the week, first team All-League three times and co-player of the year twice.  

Alongside her team, Allred and the Knights saw a lot of success. In three separate seasons, Allred was a part of three league title wins, two district championships (2023, 2025) and three state tournament appearances, one of which resulted in a 1A state title in 2024. 

“Jill is widely known in 1A softball across the state for being a fierce competitor,” Lawrence said. “Teams seek out playing us because they know that Jill will challenge their hitters and prepare their teams for the post-season. Not only is she athletically very talented, but I often also hear that they love her competitive spirit and great sportsmanship. Everyone in the state is rooting for Jill, and they’ve seen how much she’s contributed to Royal softball success in her 4 years with us, and we’ve been so lucky to have her.” 

As she reflected on her time at Royal High School, it was simple to her what she is going to miss the most.  

“My team and my coaches Lisa and Darin (Smith), and being with my sister Randi (Allred),” Allred said.

    The Knights’ Jill Allred (6) eyes the pitcher before taking a swing earlier this season. Allred set a career record for strikeouts with 749 and counting.
  

    Jill Allred throws her next pitch during a state tournament game in the 2025 season. Allred helped the Knights win a state championship in 2024.
  

    The Knights’ Jill Allred, seated in the middle, is all smiles alongside her coaches after signing her letter of intent to play softball at Big Bend Community College on Tuesday.
  

    Jill Allred celebrates on second base after hitting a double during a game in the 2023 season.