High school softball: Salem Hills defense powers 1st 5A title since 2014

PROVO — Audree Stokes had a home run in her first at-bat, and Salem Hills relied on the pitching of Jo Norman and its defense to clinch its first state championship in 12 years with a 2-1 win over Box Elder in the third game of the 6A softball championship series Saturday at BYU’s Gail Miller Field.

Stokes smacked a homer in her first at-bat of the winner-take-all third game for the Skyhawks (30-2), and added a run on a walk via Samaya Haveron’s hit in the fifth. Shay Loveridge added an RBI double, and the defense never let up in Salem Hills’ first state championship since winning consecutive titles in 2013 and 2014.

Kennadie Blackmer pulled one back with a home run in the top of the fourth inning, but the Bees (29-5) could get no closer.

Game 2: Box Elder forces Game 3 with defensive win

Kennadie Blackmer spun a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts, and the Bees allowed just one run to force a winner-take-all Game 3 with a 2-1 victory in Saturday’s second game of the 5A championship series.

Box Elder did all its scoring on Lucy Griffin’s RBI double in the first inning and Kailee Hall’s solo shot in the third while pounding out eight hits.

Emmery Wilson had an RBI double in the bottom of the first inning to account for Salem Hills’ lone run.

Game 1: Salem Hills takes Game 1 of 5A championship off Box Elder

Leila Stevenson had a home run, a double and four RBI as Salem Hills opened the 5A championship series Thursday with a 9-2 win over Box Elder at BYU’s Gail Miller Field.

The Skyhawks (30-1) took 10 hits off Box Elder star pitcher Kennadie Blackmer, who led 5A with 203 strikeouts entering the game.

But Salem Hills found its rhythm, with five starters recording at least one RBI including a pair by Adalun Mattinson.

Jo Norman scattered five hits with one strikeout for the Skyhawks, who took their first lead at 2-1 with a two-run third inning and poured on five more in the bottom of the sixth.

Blackmer finished with seven strikeouts for the Bees (28-5), and Maclee Willard and Lucy Griffin each smacked a double.

The Skyhawks will go for their first state title since winning back-to-back in 2013 and 2014 at 11 a.m. MT Thursday.

If Box Elder wins, a winner-take-all third game will follow at approximately 4:30 p.m. MT.

Both games, if necessary, will be streamed live here.

The Salem Hills Skyhawks take a 1-0 series lead in the 5A Girls Softball Championship after defeating Box Elder 9-2 in game 1.

🤝: Huntsman School of Business #sponsored pic.twitter.com/0UXbWX53pG

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 22, 2026