North Fremont punches ticket to state, plus other District 6 tournament roundups

RIRIE – North Fremont earned a spot in the 3A state softball tournament Tuesday with a convincing 11-1 win over Ririe in the Nuclear Conference tournament.

The 5-inning win moved the Huskies into Thursday’s district title game where they’ll look to repeat as champion.

With two state berths allotted to the Nuclear Conference, Tuesday’s win was just one thing to cross off the to-do list for North Fremont, which looks for its second straight district title, but also a first-ever state trophy.

Fourth-seeded Ririe is still alive in the double-elimination tournament and will play a loser-out game Thursday at noon.

“We’re a team that gets to play gym-ball for most of the season because we’re stuck in the gym because of the snow, but our girls make the most of it,” said Huskies coach Ericka Robertson, whose team finished 8-0 in conference play and won its first two tournament games by a combined score of 17-4. “It’s getting those reps on dirt to really improve every game … they’ve been fun to watch, they believe in each other and I couldn’t be more proud.”

It was a warm, sunny day Tuesday as the Huskies (17-8) have won 12 of their past 14 games, with the only losses coming to powerhouse Malad.

North Fremont jumped out to an early lead Tuesday against Ririe, taking a 4-0 lead in the second inning and pulling away with six runs in the fourth. London Mardsen’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth scored Brynnli Schultz from third with the game-ending run.

“We have full confidence with whoever is up to bat,” Robertson said. “That’s been hugely beneficial for us. Each kid really gives me their best effort … I’m super fortunate to have this team.”

The Huskies totaled 14 hits in their five innings. Four different players knocked in two runs and Oakley Hathaway and Peyton Lenz each doubled and Grace Heiner had a pair of triples.

Lenz pitched all five innings for the win.

Cheznee Smith, Haylee Smith and Tristyn Gallup each had hits for the Bulldogs (12-11).

Ririe had beaten No. 3 Salmon and No. 2 West Jefferson to advance to Tuesday’s game. The Bulldogs will play Firth Thursday at noon for a rematch with North Fremont in the district final. The winner of the Ririe vs. Firth game also earns a berth to the state tournament.

ROUNDUP

6A

Top-seeded Thunder Ridge scored in every inning to beat Madison 12-3 in the District 4-5-6 opener.

Chelsea Adams finished 3 for 4 with four RBI for the Titans.

Highland beat Rigby 8-2 in the other opener after taking an early lead.

Emerson Gifford finished 3 for 4 with three runs knocked in for the Rams.

Madison beat Rigby 11-6 in the elimination game with Aspen Boice finishing 3 for 4 with two RBIs.

Highland rallied to defeat Thunder Ridge in the second round, earning a 13-12 victory after trailing 11-6 in the fifth.

Bailey Hill’s sacrifice bunt in the top of the eighth proved the game-winner for the Rams.

5A

In the District 6 tournament at Blackfoot, Hillcrest beat Idaho Falls 13-3 in one tournament opener as Raine Jarvis drove in four runs and finished 4 for 4 and Marki Chilton also had four RBIs and Mya Weatherly homered.

Shea Salem hit two homers for the Tigers and Alyssa Smith also homered, but the Knights put the game away with eight runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Bonneville’s Gracie Longhurst struck out 16 in a 6-4 win over Skyline in another tournament opener.

The Bees had a 6-0 lead after two innings and held on as Alli Sutherland and Paisley Bowler each knocked in two runs.

In the second round, Hillcrest led No. 2 Shelley, but the Russets scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh for an 8-7 win.

Karley Baird had three RBIs for Shelley.

Weatherly hit a homer in the seventh to put the Knights up 7-5 before the Russets rallied in the bottom of the inning.

Bonneville took on No. 1 seed and host Blackfoot and again it was Longhurst dominating in the circle in a 5-1 win by the Bees.

Longhurst struck out 14 and surrendered just one earned run. She also led the team with a pair of RBIs.

Sela Christiansen homered in the bottom of the sixth for the Broncos.

4A

South Fremont eliminated Sugar-Salem in their best-of-3 tournament with a 13-9 win on Tuesday.

The Cougars pounded out 21 hits and still needed to rally win as Sugar-Salem led 8-7 in the fifth.

Leah Lehmann hit a two-run double and Charly Stoddard knocked in a run in the top of the seventh to put South Fremont up 13-9.

Lehmann finished with four RBIs. Hayden Larson homered to put the Cougars up 9-8 in the sixth.

Allie Christensen homered for the Diggers.

South Fremont, which defeated Sugar-Salem 26-24 in the opener, will play top-seeded in a best-of-3 series beginning Friday with the winner earning the conference’s state berth.

3A

In other 3A action at Ririe High, Firth remained alive with a 21-8 win over Salmon.

Firth had 17 hits with leadoff hitter Linlee Telford finishing 5 for 5 with five runs scored and Reese Clayson scoring four runs as catcher Meg Leslie finished 3 for 4 with five RBIs and a homer, and Kieleigh Bales knocked in four runs with three hits.

Mariah Chatriand led Salmon with three RBIs.

Firth then beat West Jefferson 8-1 to advance to Thursday’s loser-out game against host Ririe.

The Cougars scored five runs in the second inning and McKenna Erickson did the rest, allowing six hits and just one earned run.

Clayson, Leslie, Carlee Johnson, Bales and Erica Fielding each had two hits for Firth.

Zaylee Neville finished with two hits for West Jefferson (5-16).