By Billy Swartzfager | [email protected]

Bingham softball finished 22-6 overall and 12-0 in region competition to earn the top spot in Class 5A’s Region 3.

The Miners finished in the same position last season as well but were upset in the opening round of the state tournament by Skyview. They were eventually sent packing from the elimination bracket by Herriman. 

This season began with Bingham playing in the Dave Kops Tournament of Champions in Bullhead City, Arizona. The team played five games in the early March tournament, coming home with a 2-3 record. Those three losses in Arizona would equal the amount of losses the Miners would suffer over the following two and half months.

Bingham came home to face West on March 11, winning a close game 6-5. The following two games were on the road for Bingham. The team traveled to Hunter on March 15 for a 13-1 win, and then to Lehi on March 16 for 16-1 romp. The Miners finished the remainder of March with a 3-1 record, losing a tough game to Bear River on March 24 at home, 11-0.

Bingham went to Cottonwood on April 4, leaving with a lopsided notch for the win column, 18-0. Next they faced Taylorsville, and pulled off the win in a closer game on April 6, 5-2.

The following game was the last loss the Miners were dealt during the regular season. It came at the hands of the Darts from Davis High School. Davis, like Bear River, was able to score in double digits, handing the Miners a 10-5 defeat on April 11. But, Bingham bounced back and got on a streak that extended all the way through the remainder of the regular season. Bingham beat Brighton, 10-0, on April 18 and Copper Hills, 4-2, on April 19. 

The team played a tournament on April 22 called the Swing for Life Tournament, an annual event aimed at raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research. The tournament is generally a very large event, with up to 40 teams, ranging in age from elementary to high school. Bingham owned the tournament, going 4-0 on the day, beating Murray, Grand, Alta and Manti.

Bingham averaged nearly 12 runs per game after the tournament to round out the season, beginning with West Jordan on April 26. The Miners won that game 15-9. They followed that up with a 10-0 shutout of Cottonwood the next day.

The Miners’ following two games were on the road, and both resulted in victory, one at Copper Hills on May 2, 8-5, and the other at Taylorsville on May 3, 10-7. Bingham won their final three games of the season, the last game being at Brighton, where the Miners walked away with an 18-6 victory over the Bengals.

The team was led this season by several players. Nicole Wall not only led the team in batting average, but she also was a dominant force at the pitching position, pitching 94 innings, going 13-3 on the year with a team-low, 2.01 earned run average. She also recorded three saves and held opposing hitters to a dismal .193 batting average.

McKenzie Dorney led the Miners in many offensive categories. She belted six home runs to lead the team and also logged the most hits and RBI on the year. Karly Wightman was also stellar when handed the ball. Her record from the hill was 6-3. Sidnee Hogan flashed some brilliance on the bases, leading the team in steals.