Your defending 6A state champions may have lost cornerstones Shelbee Jones, Charity Drake and Braxtyn Hunter to graduation [and college softball]. 

But, this Bingham [7-1, 1-1 Region 2] softball squad that’s led by head coach Mikki Jackson returns eight key players who were part of that legendary 2023 squad including senior Oakley Clark, six juniors and a sophomore. 

One of those juniors is Brecka Larson, who was a 1st Team NFCA Western All-Region selection last year during the Miners’ magical run to the state championship trophy. Larson is already showing off her might; she has a 6-1 record as the team’s ace on the mound and has thrown 66 strikeouts through six games. At the rate she’s going, the junior pitcher will break the school record for strikeouts. [Shelbee Jones had 168 last year.] Larson is also hitting well for this Bingham team; with three home runs and 9 RBI she’s been a dual-threat all season. 

But the Miners’ best hitter thus far has been a freshman. Mackenzie Turner has slammed five homers and seven RBI for the Miners, who have also been led by sophomore Brenna Cowley [two triples, four doubles and 12 RBI] at the plate. Like Larson, Cowley was also named an All-State selection last year and will be expected to step up for this Bingham team. 

Junior outfielder Gracelyn Lemke has also been contributing at the plate; her two home runs and 10 RBI have been a great help, as has the bat from junior Rian Howland who has hit one home run and driven in nine runs for the Miners. 

Bingham is just getting into the rigors of Region 2 action; most of the games the Miners have played so far have been non-league. They defeated Weber 12-6, and 10-run ruled Lone Peak by the score of 15-0 before heading down to St. George for the Warrior Elite tournament the weekend of March 15. While there, Bingham got by Desert Hills 7-1, thumped Uintah 10-0 and Salem Hills 11-3 in five short innings before eking out a 6-3 victory over Crimson Cliffs in the last game in southern Utah. 

The Miners opened the Region 2 slate by getting past Mountain Ridge 5-1 at home on Tuesday, March 19 but lost 4-12 on Thursday, March 21 at rival Riverton. 

By the time you read this, Bingham is scheduled to play a non-league contest at Tooele on April 3 and resume Region 2 play the following day, April 4 at Copper Hills. λ