4A softball: Ridgeline shuts out Desert Hills in Sport 1 of championship collection

PROVO — No one would have guessed Brielle Gardiner had by no means been on this second, pitching in Sport 1 of the 4A softball state championship Friday afternoon at BYU.

Her group had loads of expertise — and the reminiscence of a 12 months in the past — to again her up, although.

Gardiner threw an entire recreation shutout, scattering three hits with seven strikeouts as top-seeded Ridgeline topped Desert Hills 5-0 within the opening recreation of the 4A state championship at Gail Miller Subject.

Freshman nerves? What nerves?

“I am so glad that I am not hitting off her. I am glad she’s on my group,” mentioned Ridgeline infielder Ellie Pond, who went 2-for-3 with a house run and 4 RBI. “If I noticed her within the circle along with her glasses on, simply bobbing her head like she does, then I’d crap my pants. I would inform my coach I used to be sick that day.

“She is so proficient. She’s fairly actually insane,” Pond added with fun. “However I really like her. She’s a cute woman, and I really like her lots.”

The freshman with a 0.8 ERA has been clutch for Ridgeline all season, with 239 strikeouts, 47 walks, and 17 earned runs in 30 video games who added an RBI throughout the two-run opening inning.

“Bri has pitched in her sixth state recreation; I feel she’s obtained extra base hits herself than she’s given up. That is fairly wonderful as a freshman,” Ridgeline coach Michael Anderson mentioned of his freshman ace with a 68 mph fastball and a 52 mph change-up. “She’s serving to herself, however we belief her bat at No. 2 within the order. That child can hit to all fields and do what she must do there.”

Pond did a lot, as effectively, going 2-for-3 with a house run and 4 RBI because the Riverhawks (29-1) obtained out to a 2-0 lead within the first inning and by no means appeared again.

Abigail King and Eva Howell every added a double for Ridgeline, which pounded out 9 hits.

“Right this moment was the freaking Ellie Pond present, was it not?” Anderson mentioned. “That child got here up and hit two riseballs so far as you may hit a ball, 20 ft out on a school subject. Within the greatest second, that child confirmed as much as play right now. She got here in amped up, managed, and made three performs defensively that put her on the map. I am tremendous pleased with the best way she dealt with issues.”

The 5-foot-7 senior holds a key reminiscence that has propelled Ridgeline to its tour of drive via the 2024 season. A 12 months in the past at the moment, the Riverhawks took a 3-2 win off Bear River within the first recreation of the 4A championship collection.

However the Bears responded with two wins Saturday, together with a 12-3 rout within the winner-take-all third recreation to maintain Ridgeline from a repeat state title.

So the job’s not completed.

“It makes us wish to battle extra,” Pond mentioned. “We do not wish to re-live that second. Final 12 months was powerful, successful the primary one after which giving up the opposite two. We do not wish to let that occur once more.

“If you happen to preserve persevering with to battle, good issues come from that.”

Jojo Sparks had a triple for Desert Hills (25-5), which was making its first championship recreation look in program historical past.