Prep softball playoffs: Bear River falls in Game 2 of title series; DH takes 4A crown
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- Bear River players congratulate junior pitcher Brielle Gardiner after an inning during the 4A softball finals against Desert Hills at Miller Field in Provo on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
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- Bear River sophomore Samantha Theurer throws the ball during the 4A softball finals against Desert Hills at Miller Field in Provo on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
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- Bear River junior pitcher Brielle Gardiner swings at a pitch during the 4A softball finals against Desert Hills at Miller Field in Provo on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
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- Bear River freshman Londyn Gamble catches a fly ball during the 4A softball finals against Desert Hills at Miller Field in Provo on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
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- Bear River junior pitcher Brielle Gardiner throws a pitch during the 4A softball finals against Desert Hills at Miller Field in Provo on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
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- A Bear River fielder lunges for a ground ball during the 4A softball finals against Desert Hills at Miller Field in Provo on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
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- Bear River players prepare to start an inning during the 4A softball finals against Desert Hills at Miller Field in Provo on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
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- Bear River junior Paycie Richards (8) and senior Cora Miller bump into each other chasing a pop fly during the 4A softball finals against Desert Hills at Miller Field in Provo on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
PROVO — In a rematch of last year’s state finals, No. 1 Desert Hills got revenge with a sweep of No. 2 Bear River in the championship series when Desert Hills pitcher Lulu West struck out potential tying run Molly Canfield to end the season on Saturday evening at BYU to close the series with a 4-2 victory in Game 2.
Bear River started strong in the top of the first inning, with runners on second and third thanks to a Canfield double and a Londyn Gamble walk. But West, who pitched every inning in postseason play, struck out Marley Tisdol to end the threat, foreshadowing the day’s ending.
Desert Hills (32-3) drew first blood with three runs in the third inning. Bear River (26-8) pitcher Bri Gardiner plunked West, who was replaced by courtesy runner Reagan Rivera. Riley Greene hit a double for an RBI. Bailey Lee hit her 41st double of the season to score Gardiner. Lily Ringle hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Lee.
The Bears lit the scoreboard in the sixth inning, when Sami Theurer singled, then Gardiner blasted a big fly over the centerfield fence to make the score 3-2.
The Thunder answered in their half of the sixth. Sienna Foster singled to left, then stole second and third. West hit a laser up the middle, off Bear River pitcher Kate Wilson’s ankle, to drive in Foster.
Bear River threatened in the seventh. Paycie Richards singled to right, then gave way to courtesy runner Phoenix Barnett. Barnett advanced to second on pinch hitter Kailyn Rice’s fielder’s choice, then to third on an Ali Roche fielder’s choice. That set up the final confrontation between West and Canfield.
Gardiner and Wilson each pitched three innings for Bear River. Gardiner gave up three hits, three earned runs and three hit-by-pitches, with one walk and one strikeout. Wilson allowed one unearned run on five hits, struck out three and walked one.
West hurled her fifth complete game of the postseason with five hits, two earned runs, two walks and six strikeouts for the state champion Thunder.
