High school softball: Salem Hills wins tight, defensive game over Box Elder for first 5A crown since 2014

The Salem Hills SkyHawks celebrate winning the 5A state softball championship on Friday, May 22, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News The 5A championship series was not a high-flying one with lots of runs. Instead, it was a battle of inches.

That’s thanks to the two pitchers, Box Elder’s Kennadie Blackmer and Salem Hills’ Jo Norman . Game 1 Thursday revolved around the SkyHawks adapting to Blackmer’s riseball to get the win, but she adjusted in Game 2 early Friday, striking out 10 as the Bees won 2-1 to tie the series. Game 3 Friday evening was much of the same story as Blackmer finished with eight strikeouts and allowed only three runs, but the SkyHawks’ defense was just a hair better, and they squeezed out a 3-1 Game 3 victory to win to win their first state championship since 2014.

Salem Hills’ head coach, Kalab Stokes, was hired in 2015, now has a title of his own after 11 seasons with the program. “This has been something that we’ve been working on for 12 years, since I’ve been at Salem,” Stokes said. “Every year we’ve won more and more games, and that puts 32 in the win column for us this year, the most in one single season at our high school.

“Couldn’t be prouder of our community for showing up today and these girls for believing in what we’re doing as coaches and putting in the work every day. ” Despite Blackmer’s strong performance, Salem Hills got its offense going early. Coach Stokes’ daughter, Audree Stokes , opened the contest with a home run in the very first at-bat of the game.