The Hive Sports

by James Tate

2025 Record: Overall (28-5) Region (13-1)

Head Coach: Brian Merrill- 7th year

The Box Elder Bees enter the 2026 season with the confidence and swagger of being the defending Region 5 champions, and the roster to back it up. Last spring’s 28–5 overall record and dominant 13–1 region mark earned them a share of the Region 5 title with Bountiful, a program now competing in Region 6. With the Redhawks out of the picture and a veteran‑heavy lineup returning, the Bees look every bit like the team to beat once again.

What makes this group dangerous isn’t just their experience; it’s their champion mindset. Box Elder embodies that mindset in everything they do, from the classroom to workouts and injury recovery to every game they play.

Lucy Braegger

A two‑ace nightmare for opponents

Everything starts in the circle with senior Lucy Braegger, the 2025 Standard‑Examiner All‑Area MVP and one of the most decorated multi‑sport athletes in Northern Utah. Braegger, who has signed with Alaska to play volleyball, was sensational last season: 16 wins, 144 strikeouts, and a competitive fire that set the tone for the entire program.

She’ll once again share the spotlight with junior Kennadie Blackmer, forming one of the most feared pitching duos in Utah high school softball. Blackmer was outstanding in her own right in 2025, finishing 10–3 with 131 strikeouts and earning both Standard-Examiner First Team All‑Area and Deseret News First Team All‑State honors.

Few teams in the state can match one ace. Box Elder has two, and another up-and-coming pitcher.

Kennadie Blackmer

Offensive firepower to match the pitching

As dominant as Blackmer is in the circle, she’s equally terrifying in the batter’s box. The junior returns as one of Utah’s most explosive hitters after posting video‑game numbers last season: 19 home runs, 61 RBIs, and a .538 batting average. She’s the kind of hitter who changes scouting reports, defensive alignments, and entire game plans.

But she’s not alone.

Junior Kailee Hall quietly put together one of the most efficient offensive seasons in the state last year, leading the Bees with a .577 batting average and crossing the plate 54 times, the most on the team. Hall garnered Deseret News First-Team All-State honors last year. Her consistency at the top of the lineup gives Box Elder a table‑setter who turns singles into runs and pressures opponents into mistakes.

With Hall sparking the offense and Blackmer anchoring the middle of the order, the Bees return a lineup that can score in bunches and punish mistakes.

Depth and balance for a championship run

Junior third baseman Lucy Griffin adds another layer of consistency and pop. Griffin garnered Deseret News All-State Honorable Mention, hit .495, scored 52 runs, and launched four home runs last season, the kind of all-around threat who strengthens the Bees all around team.

At shortstop, junior Izi Mason returns fully healthy after battling an injury last year. She appeared in 32 games and hit .402, giving the Bees a steady defender and a high-contact bat in the middle of the infield. At catcher, senior Maclee Willard will provide leadership and add another powerful bat to the lineup. She smacked three home runs and batted .396 last season.

“This year’s team is going to be strong in the circle with good defense behind them,” Coach Merrill said. “We should be able to hang with most teams due to our defense. However, we feel that we could be better with our bats as well. Hopefully, this will help us find a couple of wins.”

With Hall setting the tone, Griffin, Mason, and Willard anchoring the infield, and Blackmer supplying the power, Box Elder brings back one of the deepest, most balanced lineups in the state.

“Our focus this year is just to play ball and let our girls do their thing,” Coach Merrill said. “The team is taking a ‘B-ALL-IN’ motto this year, and we think we have the team that could really push far into the postseason.”

Izi Mason (r) Katelyn Oki (r)

A championship window is wide open

The Bees aren’t just the Region 5 favorite; they’re a legitimate state title contender. They have the arms to shut teams down, the bats to overwhelm opponents, and the experience to navigate the pressure of a long postseason run.

“Our goal is to get to BYU this year,” Coach Merrill said. “We have to be able to finish games this year. We had a lead in every game we lost last year, yet couldn’t shut the door. This year, we really want to focus on starting strong and consistently playing to the end of each game.”

Everything is in place: hitting, pitching, speed, leadership, and hunger. Box Elder hasn’t lifted a state championship trophy since 2018. This group has the talent and the mindset to change that.

The depth of the roster and the versatility of players who can fill multiple positions are major strengths for the Bees, which will serve them well throughout the region and state tournaments. Seniors Katelyn Oki and Quincey Lish are dependable athletes ready to step in and make an impact wherever they are needed on the field.

“We lost some great seniors last year, but this year’s seniors will be great leaders,” Coach Merrill said. “Braegger and Willard will be solid as a battery, and Oki and Lish will fill positions and be strong both defensively and offensively. Our junior class has two D1 commits and will be strong as well. Hall and Blackmer will lead our offense, and Griffin and Mason might be the best two infielders in 5A. We will have three great pitchers with people knowing about Braegger and Blackmer, but the addition of Maycie Moss is going to surprise some teams.”

As the Bees look ahead to the season, the combination of talent, depth, and a relentless champion mindset sets the stage for a memorable run.

With strong leadership on and off the field, this team is poised not just to defend its region title but to make a serious push for the state championship. The foundation is solid, the players are ready, and the hunger is undeniable, all the ingredients for a season that could end with Box Elder reclaiming its place at the top.

photos courtesy of James Tate