Royal School District

Royal Softball Advances in District Play Royal High School softball remains alive in District competition following a strong response in the elimination bracket. After a narrow 1–0 loss to Naches Valley in the opening round, Royal bounced back with a 10–6 victory over Connell to extend its postseason run. The Knights now advance in the loser’s bracket and will face Kiona-Benton in their next game. With a win, Royal would move on to the District “glue game” qualifier. A victory there would send the Knights into the cross-district “glue game,” where a final win would secure a berth in the State Tournament. Royal enters the next round with momentum and resilience, needing three consecutive wins to advance, and continues to compete with confidence as postseason play continues.

Royal High School baseball remains alive in District competition following a key win in the elimination bracket. After a 4–2 loss to Connell in the opening round, Royal responded with a 1–0 victory over College Place to extend its postseason run. The Knights now advance in the loser’s bracket and will face Chelan in a win-or-go-home matchup. With a victory, Royal would move on to the next round and remain in contention for a State Tournament berth. A loss would end the Knights’ season. Royal’s 1–0 win highlighted a strong defensive effort and pitching performance, as the team executed in a high-pressure elimination game to keep its season alive. Royal enters the next round with momentum and resilience as postseason play continues.

The Royal Knights are underway in the District 5 1A boys soccer tournament after opening with a win over Oroville. Royal now faces Okanogan on May 7, with a victory sending them into the semifinal round on May 12. Two more wins would place the Knights in the District Championship on May 16 at Royal High School, where both finalists automatically earn trips to the WIAA State Tournament. If Royal drops a match before the championship, they will shift into the consolation bracket, where multiple State berths are still available. The Knights could still qualify by winning a crossover match or placement game on May 16, with opportunities extending through fifth/sixth and even seventh-place pathways. The path offers flexibility, but the mission remains the same: keep winning and secure a place on the State stage.

Track & Field The postseason begins with the SCAC Championship Meet on Saturday, May 9 at College Place High School, starting at 12:00 p.m. All nine conference schools will be in attendance. The following weekend, athletes will compete in the Postseason Qualifying Meet on Saturday, May 16 at Wapato High School (11:00 a.m.). Qualification standards will determine advancement to districts, with the top six finishers in sprints, hurdles, and relays moving on, along with the top 12 in distance races (1600 and 3200) and all field events. Cashmere High School will host the District 5 (1A) Meet on Friday, May 22 at 2:00 p.m., featuring schools from both the SCAC and CTL. The top three finishers in each event will earn a berth to the state meet. The 1A State Track & Field Championships will take place May 28–30 at Zaepfel Stadium in Yakima.

Royal High School tennis opened District competition with a strong Day 1 performance, advancing multiple athletes in both singles and doubles. In boys singles, Cael Orth and Major Andra remain in the championship bracket, while Lauren Allred advances on the girls side. In boys doubles, both Greenfield/Hernandez and Narcisso/Garcia advanced and will face each other next, guaranteeing Royal a spot moving forward. In girls doubles, Smith/Sutor advanced to the quarterfinals. Additional Royal teams continue to compete through the consolation bracket, keeping state qualification opportunities alive. Royal enters Day 2 with strong representation across the board and multiple athletes still in contention for state, highlighted by key championship bracket matchups and opportunities to secure state berths.

Royal Golf Advances to District Competition Royal High School golf will be well represented at the upcoming District Tournament, with six student-athletes qualifying for postseason play. The boys team earned the league championship this season and will send five golfers to Districts: Aven Rodriguez, Easton Eilers, Fischer Livingston, Luke Perkins, and Andy Gilbert. Rodriguez also captured individual league champion honors, highlighting a strong performance throughout the season. On the girls side, Chloe Christensen qualified for District competition and will represent Royal as an individual. District competition will take place this Wednesday at a local course, where athletes will compete for the opportunity to advance to the State Tournament. Royal enters the postseason with momentum and depth, and looks to continue its strong play at the next level.

Congrats to Jill Allred, our April student athlete of the month! Jill is a standout 1A softball player across the state as both a pitcher and a hitter. She has surpassed 730 career strikeouts this season, setting a new school record, and is one of the strongest hitters on the team, batting .515 as our leadoff hitter. She is a three-year captain and a great leader on the team. Jill is respected by opponents and well known by coaches, teams, and umpires as one of the best 1A pitchers in the state, not only for her performance but also for her sportsmanship, positive attitude, and competitive spirit. She has been instrumental to Royal softball’s success all four years as a starter, including a state championship in 2024 when she pitched every inning of the season, as well as last year’s fifth-place state finish, where she also pitched every inning. Jill holds numerous school records, including the strikeout record, which continues to grow as the season progresses.