By compiling a perfect 8-0 record during the the regular season and turning in a courageous effort during the state tourney, Taylorsville pitching ace Matt Rex has earned the Deseret News' Most Valuable Player honor for the 1992 4A baseball season.
Rex, who also had an ERA of 1.86, led the Warriors to the state championship, starting the final game of the tournament and picking up the victory in the title-clinching contest. Rex, who had struggled earlier in the tourney due to a stomach ailment, came back after not eating solid foods for five days to pitch the victory.Orem's multi-purpose player Eric Boyer received the most votes in this year's balloting of the state's coaches, heading the list of talented young players on the 1992 Deseret News 4A Baseball All-State teams, after MVP Rex.
Boyer's 2.06 ERA for the Tigers earned him a spot in the first team's pitching rotation, though he also received votes at shortstop and designated hitter. Boyer led Orem in batting as well this season, smashing his way to a .586 batting average.
Taylorsville's senior catcher, Joseph Johanson, was selected as the first team's signal caller, beating out West Jordan's Matt Leonelli in the closest balloting among all positions. Johanson, who hit .315 during the regular season and gunned down opposing would-be base stealers with regularity, was also instrumental in leading the Warriors to the state championship this year, along with Rex.
Not surprisingly, the state champion Warriors placed the most players (including Rex) on the two teams, though Johanson was the only first team selection from T-ville. The Warriors' five selections edged state runner-up Bingham. Four Miners made the two teams, with 1B Barry Fullmer, SS Matt Maynard and OF/P Dusty Stauffer being selected to the first team.
Other players highlighting the first team roster are: Brighton 2B Willie Mosher; Provo 3B Tony Harward, who batted .444; Skyline OF Scott Vincent, who was the top vote-getter among non-pitchers; American Fork OF Chris Bates, who hit four home runs and drove in 22 runs for the Cavemen; and Skyline DH Drew Hurst, who batted .430 for the Eagles.
American Fork's Tyler Eastman and Davis's Ryan Sprague complete the first team's pitching stable. Eastman also starred at shortstop for the Cavemen. Sprague amassed a 21-6 record with a 0.54 ERA over the course of his career at Davis.
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Deseret News 1992 4A All-State Baseball Team
FIRST TEAM
1B - Barry Fullmer, Bingham
2B - Willie Mosher, Brighton
3B - Tony Harward, Provo
SS - Matt Maynard, Bingham
OF - Scott Vincent, Skyline
OF - Dusty Stauffer, Bingham
OF - Chris Bates, Am. Fork
C - Joseph Johanson, Taylorsville
DH - Drew Hurst, Skyline
P - Eric Boyer, Orem
P/SS - Tyler Eastman, American Fork
P - Ryan Sprague, Davis
UT - D.G. Nelson, Mountain View (p/dh/2B)
SECOND TEAM
1B - Matt Hill, Davis
2B - Glen Spencer, Taylorsville
3B/DH - Scott Sudberry, Brighton
SS - Tony Pezely, Taylorsville
OF - Rommel Valladares, Taylorsville
OF - Dusty Atkinson, W.J.
OF - Troy Norris, Alta
C - Matt Leonelli, W.J.
DH/SS - Ryan Roberts, Mountain View
P - Chris Cedarholm, Bingham
P - Jessie Vance, W.J.
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Deseret News 1992 2A All-State Baseball Team
1B - James Monroe, Millard
2B - Jason Wardle, Delta
3B - Jake Walker, Delta
SS/P - Nathan Robinson, Beaver
OF - Jeremy Teeples, Millard
OF - J.W. Davies, Millard
OF - Joe Meanea, South Sevier
C - Brady Fails, Beaver
DH - Ray Jackson, Delta
P - Jeremy Thomas, Beaver
P - Billy Robb, Parowan
P - Chris Blad, Millard