It seems that baseball and softball pitchers usually shoulder all of the blame for their team's failure or get most of the credit for its success.
The latter has fallen on a select group of softball pitchers - from four very successful teams - who were chosen as 1995 Deseret News Most Valuable Players.Monika Hurley of Alta, Lisa Hashimoto of Box Elder, Union's Roxy McBride and Dana Peacock of Manti each guided their teams from the mound to stellar regular seasons that culminated in state championship titles.
The MVPs stand atop this year's all-state teams which were selected by a poll of the state's coaches.
5A: MONIKA HURLEY, Alta
At the beginning of the year, Alta head coach Vaughn Alvey didn't feel he had the best pitcher in the state. But after the hurlin' Hurley compiled a 20-2 record, helped the Hawks go undefeated in region play and win a state championship, Alvey changed his mind.
"I think Monika ended up being the best pitcher in the state at the end of the year and she proved it," Alvey said. "She threw a lot smarter and didn't try to overpower the ball."
Despite being a first-team all-state selection last season, a summer of additional learning and experience improved Hurley's game even more. While the Hawks recorded that perfect region season, Hurley showed her true stuff in the state tournament when MVPs step up their game.
The senior threw a no-hitter in Alta's inter-region game and blanked Bingham and Hillcrest in tourney games - the Hawks' only shutouts of the season. Hurley pitched every inning for the Hawks during the tournament in helping them secure the school's second state title.
4A: LISA HASHIMOTO, Box Elder
Two things that should have happened last year finally took place this season. The Bees won that elusive state title and Hashimoto received an MVP honor.
While being one of the top pitchers in the state, Hashimoto is not a one-trick pony. The part-time centerfielder also earned enough votes to be a first-team outfielder. That was something Box Elder head coach Jim Fuller was wary of showing off last year.
"We wouldn't let her play defense other than when she was pitching because of a fear of injury," Fuller said. "But with Taryn Nichols pitching so well we were able to allow her to play centerfield which gave her the opportunity to show her talent out there."
At the plate, Hashimoto had a .465 batting average while collecting a team-high 40 hits and driving in 22 runs. In the field, the junior posted a 17-2 record, had 60 strikeouts, a 0.68 ERA and a .953 fielding percentage.
3A: ROXY MCBRIDE, Union
Maybe one or two people outside of Roosevelt knew of this sophomore when the season began. But everybody who faced the Cougar hurler in the state tournament knew exactly who the maturing redhead was as McBride guided Union to its first state title.
McBride pitched for the first time last season and had unwanted averages of 6-8 walks and 3-4 hit batsmen per game. Despite the inauspicious beginnings, McBride came out of nowhere this season to be the top pitcher for the Cougars thanks to hard work and dedication.
Head coach Loa Kay Bowthorpe and McBride stayed 30-45 minutes after each practice this season to work on speed and control, which eventually led to a strong finish to the season.
"By the time we got to the state tournament we felt (McBride) would be our strength," Bowthorpe said. "She learned a lot about softball and it was fun to watch her grow."
2A: DANA PEACOCK, Manti
Winning the state title and being named MVP in her senior season are the pinnacle events in Peacock's high school softball career, but anything would be better than last year.
Just before the season began, Peacock broke her leg and had to sit on the sidelines and watch her team play. The hurler made up for lost time by playing during the summer and then, after volleyball season finished, practiced during the winter months in the the school's gym.
"Coming in after a two-year waiting period she did a great job," Manti head coach Leslee Warr said.
Peacock compiled a 20-4 record with a 3.2 ERA on the season. In the state tournament game against Grantsville, Peacock had 11 strikeouts and walked just one batter.
*****
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
1995 Deseret News All-State Softball Team
5A TEAM
MVP: Monika Hurley, Sr., Pitcher, Alta
First team
P: Brooke Baker, Sr., West Jordan
P: Sherie Holmes, Sr., Highland
P: Joni Bardsley, So., Hillcrest
C: Emily Wilson, Sr., Hillcrest
1B: Heidi Olsen, Jr., Bingham
2B: Stacey Holmes, Jr., Alta
3B: Cammie Hales, Jr., Alta
SS: Annie Roberts, Sr., Alta
OF: Jen Monson, Sr., Bingham
OF: Amberly Johnson, So., Alta
OF: Misty Lundberg, Jr., Hillcrest
DP: Caryn Ketcham, Sr., West Jordan
Second team
P: Shelby Scadden, So., Fremont
P: Michelle Boam, So., Bonneville
P: Natalie Peterson, Sr., Cottonwood
C: Christy Burge, Sr., Bingham
1B: Mindy Hanson, So., Brighton
2B: Martha Brinton, Fr., Highland
3B: Krista Law, Jr., Hillcrest
SS: Jenny Hardy, Sr., Bingham
OF: Aubrey Ainsworth, Jr., Highland
OF: Tracy Atkinson, Jr., Alta
OF: Cassie Alvey, Jr., Alta
DP: Michele Caputo, Sr., Hillcrest;
Honorable mention
Loni Martinez, Bountiful; Kara Oreno, Hunter; Heidi McKissick, Bingham; Angie Gray, Hillcrest; Nicole Wilkinson, Brighton; Brit Staveley, Taylorsville; Lisa Langford, Cottonwood; Kim Burton, Brighton; Candee Bowden, Bingham; Melanie Sorensen, Bountiful; Lindsay Pilgreen, Weber.
4A TEAM
MVP: Lisa Hashimoto, Jr., Pitcher, Box Elder
First team
P: Audrey Jensen, Sr., Springville
P: Mikiyo Hashimoto, Sr., Bear River
P: Gwyn Lyons, Sr., Murray
C: Sunny Smith, Jr., Pl. Grove
1B: Sarah Nay, Jr., Box Elder
2B: Heidi Simper, Jr., Box Elder
3B: Sarah Bryner, Sr., Box Elder
SS: Kacy Hone, Sr., Springville
OF: Wendy Haramoto, So., Bear River
OF: Tammy Jensen, Sr., Bear River
OF: Linsey Francom, Jr., Pl. Grove
DP: Allicen Neff, Sr., Box Elder
Second team
P: Taryn Nichols, Fr., Box Elder
P: Natalie Young, Sr., West
P: Natalie Nickell, Jr., Pl. Grove
C: Olivia Miner, Sr., Springville
1B: Jodi Stevens, Jr., Pl. Grove
2B: Cami Carter, Jr., Bear River
3B: Rachel Penrod, Jr., Springville
SS: Nikki Wood, Sr., Bear River
OF: Brittany Fuller, Sr., Box Elder
OF: Carrie Cook, Jr., Murray
OF: Tylene Proctor, Sr., Springville
DP: Audra Pearson, Sr., Murray
Honorable mention
Brittany Trujillo, Murray; Mini Francom, Pl. Grove; Lori MacFarland, Bear River; Jill Bearnson, Woods Cross; Eliza Salazar, West; Jamie Bleazard, Murray; Cami Hall, Granite; Angie Christiansen, Woods Cross; Buffy Chournous, Bear River; Natalie Neff, Box Elder; Kristy Farnworth, Springville; Teri Foster, Jordan; Kalli Mecham, Spanish Fork; Tricia Strieby, Tooele.
3A TEAM
MVP: Roxy McBride, So., Pitcher, Union
First Team
P: Mary Brinkerhoff, So., Emery
P: Janell Jensen, So., Uintah
P: Maria Cook, Jr., North Sanpete
C: Misti Poglajen, Sr., Uintah
1B: Nicole Trauntvein, Sr., Carbon
2B: Jeanie Nielsen, Sr., Union
3B: Stacy Lupa, Sr., Carbon
SS: Liz Cranney, Fr., Uintah
OF: Jenny Werry, Jr., Union
OF: Tawnya Crumb, Sr., North Sanpete
OF: Shaleah McCourt, Sr., Carbon
DP: Julie Sims, So., Union
Second team
P: Cortney Olsen, Sr., Carbon
P: Makenzi Rollo, Sr., Cedar City
P: Alana Hovey, Sr., Snow Canyon
C: Kim Gayler, Sr., Union
1B: Holly Stevens, So., Union
2B: Cyndi Cook, Jr., North Sanpete
3B: Heidi Kay, Sr., Emery
SS: Jenni Nelson, Jr., Union
OF: Lynette Colovich, Jr., Uintah
OF: Missy Dimick, Sr., Uintah
OF: Charlea McKinnon, Jr., Union
DP: Melynda Blain, Jr., North Sanpete
Honorable mention
Sara Whitman, North Sanpete; Cheridan Horrocks, Uintah; Amy Childs, Emery; Kristina Osborne, Union; Christy Shepherd, Wasatch; Alison Thacker, Wasatch; Brittany Esplin, Pine View; Laci Wall, North Sanpete; Dea Madsen, Uintah; Misty Warner, Emery; Tiffany Turek, Pine View; Robin Lusby, Snow Canyon.
2A TEAM
MVP: Dana Peacock, Sr., Pitcher, Manti
First team
P: Mandy Garrard, Sr., Grantsville
P: Sharo Bayles, Jr., San Juan
P: Carley Garner, Jr., Monticello
C: Angie Olsen, So., Manti
1B: Stacey Cox, Sr., Manti
2B: Amy Orr, Sr., South Sevier
3B: Emily Walker, Sr., Manti
SS: Jill Yardley, Sr., Parowan
OF: Ashley Sandberg, Sr., Grantsville
OF: Kelly Townsend, Sr., Parowan
OF: Amber Lyons, Jr., Manti
DP: Tristan Wilson, So., Grand
Second team
P: Jamie Minster, Sr., Morgan
P: Nan Roberts, So., South Sevier
P: Arielle Beck, So., Grand
C: Jackie Thornton, Jr., San Juan
1B: Rachelle Adams, Jr., Parowan
2B: Makenzie Gillins, Jr., Beaver3B: Natalie Tuttle, Sr., Millard
SS: Melissa Bailey, Sr., Grand
OF: Sunny Myers, Sr., Beaver
OF: Camille Moses, Sr., San Juan
OF: Tena Sanders, Sr., Juab
DP: Heather Oakden, Jr., Beaver
Honorable mention
McCall Eyre, Beaver; Kellie Greenhalgh, Juab; Amber Pierro, Manti; Heather Garrard, Grantsville; Kortney Lessing, Beaver; Jennifer Bradford, San Juan; Dallas Bice, Morgan; Janet Holyoak, Grand; Patty Palmas, Millard; Jerrilyn Nielsen, North Sevier; Janiece Stubbs, Parowan; Brandy Robinson, Millard.