In Utah County it isn't always fun to be a bridesmaid, especially when so many of your friends seem to be brides. And a pair of Utah County softball teams found out just what it feels like to be bridesmaids this year when both Spanish Fork and Springville had to watch other teams hoist state championship trophies while they stood by with second place.
Spanish Fork fought through the one-loss bracket after a May 22 loss, only to fall to Taylorsville in the Warriors' back yard at the Valley Softball Complex. And Springville came back through the one-loss bracket after falling to Murray on May 23 only to lose to the Spartans again in the title game on May 24.
"This is our third straight year in the state championship game. But even though it would be nice to have the championship again, I won't give back the second-place trophies," said Spanish Fork coach Don Andrews, who hopes to return to the championship game again next year.
Here is a little more about the season for each team in Utah Valley.
Region 4
SPANISH FORK: After rocketing through much of the preseason and taking care of business in league action by winning by an average of more than 10 runs per game, the Dons looked a little shaky in the postseason.
Andrews was nervous about his team's lack of tight game experience, but the Dons took care of business against Clearfield, then came back to steal victory from Jordan on a home run and a pair of errors before heading to the Valley Complex.
But then they ran into the Bingham buzz saw, committing uncharacteristic fielding errors and not hitting up to potential, coming away with a 13-4 loss. After coming back with a shocking last-inning victory over then No. 1 Layton and a 5-4 win over Riverton, they met up with the Miners again, only this time their fielding prowess and batting had returned, and they wrapped up a return trip to the championship game with a 5-2 win.
But they also took with them plenty of trouble. Last year's tournament MVP, catcher Susan Cole, had landed in the hospital the night before with a severe infection and was unable to take to the diamond against the Miners. She wasn't on the field when the game began against Taylorsville either, but the team was holding its own until an unfortunate base running incident blew things apart.
After one of his runners was called out by being off first base when the pitcher had the ball, Andrews went ballistic, kicked dirt on an umpire and was tossed out of the complex.
"I've been kicked out before. It's a familiar position. I wish I could say I didn't deserve it, but I deserved it. They'll remember me walking off the field with steam coming out of my ears," said Andrews, who was watching the game from the parking lot, barely able to see the girls' uniforms, when Cole arrived looking pale yet determined. Assistant coach Natalie Jarvis pinch hit for Leah Adamson, and the senior was able to play in her final state championship game.
The Dons will bring back five of their Big Six hitters in Tina Ferguson, Katelynn Elliott, Ashley Chappel, Whitney Holm and Adamson. Holm and the Dons' other two pitchers, Deven Baum and Cami Robinson, will also return next season, making Spanish Fork a returning favorite even before the season starts.
TIMPANOGOS: As with most of the rest of Region 4, the T-Wolves lacked experience. They will only lose one senior, Whitney Rode, after this year. Shiri Stevens came on strong from the circle, and Chelsie Laird stepped up huge from behind the plate. Even so, the T-Wolves found themselves in third place heading into the tournament.
They lost to Riverton right off the bat, then beat Brighton to make it to Valley. But they couldn't compete against Fremont and had to go home after a 12-2 loss to the Silver Wolves, mainly due to errors.
"They just didn't come ready to play. This whole year we've either played really well or really bad," Timpanogos coach Frank Brammel said about his team.
PLEASANT GROVE: New coach Kale Gillman made a team out of the bunch that lost its first eight games of the season. They found their batting and improved on some iffy fielding, landing themselves in second place in Region 4 with a 7-3 record in a top-heavy region.
But they proceeded to lose to Hunter 8-0 to start the tournament and weren't able to head up to the Valley Complex after a second loss, this one to Viewmont.
With one year under Gillman under their belts and many of the players returning next year, the Vikings should also show improvement.
LONE PEAK: The Knights had to beat American Fork in a play-in game just to make the tournament, but Lone Peak wasn't able
to take its rebuilding year and compete with the big teams in 5A as it lost first to Bingham and then to Alta. The Knights too had an up-and-down year but only will lose three seniors as the rebuilding effort gains steam next season.
AMERICAN FORK: This team started off strong and kept right on rolling until Region 4 action started. The Cavemen were still able to maneuver themselves into a play-in game with Lone Peak but just couldn't finish things off. They are, however, greatly improved over past American Fork teams, and with the athleticism the Cavemen are fielding and another year under their belts, they could post some problems next year.
MOUNTAIN VIEW: The Bruins lost both games and players early and just couldn't hang in there through the rest of the year as once again they try to rebuild. They just didn't have the pitching to compete but are hoping to change their fortunes next year in a different region.
Region 7
SPRINGVILLE: This team was ranked No. 2 behind Murray all season, and that's just where they wound up.
Another team that ramrodded through the regular season without a region loss, the Red Devils took their intensity right through to the state tournament. With run-rule games against West and Cottonwood, Springville eased its way up to the Valley Complex.
And they kept right on rolling, scoring 17 runs against No. 3-ranked Bountiful to continue their run-ruling ways. But then they ran into the Spartans in the winners' bracket final, losing 13-0 and getting a taste of what they'd been dishing out. The only person to pick up hits against the Spartans was Katelyn Anderson, who picked up a pair of singles. No one on the team could get a hit against the Spartans the second time around, but they racked up plenty against Roy as they took down the Royals 8-0.
And all but two of the Springville players will return next season for another shot at the title. Murray will lose its biggest star and three other starters, so the Red Devils have plenty of hope. However, Tooele is joining Region 7 to spice things up.
"We have plenty of depth, so our outlook for the next two years is promising," said Springville coach Karl Jensen, who is losing Anderson and catcher Amber Martin but returning speedster Holli Averett, pitchers Kandice Kirkham and Sarah Clark and freshman Brittany McCray, who's taking over behind the plate next year.
PAYSON: The surprise of Region 7, these Lions roared their way through the post season pulling upset after upset and finally losing only to the toughest of competition.
It was a young squad that could do everything except show much consistency through the regular season, but when the playoffs rolled around, the 6-4 Lions came to play, first knocking off highly-favored Roy in the first round then losing to eventual champ Murray 8-0.
They took care of Bonneville 10-0 then came from behind in the seventh inning to grab victory against region rival Lehi 4-3 after losing to the Pioneers twice during the regular season.
They even held a 4-3 lead over No. 3-ranked Bountiful in the seventh inning before the Braves smacked a homer and three singles to knock Payson from the tournament after their improbable run.
"We're hopeful for next year. These girls are athletes," said Payson coach Brent Shurtleff, who added that his team's experience at the tournament was invaluable for his plethora of young stars.
His team returns all but three players next season, including freshman Justa Jarvis and the team's two top pitchers in Rikki Christensen and Katherin Caldwell. Hitters Chelsey Diamond, Lexi Bushman and Karlie Mangelson also return.
LEHI: This might be the team that was most disappointed with its finish in 4A action as the team that was ranked in the Top 5 most of the year couldn't really pull things together in the tournament.
The Pioneers did what they were supposed to against Olympus but ran into Box Elder in the second round and couldn't seem to do anything right in the uncharacteristic 11-0 loss that put Region 7's 8-2 number two team into the one-loss bracket.
The Pioneers then fought their way back with an easy victory over Timpview but then ran into a much-improved Payson team on the first night at the Valley Complex.
Though Lehi always seems to have players waiting in the wings and is already playing star freshmen Ariel Zimmerman and Ally White, this team perhaps loses more than any of the other top teams in the valley. Star pitcher/catcher/infielder Megan Zimmerman and tough third baseman Jessica Anderson are both on their way to college, as are Alli Kirkham, Kassey Thomas, Lexi Stadel and two others.
The younger Zimmerman will return to pitch. The Pioneers also keep Marci Gray and Shelby Lund, but many players will have to learn to work their way into the Lehi system behind second-year coach Leslee Warr next season.
TIMPVIEW: It was the post season play and the on-field noticeable improvement that perhaps give new coach Debbie Dodds most improved team of the season honors in a close match with American Fork.
Though Timpview lost to Bountiful before defeating region rival Orem was run-ruled by Lehi in their first trip to the tournament site in years, Dodds had plenty to be hopeful about.
"This experience is so invaluable. This is what it's about. They had the jitters being with the best and playing with the best," Dodds said after the loss to the Pioneers.
The T-Birds also return both pitchers in Alisha Talk and Susan Vogtman, but they do lose five seniors, including Camille LaFollette and Chelsea Clark.
OREM: Though they made it to the playoffs, the Tigers lost their first two games and didn't make it to the Valley Complex. With Delyse Downey's hitting and fielding leaving the team next season along with the losses of Jessica Saliby and Michelle Duncan, this team could be looking at another rebuilding season next year.
PROVO: The team finally stepped up and stole one region game, but it wasn't enough to make it to the post season. They do have a young lineup and should show some improvement for next season, especially as the pitching staff becomes a little more seasoned.
E-mail: jolsen@desnews.com