Riverton’s Jolie Mayfield scores on a two-run triple within the 6A softball state championship towards West at Miller Park in Provo on Friday, Could 27, 2022. Spenser Heaps, Deseret Information
Spanish Fork’s Avery Sapp pitches to Wasatch within the winners bracket of the 5A softball championship on the Larry H. Miller Softball Complicated in Millcreek on Tuesday, Could 24, 2022. Spanish Fork gained 9-0. Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information
Ridgeline’s Markessa Jensen pitches the ball to Inexperienced Canyon batter Jentry Nava on Friday in North Logan. Eli Lucero, Herald Journal
Manti Pitcher Tiffany Hermansen (5) delivers a late-game pitch towards South Summit within the 3A softball state championship sport in Spanish Fork on Saturday, Could 14, 2022. Adam Fondren, for the Deseret Information
Duchesne pitcher Kelsey Grant delivers a pitch within the 2A softball state championship sport in Spanish Fork on Saturday, Could 14, 2022. Adam Fondren, for the Deseret Information
There was little doubt who the highest softball gamers within the state had been through the 2022 season, they had been the gamers whose groups rode their arms and bats all the way in which to state titles.
The Deseret Information softball Gamers of the Yr had been so dominant they mixed for an 89-20 file on the mound with 804 strikeouts. On the plate, they mixed for 56 house runs and 215 RBIs.
Right here’s a have a look at the 2022 Deseret Information softball Gamers of the Yr.
Riverton’s Jolie Mayfield scores on a two-run triple within the 6A softball state championship towards West at Miller Park in Provo on Friday, Could 27, 2022.
Spenser Heaps, Deseret Information
6A Participant of the Yr
Jolie Mayfield, Riverton, Jr.
Energy-hitting shortstops like Jolie Mayfield don’t come round usually.
Riverton’s cleanup hitter terrorized opposing pitchers all yr, crushing the ball for 19 house runs and 65 RBIs to associate with her scintillating .596 batting common.
It was her method within the batters field that made her so tough to take care of.
“Jolie carries herself the identical manner whether or not she simply hit a house run or she simply struck out,” mentioned Riverton coach Katelyn Elliott. “She’s going up with the identical method, each single time. She’s bought a sound swing, she places the time in within the cages.”
The junior College of Utah commit bought a base hit in 25 of 28 video games this season, and drove in a run in at the very least one run in 21 of 28 video games.
In Riverton’s seven playoff wins she went 16 for 21 for 3 house runs and 15 RBIs.
As nice as she was on the plate, she was each bit pretty much as good at shortstop.
“If the ball is hit to Jolie you understand it’s an out, and when it’s not it’s virtually surprising,” mentioned Elliott.
Riverton’s coach remembers one sport this season through which Mayfield did make an error, and he or she instantly turned to her assistant coach and mentioned, “So she is human.”
Thankfully for Riverton’s coaches, they get Mayfield again for one more season subsequent yr and it’s loopy to suppose her numbers on the plate might get even higher.
Spanish Fork’s Avery Sapp pitches to Wasatch within the winners bracket of the 5A softball championship on the Larry H. Miller Softball Complicated in Millcreek on Tuesday, Could 24, 2022. Spanish Fork gained 9-0.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information
5A Participant of the Yr
Avery Sapp, Spanish Fork, Jr.
Avery Sapp’s means to manage a softball sport from the plate and the circle this season was one thing no crew in 4A had a solution for this season.
The junior pitcher posted a 21-3 file for the state champion Dons with a 0.94 ERA and a 258 strikeouts. She hit double-digit strikeouts in six of seven playoff video games this season.
“Avery Sapp is a really dominant pitcher, she believes each time she takes the mound she goes to win. Her stuff is by far among the finest I've ever seen; very tough to hit with a number of pace and motion. She makes all of it look so easy and is at all times striving to be the very best participant she may be. Having that mindset is what makes her so nice. She’s by no means complacent with what she achieves on the sector,” mentioned Spanish Fork coach Natalie Jarvis.
Sapp solely allowed 4 earned runs through the 7-0 displaying within the playoffs.
“Avery and Ashlyn (Losee) had an unimaginable pitcher-to-catcher bond. They trusted one another, had a sport plan and bought it achieved. It was enjoyable to see these two work collectively,” mentioned Jarvis.
After mowing groups down from the circle, the UVU commit would flip round and do the identical from the plate.
She completed the season with a .534 batting common, 12 doubles, 11 house runs and 38 RBIs. She ended the season on a 14-game hitting streak.
Ridgeline’s Markessa Jensen pitches the ball to Inexperienced Canyon batter Jentry Nava on Friday in North Logan.
Eli Lucero, Herald Journal
4A Participant of the Yr
Markessa Jensen, Ridgeline, Jr.
Markessa Jensen proved throughout her senior season it’s not about the way you begin, however the way you end.
Bear River is the measuring stick for each softball crew in 4A, and in two area video games this yr with Jensen on the mound Ridgeline didn’t fairly measure up, shedding each by a mixed 17-9 tally.
Quick ahead to the state event and Jensen was practically untouchable, significantly towards Bear River within the two 4A state championships video games because the Bears scored simply 4 complete runs in 14 innings because the Riverhawks claimed the 4A state championship.
“Markessa took a while to totally consider in who she was however by the top of the season, after we wanted her probably the most, she was at her finest. She labored methodically and pitched with energy and management. She helped herself with some well timed hits which constructed leads all year long,” mentioned Ridgeline coach Michael Anderson.
Jensen completed the season with a 22-3 file and a 2.87 ERA. Within the state event she went 5-0.
On the plate she batted .406 with 11 house runs, eight doubles and 44 RBIs.
Her pitching is what separated her from the remainder of the 4A discipline.
“We got here to state with a plan of going two or three pitchers deep. Kessa pitched in such a manner that it might have been silly to not have her throwing each pitch towards nice groups and nice gamers. She thrived on the strain and the larger the second the extra exact she pitched. Ultimately she threw each pitch at state. Simply unimaginable,” mentioned Anderson.
Manti Pitcher Tiffany Hermansen (5) delivers a late-game pitch towards South Summit within the 3A softball state championship sport in Spanish Fork on Saturday, Could 14, 2022.
Adam Fondren, for the Deseret Information
3A Participant of the Yr
Tiffany Hermansen, Manti, Sr.
When Manti misplaced its first seven video games this yr towards high quality upper-classification groups, it was Tiffany Hermansen who took the loss in six of these video games within the circle.
How she responded to the adversity spurred a shocking turnaround that led to a Manti state championship a pair months later.
““Tiffany is a aggressive participant. On the first of the season after we weren't performing on the degree our crew needs to be competing at, Tiffany was prepared to hearken to us coaches, implement what we coached and settle for what she wanted to do to enhance her particular person abilities, which in flip, pushed the crew to be higher,” mentioned Manti coach Susan Hatch. “She let her actions communicate for themselves, and put within the required work for that to happen.
She was practically unhittable the remainder of the season as she completed with a 22-7 file with 174 strikeouts and a 1.81 ERA. She recorded the victory within the circle in each playoff sport.
For the season she additionally batted .407 with six doubles, 13 house runs and 35 RBIs. She homered in three of Manti’s 5 playoff victories.
“Tiffany’s management this yr was key to our crew’s development and improvement, in addition to our general confidence,” mentioned Hatch.
Duchesne pitcher Kelsey Grant delivers a pitch within the 2A softball state championship sport in Spanish Fork on Saturday, Could 14, 2022.
Adam Fondren, for the Deseret Information
2A Participant of the Yr
Kelsey Grant, Duchesne, Sr.
Whether or not within the batters field or the circle, junior Kelsey Grant appeared to have a chilled impact on the whole Duchesne dugout.
Time and time she delivered whatever the circumstances and that continued till the ultimate day of the season as she was instrumental in main the Eagles to their first softball state title at school historical past.
“Kelsey is a pacesetter and a tough employee with confidence and composure. She by no means will get rattled or lets the strain get to her. She was in plenty of strain conditions this yr within the circle and the batter’s field and as a training workers we knew she would get it achieved,” mentioned Duchesne coach Kyle Grant. “Kelsey at all times needs what’s finest for the crew. She is a gritty robust participant, the kind of participant each coach needs on their crew.”
On the ultimate day of the season she helped Duchesne work again by the 2A one-loss bracket for the championship as she pitched 21 innings and recorded 22 strikeouts whereas permitting zero earned runs.
For the season she completed with a 24-7 file, 2.19 ERA and 237 strikeouts. On the plate she batted .459 with 60 runs scored, 20 stolen bases and 33 RBIs.