Difference makers: MVPs excel in every aspect of the game

To be a complete baseball player, there are several areas one needs to excel: at the plate, on the mound, in the field and on the bases. Each needs to be taken care of for success.

Perhaps more than any other season, this year's group of Deseret Morning News MVPs took care of all those areas as each led his team to a championship.

CLASS 5A

Garrett Nash is fast. Really fast. In fact, in his four years of high school baseball, the speedy short stop stole over 90 bases. Perhaps even more amazing than setting the record for steals was that in all those attempts, he was only caught once.

"I don't know what the secret has been. I guess it is a combination of a lot of things," Nash said. "I try to get a good jump, and then obviously, I have some speed."

That terror on the bases is only one of the reasons why Nash was so valuable in leading Jordan to its first-ever baseball title. Hitting in the lead-off spot, he got the offense rolling. Because of his prowess on the bases, a local Major League scout said about Nash, "If he gets a walk, it's just like a double."

Nash didn't just steal bases, though, he also was terrific at keeping opposing players off them.

"Garrett is just Garrett out there," said Beetdiggers coach Ron Anderson about his play at short. "He makes the difficult plays look routine. He has incredible range, and almost anything hit toward our left side, he is going to get to and make the play."

Along with his 43 steals this season, Nash knocked in 27 runs, also a testament to the type of players Jordan had in the bottom of the order getting on base and allowing a lead-off hitter the opportunities to score them. Nash pitched more in his other three-years of starting varsity baseball, but he still had the ability to get some important outs.

His batting average was more than respectable at .434, but it was the all-around play that not only earned him the MVP award, but also landed him as a fourth-round selection in the MLB draft by the Texas Rangers last week.

CLASS 4A

Tanner Robles accomplished something no other player ever has this season as he became the first three-time MVP. The most dominant pitcher in the state, the hard-throwing lefty also helped lead Cottonwood to its third consecutive title.

"The thing that is special about Tanner is his competitiveness," said Colts coach Jon Hoover. "He not only is a great pitcher, he always seems to rise to the occasion. Where other kids might wilt under the pressure, Tanner seems to thrive in it. He thinks it's fun when it is all on the line."