Defensive-minded: MVPs knew how to shut down opponents

Most players will do what a coach wants if it coincides with their own desires. They don't hesitate when that request will highlight their strengths or put them in the spotlight.

But what sets this year's Deseret Morning News softball MVPs apart isn't just their athletic ability.

It's their coachability.

Three pitchers and a catcher, these players led their teams to titles with an emphasis on defense and the ability to hit in critical situations.

Most important, all four players put their teammates first.

5A MVP: CYD ALLEN, Taylorsville

Allen was turning heads as a freshman — both behind the plate and when she stepped up to it to hit.

But in her junior year, she was earning accolades not just for her onfield performances, which were thrilling, but also for her off-the-field leadership.

A teammate's brother remarked that he'd never seen a player, boy or girl, "who was able to do so much for a team," according to Taylorsville coach Rich Kaelin.

"She was a very, very good leader this year," Kaelin said.

Allen is known for her fun-loving attitude, which kept her young teammates loose and close-knit. But she also knew when to buckle down and go to work, Kaelin said.

"She just set a demeanor on the team that kept people relaxed," he said. "She never put herself above anyone else. She was always throwing out one-liners, making people laugh, but she knew when to get serious. I was very impressed with her ability to do that."

She also racked up some eye-popping stats. She finished the year with 12 home runs and a .532 batting average. She also played a key role in the Warriors' volleyball success, while representing her peers as a student body officer.

4A MVP: BRITTANY PARKER, Murray

Anyone who has ever watched Brittany Parker play softball knows she's one of the most talented players in the state. But what her teammates and coaches know from years of watching her work on their behalf is how much she'll do to succeed.

"Her strength is that she's such a competitor," said Murray head coach Lisa Parker, who also happens to be Brittany's mom. "Especially in this year's state tournament, she showed that.

She was focused and she knew exactly what she had to do and what she wanted."