High school softball: Fearsome Folta

TOOELE — Look at the numbers Tooele pitcher Lauren Folta put up during her junior year, and you'll be impressed. If you have to face her in the batter's box this season, you might even be a little intimidated.

She knows the feeling.

While leading the Buffaloes to their fourth state softball championship in five years last season, Folta earned 3A MVP honors by compiling a 15-0 record with 11 shutouts. Her earned run average was a miniscule 0.38, and she was the winning pitcher in the Buffaloes' state-title-clinching victory over Hurricane.

She also threw 152 strikeouts in 93 innings and tossed five no-hitters.

"She's amazing," said Kelsey Mendenhall, Folta's teammate.

A season filled with amazing performances made Folta a no-brainer choice for 3A MVP. Now, one wonders, how does she top, or even equal, a season like last year?

"I don't know," Folta said. "We'll see. I'm hoping to just carry my team to state. It's going to be harder this year because it's 4A, but we can do it."

The pressure to be as dominant as she was last season weighed heavily on Folta during the offseason and in Tooele's first couple of preseason games. She admits she was somewhat intimidated by her past success.

"I was at first, and it showed in the first couple of games," Folta said. "Now I'm just going to forget about it and throw and play and have fun. It just doesn't matter to me anymore. I just want to win state."

Folta's past success doesn't include just her junior year. She was Tooele's No. 2 pitcher behind current SLCC hurler Lindsey Palmer during her freshman and sophomore seasons. During her freshman season, she picked up a victory in the 3A quarterfinals when she threw 6 2/3 innings in the Buffaloes' 2-0 win over Lehi.

"When Lindsey had trouble, Lauren stepped up and took over," said Tooele coach Barry Pitt. "There was no letdown. When Lindsey came off the mound, there was no worry that Lauren wasn't going to be able to fill in. She won some big games for us when Lindsey was here. She stepped up and completely held her own."

There's no doubt that Folta is immensely talented and a special player when she steps in the circle. But there's a lot more to credit for what she's achieved than just talent. Pitt calls her a "hardworking fool" and said a lot that she's achieved in softball is due to her understanding of the game.