With the playoffs set to begin next Tuesday, Class 5A softball has an unprecedented four undefeated teams — one from each region. Roy, Murray, Taylorsville and Brighton are those front-runners, and it's reasonable to predict one of them will come out on top.

That's exactly how the Syracuse Titans like it.

"We may not have the raw talent that other teams have," said senior Mylee Davis, "and we may not have the older experienced players everyone has and we may be kind of new, but we work our butts off and there is not any team we cannot compete with."

The Titans have a history of playing the Cinderella team. In 2010, Syracuse entered the tournament as Region 1's No. 3 seed and ultimately defeated three higher-ranked teams. The team fell in a tight 2-1 game against Taylorsville in which the Trojans had to come from behind in the ninth to get the victory.

Although Syracuse will likely enter the 2011 tournament with a No. 2 seeding, senior pitcher Ashley Ostler believes her team's chances of winning the title are good.

"I think we're in a great situation," Ostler said. "We've kind of figured out what we need to do, and we have a lot of great character this year. It should be a great run."

To make such a run, the team will rely heavily on its stout defense. The Titans currently give up a low 2.9 runs per game, which puts them fifth in that category in all of 5A.

Davis believes Ostler's presence on the field has been the major difference.

"Ashley is awesome — she is so good," Davis said. "Her presence out there is commanding. Ashley can control a game, and she's always in charge of her at-bats. She never lets the batter get ahead."

Davis also acknowledges that many of the starting seniors, such as herself and Ostler, have been starting since freshman year. She said their postseason experience will give the Titans an advantage.

"We're going in with a right mindset this time," she said. "Last year we went in the tournament and wanted to win it all. This year, we know we need to take it game by game and compete because we can play with anybody." Big number

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1.3 Against every team besides 5A favorite Roy, Syracuse is allowing only a stingy 1.3 runs per game. The Titans have allowed only 33 runs in region play, with 17 of those runs scored by Roy.

Big game

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Friday, May 13 vs. Spanish Fork • The Titans will close out the season with a non-region game against Spanish Fork, a team that ended Syracuse's playoff run in 2009.

Player to Watch

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Taylor Tann • Tann has helped relieve Ashley Ostler on the mount, recording 5 wins for the team, but her appearances at the plate have been the difference. Tann has recorded 3 home runs, 2 triples and 6 doubles this year.