Trailing 6-5 in the bottom of the seventh inning in last week's 4A state softball championship game, the Tooele High School Buffaloes had their rally helmets on and their backs firmly against the wall.

And when Lauren Frailey hit into a rally-killing double play with runners on first and second, the Spanish Fork High School dugout erupted in a victory celebration.

The defending 4A champions left the Valley Softball Complex teary-eyed and sullen.

"Sometimes I felt personally responsible, but then I have to remember that it's a team sport and everybody contributes," Frailey said.

Tooele catcher Marissa Mendenhall had a chance to be the hero in the seventh inning with a deep hit to center. But the ball wasn't deep enough, as the Dons' center fielder caught it at the fence.

Mendenhall said she has no regrets on the season because the team made it to the title game.

"We got to where we wanted, we got to the championship game," Mendenhall said. "I'm so proud of every girl on my team, because we got here and we played with heart."

Frailey was one of those players who left it all on the field. Just a freshman, the Tooele pitcher performed beyond her years, as she took over for starter Whitney Holt in both games of the 4A championship.

"After that first game, I was tired, but I didn't want to leave it up to anybody else," said Frailey, who has dreamed of pitching in these situations.

"I've been watching these championship games since I was in the fifth grade and I've always wanted to play in it. One of the things my dad told me was, 'You're a freshman, but act like a senior.' And so I just kept telling myself [during the game], 'You're a senior, not a freshman.' "

After the Buffaloes fell behind 3-2 in the first inning of their second game with Spanish Fork, Frailey came in and allowed just three runs over the next six innings, keeping Tooele in the game.

"She's amazing," Holt said. "She's going to be an outstanding pitcher for Tooele. She shut them down a lot of the time. She's a really good pitcher that hits her spot. She has all the rest of high school to keep it going."

And even though Frailey allowed the game-winning homer by Spanish Fork's Lyndsey Healey, her coach knows the game wasn't too big for this freshman.

"I couldn't be more proud of her," said Tooele coach Steve Snow. "She played like a senior. For her to show the maturity that she did, in that circumstance, was phenomenal." —

Bright side for the Buffaloes

Tooele High was looking for its third 4A state softball title in four seasons but came up short against Spanish Fork.

The Buffaloes finished the regular season with an overall record of 21-10 and won the Region 6 championship for the second consecutive season.

The Buffs return 10 juniors to next year's squad, including All-State outfielder Hadli Sorenson and standout Brooke Slade.