Coach Cindy Mosteller could tell Tomi Garrison would become a special athlete from the first time Garrison attended the Garland softball summer camp at age 8.

Garrison's competitiveness stood out.

"I don't know if she won all the time, but my gosh, she wanted to," Mosteller said.

That competitive spirit drove the Sam Houston State signee into becoming the most accomplished softball player in Garland history.

Garrison twice was named MVP of the state championship game, and she finished her career 97-12-4. Her highest ERA for any of her four seasons was 0.72, which came in her senior year.

Statistically, this wasn't her best season. And unlike the last two years, she didn't win a state title. But she had to work harder than any other year.

After losing its top three hitters last season, Garland relied not only on Garrison's arm but on her bat. She hit a career-best .456 with 46 RBIs.

Still, that wasn't enough for Garland to become the first softball team to win three University Interscholastic League state titles in a row. It lost, 1-0, to Austin Bowie in the state semifinals on an unearned run.

"It still was a successful year," Garrison. "But it couldn't end the way I wanted to."

Notable: The Sam Houston State signee led Garland to its fourth straight state tournament. The District 10-5A MVP and all-state pick was 25-4-2 with a 0.72 ERA and 243 strikeouts. She hit .456 with 16 doubles, four triples, two home runs and 46 RBIs. Garrison's last-inning home run against Rowlett delivered Garland a district title. She also drove in the winning run and shut out Klein Oak, No. 3 in the state, in the playoffs.

Did you know? Before every game, Garrison eats at Olive Garden, listens to the same country songs on her iPod and gets her hair braided.

Notable: In his first year at McKinney North, Sedgwick took his team back to the regional finals after the team lost last season's starting pitcher. He took risks. He allowed an attempted steal of home in a win over Mesquite Poteet. His lineup switch in Game 3 against Waxahachie played a role in his team's victory.

Did you know? Sedgwick worked as manager of an auto repair shop in San Antonio before he went back to school for his teaching certificate.

Freshman, first base

Notable: Foutch was named District 5-4A's offensive player of the year for helping Denton Ryan win the district title. She led the team in hitting with a .476 average and had 29 RBIs. She struck out only three times.

Did you know? Micah is the youngest daughter of Denton Ryan coach Aimee Foutch. The coach's oldest daughter, Sonia, is a junior catcher.

Notable: The District 9-5A pitcher of the year was 24-5 with a 0.68 ERA and 203 strikeouts. Jones also hit .435 with 30 RBIs.

Did you know? Jones wants to become a teacher for deaf students. She learned sign language at school last year.

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2008 All-Area Baseball & Softball

All-Area Baseball Team | Video: Player of the year Ben Flora

All-Area Softball Team | Video: Player of the year Tomi Garrison

All-District teams: Baseball | Softball

Notable: The District 10-4A MVP and all-state selection led Poteet to the regional quarterfinals. She was 29-5 with a 1.03 ERA and 300 strikeouts. She also hit .446 with 30 RBIs for the co-district champs.

Did you know? Bradie's older sisters, Jaimee and Bailey, were cheerleaders for Poteet.

Notable: Rodriguez led area 5A teams in the regular season with a 0.51 ERA. She was 19-3 with 189 strikeouts and was pitcher of the year for District 10-5A. She also hit .422 with 21 RBIs.

Did you know? Rodriguez began playing baseball as a catcher when she was 5.

Notable: The District 12-5A MVP led her team to the regional semifinals, beating Plano and Plano East in the playoffs. She was 28-10 with a 1.37 ERA and 240 strikeouts.

Did you know? Jordan has been on varsity four seasons but became a starting pitcher just this season.

Notable: The Central Arkansas signee hit .424 with six home runs and 37 RBIs. She caught eight of 13 runners stealing and made only one error. She was named all-state.

Did you know? Her younger sister, Kelly, also was named all-state as a freshman infielder and pitcher for Prestonwood Christian.

Notable: The Arkansas signee was picked all-state for the second year in a row and was named district MVP after leading Plano to the 9-5A title. She hit .471 with five home runs and 50 RBIs.

Did you know? Brittany's father, Matt, played baseball for a community college in Kansas. Her great grandfather and grandfather were also baseball players.

Notable: The District 9-4A MVP led McKinney North to its second district title in a row and its third straight regional final. Shelton, who is committed to Baylor, hit .467 with three home runs, 21 RBIs, 40 runs and 41 steals.

Did you know? Shelton can solve the Rubik's Cube in less than a minute.

Notable: Hoagland, who is committed to UT, led area 5A schools with 11 homers. The District 6-5A MVP and all- state pick hit .532 with 36 RBIs and 56 runs.

Did you know? She has been working as a horse wrangler at Circle R Ranch in Flower Mound for the last three months. She teaches people how to rope cows and leads trail rides.

Notable: Roosmalen, who is committed to Southern Mississippi, was named all-state and offensive player of the year for District 9-5A. She hit .444 with four home runs and 33 RBIs, helping Plano West reach the regional quarterfinals.

Did you know? Roosmalen began playing when she was 10 when her basketball teammates formed a softball team.

Notable: The District 6-5A offensive player of the year hit .479 with 20 steals and 42 runs. She hit safely in 34 of 38 games.

Did you know? Huse was a gymnast from the third to fifth grades before returning to softball.

Notable: The Ouachita Baptist signee hit .502 with 35 RBIs and 32 steals. She was named all-state and outfielder of the year for District 10-4A.

Did you know? In addition to softball, Davis will compete in cross country at Ouachita Baptist.

Notable: The Texas State signee hit .353 with 34 RBIs. She also had 16 steals.

Did you know? Knight has been playing piano since the fifth grade, but just this year learned how to read music after her teacher noticed she learned pieces by ear.

Notable: The TAPPS 1-6A MVP hit .568 with 11 home runs and 36 RBIs. Smith faced top area teams such as Garland and Mesquite before leading Lynch to a third straight trip to the TAPPS state semifinals.

Did you know? Smith, a Centenary signee, has a batting cage in her backyard. She chose that over a pool.