“I feel I have had a leadership role all four years, but I’m a different kind of leader,” Wallace said earlier this week in an interview with The Herald Journal. “I don’t yell, I’m more calm. This past year I had to step up and use my voice. … I did offer to pitch. I pitched when I was like 12. I mess around sometimes when we are warming up, so I said I thought I could pitch. I’m sad I never got the chance.”

Wallace was joking — kind of. The competitor in the 18-year-old daughter of Mark and See Wallace would certainly have liked to give it a try. Her willingness to do whatever the team needs has not gone unnoticed.

“That is part of her personality and part of her skill set,” Ridgeline head coach Mike Anderson said. “It’s no disrespect to anyone else on our team, but when she plays shortstop, she is the best shortstop, when she plays third base, she is the best third baseman and the same for second baseman. You would think a 6-foot-1 athlete would have a problem playing outfield, but she figures out a way to do that. She goes and contributes 100 percent. … She is the best catcher, shortstop, third baseman, second baseman, first baseman and outfielder I have ever coached.”

Playing so many positions, did Wallace know ahead of time where she would be on the field?

“I’m a person who will play any position to a 110 percent,” Wallace said. “If my coach needs me somewhere, I will play there. I didn’t catch very much because I was needed on the field. I was willing to do it.”

The coach went on to declare that 2025 was the best season Wallace has had. That is saying something since she has been a four-year stater and played big roles in winning two state championships and finishing second another time.

“She had that sophomore year where she hit 27 (home runs),” Anderson said. “In some ways, this was a better year for her because there was more required of her. She still had 17 home runs. She is the No. 1 home run hitter in the state, all-time. She was the ultimate senior and left everything on the field.”

When told what her coach had said of her, Wallace smiled. She still feels that perhaps her junior season was the best of her four varsity years. The Riverhawks did win the 4A title, went 30-1 and finished the season ranked 11th nationally.

“Honestly, I think my junior year was my best,” Wallace said. “My freshman year was my funnest because it was our first year winning state. We just had fun playing softball. Last year our team was top tier, we were really good. We were nationally ranked.”

There is no doubt Wallace has left her mark at Ridgeline and in the state of Utah. She began her senior season tied for the state lead in home runs with 45. In the season opener this year, the record was all hers as she deposited a 3-0 ball over the fence against in a win against Cedar City and went on to set the mark at 62 for a career. During the state tournament this spring, Wallace became the state career record holder for RBIs with 192, surpassing the previous mark of 189. She also drew 78 career walks and was plunked 15 times during her high school career.

Earlier this week the Desert News named her Ms. Softball for the state of Utah, which looks at all classifications. She can now add being named the 2025 Herald Journal All-Valley Player of the Year to her list of awards.

“I was shocked to get that (Ms. Softball),” Wallace said. “I feel like my two best years were when I was a sophomore and a junior, and I never got it. I was not expecting it this year, but I’m happy I won it. I feel very blessed.”

Getting awards is nothing new for this teenager. She won the All-Valley Player of the Year as a sophomore, was the All-Valley Defensive MVP a year ago and the All-Valley Newcomer of the Year as a freshman in 2022.

“I really didn’t expect to have all these accolades,” Wallace said. “I never would have done it without my coach and teammates. … I love awards, but at the end of the day you have to play hard to get them.”

Since the high school season ended, Wallace has been busy playing more softball with a club team. MaxPreps has her as a top 25 recruit from her graduating class. She has already signed to play at Texas. Yes, the same Longhorns who recently won the Women’s College World Series.

“I have been watching,” Wallace said. “I was so happy and excited. I was kind of nervous (watching the championship).”

She will report to camp at Texas in August.

“I chose Texas because I wanted to get out of Utah,” Wallace said. “There is so much out there in the world, and I want to explore. I loved their coaching staff. It felt like home, and their academics are good, too.”

Texas offered Wallace early, but before signing, she wanted the Longhorns to come to Utah and watch some softball in the Beehive State.

“I wanted them (Texas coaches) to see what it’s like here in Utah, see other players we have out here,” Wallace said. “We have a lot of talent here in Utah. I thought it was good for them to come see the other talent here.”

Being busy with club ball, Wallace did take a moment to reflect on her final season at Ridgeline.

“I think my senior season kind of started off a little rocky at first, because our team was brand new,” Wallace said. “We had a lot of freshmen and sophomores. At the end, everyone stepped up and put it together. … At the end, we were playing really good. We all got used to each other. We all figured it out and trusted each other.”

The Riverhawks ended up going 21-15 and finished in a tie for third at state. They narrowly lost to eventual champion Bear River in the semifinals. Ridgeline went into the state tournament seeded ninth.

“I think we had a great end to the season,” Wallace said. “A lot of people doubted us after losing five seniors last year, and then we started rocky. I’m happy for my team and glad we finished third. … The region was up and down this season. I knew Logan would be good this year.”

Wallace ended up tying for the team lead in home runs with Gardiner at 17, which was tied for fourth best in the state and tops in 4A. The senior led her team in hits (49), RBIs (58), doubles (10), walks (26). Her RBIs was second most in 4A and sixth over all classifications.

“My batting average this year is what I’m most proud of,” Wallace said. “I always set a goal for myself at the beginning of the season, and I wanted to have a high batting average. I wanted to be .500 or above, and I’m so happy I met that goal.”

Wallace was second on her team in batting average (.516), on-base percentage (.607), slugging percentage (1.179), runs (40) and being hit by a pitch (5). She was third in fielding percentage (.911) and fourth in stolen bases (14). Wallace had one triple and only struck out 14 times in 122 plate appearances.

Attempting to steal bases is not something she always gets to do. Catchers are normally subbed out for a speed-up runner. This year the senior ran the bases and had the green light to steal.

“I think people are shocked when I steal,” Wallace said. “I’m kind of on the bigger side, tall and lengthy. I like to push myself and run. My dad, who was a soccer player, has always had us run sprints.”

“Anne’s impact extends far beyond statistics,” Anderson said. “We often throw around the term “generational player,” usually without a complete understanding of all those that we play against. I think it will be a long time before we have another Anne Wallace come through Utah.

“… She has never requested a specific position or batting order and has played through injuries without complaint. In my memory of our four years together, she has never missed a game due to injury, when so many others have.”

Asked for the highlight of her final season at Ridgeline, Wallace listed Senior Night. The Riverhawks beat Viewmont, 11-4, with No. 42 having a big game.

“All my family was there, everyone from down south in Salt Lake City,” Wallace said. “It was good because I hit two home runs and made a lot of plays. It was a great feeling.”

When looking at her whole four-year career, she once again reminisced on her junior season.

“We won state, but I feel I got closer with my teammates as well,” Wallace said of the 2024 season. “It was just a great season overall.”

Her coach felt like some of her best individual moments came at state “when the pressure was on.” This past season she hit a grand slam against Payson to break the game open. In what would end up being her final at-bat in high school, she hit a lead-off single to try and rally her team that trailed Bear River in the semifinals. Her career came to an end stranded at third.

“I told myself when I got up to bat, ‘you are not getting out, you are getting on base,’” Wallace said. “It was a 3-0 count, ball was right there and coach had given me the green light, so I was going to swing. I put it in the 5-6 hole and got a single. It was great.”

One of her tougher moments as a senior came during the basketball season when she decided, with the help of her parents, to not play on the hardwood and was the team manager. She has enjoyed basketball and used it to stay in shape during the winter. An older sibling got hurt during her senior season and missed out on some volleyball opportunities at the next level.

“My parents have PTSD from my sister, who tore her ACL her senior year,” Wallace said. “She lost some volleyball offers. They were scared and didn’t want that to happen to me.”

Asked how she would like to be remembered at Ridgeline, the generational player paused for a moment before responding, “someone who is determined, loving and caring,” Wallace said. “I’m very much a person who cares for everybody. I want to see others succeed. … Thank you Ridgeline for a great four years.”

And with that a her career has come to a close.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Brielle Gardiner, Ridgeline

A year ago as a freshman, this Riverhawk had a very memorable high school debut. She not only was the All-Valley Player of the Year, but was named Ms. Softball by the Desert News for the entire state.

An injury hampered Gardiner in the early going of the 2025 campaign. She would end up missing 12 games. When she returned, the ace pitcher was limited to batting as a designated player. The sophomore didn’t miss a beat, though, recording a hit in her first at-bat upon her return.

“Bri is a dual threat,” Anderson said. “Her pitching is dominate, but this year when the pitching was removed we were able to see just how good of a hitter she is. We might have undersold who she is as a hitter.”

Gardiner, who had 10 home runs before being sidelined, ended up with 17 on the season, which tied Wallace for the team lead and also matched the best in the 4A ranks while tying for fourth most in the state over all classifications. She led her team in hitting percentage (.583), on-base percentage (.688) and slugging percentage (1.517), while being second in RBIs (42), walks (16) and tied for second with one triple. Gardiner recorded 35 hits, was hit by four pitches, had three doubles and in 80 plate appearances struck out just three times. Her 42 RBIs was ninth best in 4A.

“She missed 12 games, but still had 17 home runs and was at the upper part of the state,” Anderson said. “That says a lot to come back and do that. … When she comes up to bat, that kid just will not strike out. She is going to put the ball in play. She is one of the most unselfish hitters I’ve had. If the situation requires a base hit, then Bri will get a base hit up the middle. But she always has the ability to hit a home run. Some kids that can hit home runs like that, that’s all they focus on, but Bri is the consummate team player. Boy, when we needed a base hit, she would come up with a base hit for us.”

In the pitching department, Gardiner led her team in ERA (1.45). She appeared in 17 games in the circle, going 8-5, had 89 strikeouts and walked 29. The sophomore pitched 62.2 innings, second most on her team, allowing just 25 hits.

Gardiner was recently named first-team all-state.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Cambree Cooper, Logan

A first-team All-Valley honoree a year ago, this Grizzly just keeps getting better with each season. The junior was in contention for Player of the Year in 2025. She helped Logan have its best finish in region play in some time, coming in third place, which included a first-ever regular season sweep of Ridgeline. The Grizzlies also did well in the 4A state playoffs, finishing in a tie for seventh and ending the year with a 19-14 record.

“Cambree is a great person to have on the team,” Logan head coach Kim Laing said. “She is super competitive and works really hard. She is always wanting to do better and be better. It makes her great to coach.”

Cooper was tough in the circle all season long. She pitched 134 innings and finished with an ERA of 3.08 in 30 appearances The junior finished with a 13-10 record and had two saves. Cooper struck out 147, walked 33 and hit 10 batters. Her strikeouts ranked eighth among 4A pitchers.

“Cambree made super strides in the off season,” Laing said. “She really did carry us. In all of our wins, she was just huge.

When she wasn’t in the circle, Cooper moved over to shortstop and made play after play. She had just six errors on the year.

At the plate, Cooper also led her team, finishing with the most home runs (10), RBIs (36), walks (15) and best slugging percentage (.693). She was second on the team in doubles with five, had one triple and tied for third on the team in hits with 33. For the season, Cooper hit .327, had an on-base percentage of .419 and scored 14 runs.

“She has gotten stronger and more confident,” Laing said of Cooper’s hitting.

Cooper earned first-team all-state accolades and has colleges looking at her.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Miley Allen, Logan

On the receiving end of most of Cooper’s pitches was this sophomore, who had a steading effect on the team. It seemed like when the Grizzlies needed a big hit, Allen came through.

“She is just a natural athlete,” Laing said of Allen. “She is really good at anything she does. We could put her at about every position and she would be tops. She would be an amazing outfielder because she is so fast. She brings a lot to the team in her athleticism. She was a great lead-off batter and has that mindset of win no matter what.”

With so many new faces around the valley this season, there were a number of contenders for this award. However, Allen got the nod with solid play on defense and timely hitting for the surging Grizzlies.

She finished with 37 hits to lead the team and also led Logan with five triples. Allen was second on her team in hitting percentage (.398), on-base percentage (.462), fielding percentage (.981), RBIs (24), slugging percentage (.677) and tied for second in home runs with four. She was third in stolen bases with 11 and doubles with four. Allen drew 11 walks, scored 16 times and committed just three errors on the year.

“She has such a good arm and likes people to try and steal on her,” Laing said. “A lot of times they won’t even attempt to steal on her because her arm is so good. When she is catching, there were not a lot of steals against us. … She is solid all the way around and is a great player to coach.”

An injury in the state playoffs ended her season a few games early. The loss of her bat was certainly tough on the Grizzlies. She earned second-team all-state honors.

Allen also did some pitching, going 2-2 in seven appearances with 21 strikeouts in 19.2 innings of work.