DAYTON - Sometimes, the most important observations about the past come in the form of a footnote as did this one from Bulldogs' head baseball coach Sal Benavides about the spring sports season:

"In all my 20 years here as a coach," he told the Times after Wednesday's sports banquet had wrapped up, "this is the first time that none of the players were ever ineligible to play because of their grades."

In many ways, this post script to his earlier speech at the dessert banquet summed up what all Bulldogs brought to their athletic pursuits on or off the field this year: discipline.

None of them needed to be told or reminded what it takes to succeed.

Long before many of them showed up for practice, they had been improving their skills and their grades so when it came time to hone their moves, miss class hours (or even days) and meet the competition, they were ready.

" Many parent s her e worked with the kids more than I did," head softball coach Terry Robins said. "And the grades of the softball players were much better this year."

Robins presided over the last part of the post-season ceremony, marking an extraordinary run for Dayton's softball team, which placed in the top 8 at state.

Although the entire team basked in the applause and appreciation of parents and fans, the program benefited especially from a player whose hometown crowd was thousands of miles away.

Brazilian exchange student Miwa Umeda kept going back to the podium again and again for a variety of awards. Most importantly, the catcher and star batter won Most Valuable Player recognition along with pitcher Kayla Turner and raked in the "Miss May" award given for performances in the playoffs.

Looking at her numbers, that should come as no surprise. She topped the stats chart with a batting average of .565, 39 hits, 11 triples and 30 RBIs. She had more triples in one year than any Bulldog has ever strung together in their entire fouryear high school career, Robins said.

Umeda, who returns to Brazil after her one-year exchange, also scored 128 outs with a field percentage of .974 and only 4 errors.

Sam Harting followed her on offense with a batting average of .419, 31 hits, 4 triples and 20 RBIs. Nicole Lambert, who won Most Inspirational, in part for her enthusiasm from the dugout, had an average .411, 30 hits, led the team in doubles with 9 and posted 24 RBIs.

Only first baseman Rowene Huwe came close to approaching Umeda's defensive performance behind the plate with 93 outs, 3 errors. Her alternate in that position, Shelby Smith, who gained the Coaches' Award, had 53 outs (2 errors), 37 of them on first base.

Turner got the Captains Award while Jessice Tate and Smith received an Honorable Mention.

As a whole, the team did better than last year, going further in the playoffs, recording a higher batting average of .337, 52/60 stolen bases (allowing only 15/24 stolen bases from opponents) and ending with a 15-8 record.

" We had many close games and the girls did well under pressure," Robins said. "Sweeping DeSales was a big first for us."

Another highlight was the team's come-from-behind win over Asotin, showing the players' grit and growing self-esteem during the season, thanks to this year's coaches phrase: "mental confi dence and the big play."

The state playoffs were particularly emotional, the head coach said, pointing to the extraordinary triple play in the game against Liberty Bell, which again showed the girls' competence on the field.

"We shed a lot of tears over there," Robins said about the roller coaster of winning the first game, getting crushed by tourney winner Adna, only to rise again against Liberty Bell and lose a close game to Toutle Lake. "But they're (Lady Bulldogs) are very resilient and bounced right back."

The most emotional moment of the evening came when Turner presented the distinction of "Outstanding Spectators" to Owen and Jan Agenbroad, the team's most loyal hometown fans.

Reviewing the baseball season, Benavides said his team worked hard and even though the Bulldogs haven't a lot games these past two years, the goal was to be "competitive.

"We were a lot better than we showed," he said. "We lost four games by 1 run."

Aside from the challenge to get his team members to believe in themselves, 2011 was one of the most enjoyable season in his two decades as a coach, Benavides said. In the end, the team did make it to districts and honed their skills for next year.

Colton Bickelhaupt received the Team Captain Award and was voted Most Inspirational. He and Lowden Smith also landed in the First Team All League, while Lowden won Most Valuable Player. The Coaches' Award went to Garett Turner and Logan Hayes.

Presenting the golf awards, head coach Mike McGhan said his turnout was down this year and many games were thwarted by the rain, making it a disappointing season in some respects.

But the community - members of the Touchet Valley Golf Club and Columbia County Commissioners - remained firmly in support of the players, he said.

Abby Chapman, who made it to the state tournament in Lakewood near Tacoma, won for Most Improved, was Molly Payne, who also made it to state, was chosen as the Most Outstanding Female Golfer.

Dain Henderson, who placed 20th in state and has been a student of McGhan along with Payne for his entire high school career, won Outstanding Male Golfer, now jokingly referred to as the Dain Henderson Award because the senior has won it every year he's set foot on the course.

One Bulldog, Adam Strohbehn, made it to state in track and field. He was introduced along with his teammates by head coach Shannon Turner.

"This group of kids were very supportive and encouraging of each other's success," she said. "Student athletes accomplished many personal records, had 10 athletes qualify for the district meet and one athlete qualify and compete at the state meet at EWU."

Strohbehn won first place at the district meet in Walla Walla, registering a long jump of 19'1" and went on to jump for 19'4" at state, a personal best for the season.

The delegation going to Cheney could have been even bigger. Up-and-coming star Courtney Fuller missed qualifying for state in the long jump by an inch.

She won the team's Outstanding Female Athlete Award, while Davy Phillips won it for Outstanding Male. Runner Seth Jackson won the Coaches' Award and two Lady Bulldogs shared the Most Inspirational Award: Team Captain Briana Fulbright and manager Veronica Artahona.

At district, Strohbehn also placed fourth in the triple jump, fifth in the 100-meter dash, and sixth in the high jump. Fuller placed third in the long jump, fifth in the 100-meter dash and sixth in the 200-meter dash.

Fulbright placed third in the high jump and fifth in the triple jump. Anita Jackson placed sixth in the 3,200-meter run. Marshall Nechodom was seventh in the 800-meter run and seventh in the long jump. Elise Button placed eighth in the 800 meters, Keisha Phillips got seventh in the 200 meters, and Taija Kinnamom reached eighth in that same run.