Fryslie, Rausch leading Eagles

Judd Fryslie didn’t really think he’d be a softball coach again.

Fryslie’s sport is basketball, and he has been at Estancia since he became assistant for former boys’ basketball coach Tim O’Brien in 1987.

Fryslie moved to South Dakota in 1994, and it was there that he was softball coach for his two daughters, Marlena and Korina, who went on to play collegiately for South Dakota State and Mercer University (Ga.), respectively.

But Fryslie moved back to the area in 2001, and now he and Estancia girls’ basketball coach Tommy Rausch are heading up the Eagles’ softball program.

They take over for Alan Caouette, the three-year head coach who said he couldn’t return this year due to other commitments.

“I coached thousands of travel-ball games,” said Fryslie, 54, a walk-on coach whose son, Barry, was a senior for the Eagles’ basketball team this winter. Another son, Mark, graduated from Estancia in 2005.

“I just thought I was done coaching softball,” said Fryslie, who has recently been helping out at the lower levels of the Eagles’ basketball program.

What Fryslie and Rausch inherit is certainly a team that can hit. The Eagles hit all the way to the Orange Coast League championship a year ago, as well as the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs.

So far this year, Estancia is 4-2, and in those six games the Eagles have scored a robust 74 runs.

Estancia, which finished sixth at the Costa Mesa Tournament over the weekend, has four regulars — sophomore Amy Hartwell (.722) and seniors Abby Koff (.688), Taylor West (.667) and Haylee Whitney (.611) — batting over .600.

West, the team’s center fielder, came out late as she was part of the Eagles girls’ soccer team that advanced to the second round of the CIF Division III playoffs. But West has continued her torrid pace of a year ago that left her as Daily Pilot Dream Team Player of the Year and Orange Coast League MVP.

Coming off a campaign that saw her hit a school-record 10 home runs, she already has eight long-balls and 19 RBIs this season.

Fryslie has also been impressed with West’s prowess in the outfield.

“She really covers the ground in the field,” he said.

Hartwell was the team’s catcher last year, but a lack of available Eagles arms has turned her into a pitcher. She takes over for last year’s league Pitcher of the Year, Josie Flores, who had a 1.80 earned-run average and went 15-6.

So far, Hartwell has a 3.39 earned-run average. Last year, she batted .383 and was second-team All-Orange Coast League.

“She’s pitched before, but she’s not really a pitcher,” Fryslie said. “She’s improving [her velocity]. She’ll learn some new pitches. I think by the end of the season we’ll probably be fine, if she sticks with it.”

Koff, who was a left fielder last year, is now at first base. Whitney steps in behind the plate.

Sophomore Jill Beck will play left field, while junior Courtney Ulrich, a second-team all-league selection last year, is at shortstop.

“She’s pretty serious about her softball,” Fryslie said of Ulrich. “She’s got a lot of range, and she hits really well.”

Junior Nicole Marlborough is penciled in at third base, as is Keiley Wilson at second base.

“Everyone’s playing a little bit out of position,” Fryslie said. “We’ll struggle a little bit early.”

But, with West leading the way, Estancia should still be strong contenders in league.

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or by e-mail at [email protected].