DAILY PILOT HIGH SCHOOL FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:West posting big-time statistics

It was a couple games into the season when Estancia High softball Coach Alan Caouette asked Taylor West to be the team’s third captain.

West was surprised by the invitation, but nobody was shocked by what happened next as the junior center fielder surpassed last season’s offensive statistics before the start of Orange Coast League play.

In her third year on varsity, West has exploded not only as an offensive force, but as a leader. West is batting .625, 225 points better than last season and her slugging percentage of 1.425 is more than double that of 2006.

In the past seven games, West is 16 for 22 with 26 RBIs and six home runs, earning her Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week honors.

Still, it was West’s work in practice that caught the eye of Caouette.

“She was showing leadership qualities and she had the work ethic in practice,” Caouette said. “She was showing the younger players how to play at this level. She wasn’t complaining in practice. I think she grew up a lot this year.”

The Eagles’ first two captains, Kiele Brown and Taylor Brown, are seniors so Caouette said West was a little caught off guard by the request.

“She was hesitant,” Caouette said. “It gave her confidence in her ability. She changed.”

In her new role West has thrived. She began the season one for five through the first two games and is hitting .685 since.

“I was kind of nervous, but I’m excited about being a captain,” West said. “Maybe [the coaches] saw something in me they liked, the progress I was making. I help out some of the new players, make them focus on hitting the ball. I tell them to keep their head in when they hit. It feels good when they do well.”

West and Caouette agree her success at the plate is due in large part to confidence.

“I’m focused on the ball, waiting back,” West said. “I’m not as anxious. I’m patient.”

Looking at her numbers it may seem like West plays softball year around, but actually she competes in three varsity level sports, including golf and soccer. Not until the winter did she pick up a softball bat, because it would have wrecked her golf swing during the fall.

“In the middle of soccer season I started to go to the cage,” West said.

With every blast off her bat, West has sent reverberations through her team and the school. The Eagles chant her name during at bats, anticipating the fireworks that are about to occur. In a game against Sage Hill Tuesday the bench began chanting ‘T. West’ shortly before the junior blasted a three-run home run to end the game.

“I have a few chants, sometimes ‘T-time’ or ‘T. West,’ ” West said of the chant-happy Eagles. “I like hearing my teammates. Last year I’d get all amped up about it and end up striking out. I’d get over pumped up. I was thinking ‘I have to hit this’ and I’d strike out. I’ve calmed down a bit. I take a deep breath before every at bat. Right now I’m at the top of my game.”

Before high school, West’s game was baseball. She was the only girl on the team, which made it difficult. But now she can brag to members of the Eagles’ baseball team whom she used to play with about having a higher batting average, among a laundry list of other offensive statistics.

“They make fun of me, they say ‘Ooh Taylor West the big softball player,’ ” said West, who played baseball with Gavin Montague, Ryan Redding, Eddie Tomasek and Troy McClanahan. “They’re always supportive.”

Playing her best softball ever, there are no personal records for West to break, she just wants to maintain the level she is at.

“I want to win league,” West said, “and beat Costa Mesa and just have fun. We’ll see how it goes.”

TAYLOR WEST

Hometown: Costa Mesa

Born: August 20, 1990

Height: 5-foot-4

Weight: 122 pounds

Sport: Softball

Position: Center field

Coach: Alan Caouette

Favorite food: Sushi

Favorite movie: “Grandma’s Boy”

Favorite athletic moment: “Hitting in the game winning run against Santa Ana Valley [on March 21] to win the game. That was cool.”

Week in review: In six games, West was 13 for 19 with 20 RBIs, eight runs, two doubles, a triple and five home runs.