Daily Pilot High School Athlete of the Week:

When he is on his game, dealing from the mound and raking at the plate, Ryan Boselo displays the kind of rare ability that would prompt a professional baseball scout to reach for an index card and jot a few glowing notes.

A sweet swing and the kind of pitching repertoire that can buckle most high school hitters in mid-stride, clearly set the Estancia High standout apart from his peers.

Yet the buzz is just beginning for Boselo, who during his first two full-time varsity seasons, was more apt to induce a doctor’s scribbling on a medical chart.

“This has been his first complete season with no setbacks,” Estancia Coach Matt Sorensen said of the pitcher-outfielder, who has helped Estancia generate optimism that it may earn the program’s first CIF Southern Section playoff berth since 1994.

“At this time the last two seasons, he has been limited on the mound, especially,” Sorensen said. “And we even had to limit him to designated hitter, because he was not able to throw.”

A series of arm problems and a hip injury, all while he transformed from a 5-foot-5, 126-pound freshman infielder into a 6-foot-1, 175-pound power pitcher and hitter, have all contributed to keeping Boselo off the radar of pro scouts and college recruiters.

And while his performance continues to impress, Boselo believes two seasons at Orange Coast College are likely in his immediate future.

That future can’t come soon enough for opposing hitters, who are regularly overmatched by a Boselo fastball that has been clocked at 89 mph, as well as a waterfall curve that often induces apoplectic admiration from foes.

“When his curveball is working and he is throwing it and his fastball for strikes, he has been unhittable,” said Sorensen, a former star pitcher at Cal State Fullerton who often hides his smile in the dugout when Boselo makes hitters look silly. “Hitters in our league just don’t see pitching like that. They almost have to guess. And, even when they do guess fastball, he can usually get away with not locating it, because a lot of guys don’t have a quick enough bat to hit it anyway.

“There are pitchers in our league that throw a higher percentage of strikes, but when it comes to stuff and ability, Ryan is just better than them,” Sorensen said.

Without a rich foundation of repetition on the mound, command is still an issue for Boselo, a starter and closer who is 2-0 with one save and a 2.38 earned-run average. Heading into Friday, his 18th birthday, he had struck out 22 and walked 14 while allowing just 12 hits In 17 2/3 innings.

“Certain days, he has command, but he is not as refined as some other pitchers we see,” Sorensen said.

“I’m not where I want to be, but I’m working on it,” said Boselo, who is also developing a change-up and a cut fastball.”

Boselo began playing T-ball at age 4, but did not pitch until he was 13, he said.

“I played shortstop until Pony League,” he said. “I just didn’t find an interest in pitching.”

And while Sorensen lists him as the No. 1 hitter on the team’s depth chart (a designation based on game statistics and practice performance), Boselo said pitching is easily his favorite part of the game.

“I just really get a good feeling from doing well on the mound and everybody watching you,” he said. “I definitely like being in charge. I have the ball and I have the authority.”

Boselo also wields authority with his aluminum bat. He hits cleanup for the Eagles, who improved to 11-7 last week, when they won three games to reach the final of the Beach Pit Classic.

After a slow start offensively, he entered Friday hitting .294 with one home run and seven runs batted in.

“When his swing is on, no one can hit with him,” Sorensen said. “And he really understands his swing.”

When not pitching Boselo typically plays right field, where he also gets a chance to show off his arm.

“I really like throwing guys out from right field,” said Boselo, whom Sorensen said has nailed runners at second base, third and the plate this season.

Boselo said resistance exercises and weight training have helped him build arm strength. But he said he foresees greater physical development contributing to a future increase in velocity.

“I was throwing about 82 [mph] last year and now I’m in the low 90s,” Boselo said. “My mechanics are getting better and better and I’m also working on strengthening my legs.”

If he continues to develop, it is Boselo, not doctors or scouts, who one day may be wielding a pen — to politely comply with fans’ requests for his autograph.