Taking the lead

Mike Sciacca

Hilary Frimond is the type of softball player that coaches dream

about.

Her many talents aside, the key factor that makes Frimond the

all-around player she has become is her attitude, so says Mike Roche,

varsity coach at Laguna Beach High.

“The best part about Hilary is that she’s just a great person,”

Roche said of his senior star. “When it comes to the game, she’s a

fierce competitor. You wouldn’t guess it, though, by her demeanor.

She’s just great to be around.”

Frimond has hung around the Laguna Beach softball program for four

years, making the varsity roster on each occasion, each instance

playing for Roche.

Not bad for a player who never played travel ball but did receive

invaluable experience by playing Little League Baseball in Laguna

Beach.

“I used to go to my brothers’ games and watch them play,” she

said. “I thought it would be fun to give it a try, so I did. It was

great.”

Frimond was one of two females to play in the league and was a

two-time All-Star selection.

When she arrived at Laguna Beach High, she played at shortstop.

She was pressed into a new role when Laguna’s starting catcher was

lost to a torn knee ligament that same freshman year.

“I had never played catcher before and I kind of got thrown into

it,” she said. “But I loved it right away. I like being involved with

every pitch and every play. It’s been a great experience.”

While Frimond has been solid behind the plate, her main power

comes from standing at it.

She bats from the left side and is Laguna’s lead-off hitter. She

says she either “slaps” the ball or “hits it,” depending on whom is

pitching.

“It depends on their speed or what they are throwing,” she said.

“I tend to slap the ball on the tougher pitchers -- it’s just an

easier way to reach the ball and get on base.”

Frimond has worn the base paths quite well this season.

Heading into Thursday’s game with Corona del Mar, she was hitting

a torrid .586 with six home runs and routinely gets multiple hits in

a game.

In fact, Frimond’s offensive prowess was realized following

Monday’s game against Tesoro: she failed to get a hit, ending a

streak of hitting safely in a game that dated to all of last season.

“She’s a terrific hitter and a good base runner,” Roche said.

“She’s not one of the more powerful hitters in our league, despite

her four home runs, but pitchers know her and respect her.”

There will be no playoffs this season for Laguna Beach. That means

that Frimond will play out the remainder of her high school softball

career over the next two weeks.

It officially ends on May 14 when the Breakers play at University.

Frimond, in fact, said she has never played on a team that reached

the CIF playoffs. But her experience with the program, she says, goes

beyond a playoff berth determining success.

“I’ve made so many friends playing softball,” she added. “Our team

bond is incredible and we just have so much fun out there, win or

lose. Those are the important things I’m taking with me.”

* MIKE SCIACCA covers sports for the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot.

He can be reached at 494-4321 or by e-mail at

michael.sciacca@latimes.com.