He’s Not Batting, But Assistant Is Still A Hit

One smart guy, that Nick Isotalo.

Each weekday afternoon he surrounds himself with girls.

That’s not the main reason, however, to trumpet Isotalo’s ingeniousness.

Unlike many people his age, Isotalo looked for a positive alternative when matters went against him.

So this spring Isotalo is an assistant coach for the University softball team.

The hard-to-swallow truth, the U-Hi junior said, was that baseball players his age had surpassed him. All of those summers he spent playing outfield had reached an end.

“My defense was fine,” he said, “it’s just that the hitting really went down.”

U-Hi softball coach Ken VanSickle, one of Isotalo’s teachers, heard about the decision to bypass baseball and offered him an assistant coaching spot.

“He loves baseball and knew he wasn’t good enough to be on the varsity at U-Hi,” VanSickle said. “I’ve had him in class, and he’s a smart and great kid.”

Isotalo told VanSickle he would take a day to consider the suggestion.

“But I decided later in the day that I would do it,” said Isotalo, whose parents are both involved in education.

The position is voluntary but not sedentary.

Isotalo serves as first-base coach during each game. During practices he hits fly balls to outfielders, shags balls and cares for the field.

All with an eye (occasionally) on the baseball diamond.

After all, this spring is the first time since he was 6 years old that Isotalo knew baseball wasn’t a possibility.

His baseball experience is helpful in the coaching box. Isotalo has seen enough hits to the outfield to know whether his base runners should try to stretch a single to a double.

To date, as far as he remembers, Isotalo has guessed correctly.

“I want to avoid (having runners thrown out),” he said. “You don’t want to be overaggressive because that can hurt you. But once in a while it’s nice to take chances.”

Isotalo has no delusions about suddenly learning how to hit 85-mph fastballs mixed with tricky breaking stuff. He hopes VanSickle will have him back next year.

Until then, he’ll stay in shape with a periodic rec basketball game or coed soccer match.

As for achieving the dream of most young men - finding oneself the lone boy amidst a group of women - Isotalo scoffs at the notion.

His girlfriend isn’t on the team, and she doesn’t mind that he is.

“Anyway, they treat me like a coach,” he said of the Titans.