DAILY PILOT HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:

Costa Mesa High senior Emily Pulaski has seen a lot in four varsity seasons in the Mustangs’ softball program.

There have been three head coaches in that time, including current head man Marcus Franco. Pulaski is typically a catcher, but her sophomore year she was forced to pitch.

“We had lost two senior pitchers [from the year before] and we honestly had no one that could pitch,” Pulaski said.

Pulaski has also been turned into a pitcher this season, after former No. 1 starter Kira Mitani, a sophomore, quit the team in mid-March. But she showed she can get the job done in the circle last week, when Pulaski threw eight innings to help Costa Mesa beat Estancia, 13-12, in both teams’ Orange Coast League opener on April 4.

The Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week improved to 2-0, striking out nine, which was at least one thing she could smile about. She said strikeouts are her favorite thing about pitching, even if she would rather be behind the plate.

“Yeah, [I enjoy pitching], if I get a strikeout,” Pulaski said. “If it helps the team then it’s good. I know we have a difficult situation.”

Pulaski, who plays travel ball for the Covina-based California Thunder Gold, is also the best hitter for Costa Mesa (7-7). A first-team All-Orange Coast League and Daily Pilot Dream Team selection last year, she’s batting a team-best .561. No home runs yet, after four last year, but she said she doesn’t mind that. She’s trying to be dependable.

“I’m not trying to hit it over the fence,” said Pulaski, who goes to nightly batting lessons at “The Yard” in Irvine and is a switch-hitter. “I’m trying to get on base.”

Franco said he appreciates that kind of team approach. In fact, it’s one he’s trying to instill in all 30 softball players in the program.

“Emily’s a quality person and a quality athlete,” Franco said. “She supports everything we coaches are trying to do, and that’s huge. You have a girl who’s played high-quality softball who wants to see a program reach great heights.

“She understands that we’re using this sport as a conduit for life’s lessons. This is not about winning. It’s about work ethic, sacrifice and discipline. It’s about being a part of something bigger than yourself. We have 30 girls being helped by Emily, who’s bought into it. You’re lucky once every five-to-10 years to have an athlete like that. She’s just wonderful.”

Pulaski said she and the team’s other three seniors — Brieanna Ramirez, Lizzie Milne and Karla Lopez — each try to be team leaders. It’s especially true this year, since nearly half the team, six players, are freshmen.

“It’s cool,” she said. “We’ve been having team dinners, team lunches, getting Slurpees. Even if we go 1-5 the rest of the year, I think the freshmen will say, ‘We had good seniors this year.’ ”

Pulaski has also played water polo during her time at Costa Mesa, which she said has proved interesting. During her travel softball games on the weekend, she’d sometimes have trouble throwing the ball because she became used to the overhand motion in water polo.

But she definitely knows how to adapt, so she dealt with it.

Pulaski leaves today on a plane for Iowa, where she’ll be visiting Waldorf College. The school has offered her a softball scholarship, and Pulaski said she just has to sign her letter of intent.

“I’m pretty sure I’ll like it,” she said. “I have family that lives in Iowa.”

Her college team likely won’t ask her to pitch. But if it does, Pulaski said she will be ready and willing.

“You have a strong athlete who chooses to be a great leader, and it creates a foundation for the program,” Franco said. “Emily, she will stay with this program for years to come. That’s the mark of not only a special athlete, but a special person.”

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