Long Beach State recruit Darian Tautalafua is off to a torrid softball start for Carson

Carson (Calif.) coach Cam Werner simply says Darian Tautalafua is in that "comfortable spot" right now.

"She's seeing the ball really well," Werner said. "She has that rare ability to foul off pitches until she gets the one she really wants to drive."

The word "comfortable" might be an understatement.

Tautalafua has six home runs in six games as the Colts are unbeaten. Her slugging percentage is an unheard of 2.067. Her batting average is .610 and she's averaging two runs and two hits per game (12) and has driven in 11 teammates.

On Monday, for the third-straight year, Carson won the Downey Tournament and for the third-straight year, Tautalafua was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

She hit a home run in three consecutive at-bats in the semifinal to lead Carson into the final of the tournament. Prior to that, Tautalafua had a game-winning two-run home run in the seventh inning in the quarterfinal win. And against La Salle, she belted a leadoff homer followed by a three-run homer in a 8-6 victory.

In expounding upon her power-hitting shortstop, Werner said, "She has great command of the strike zone. She's not nervous, but not too relaxed, either. She's been in that spot for over a year."

Her home runs are true power shots. Werner says most are 240 or 250 feet. And at least one was measured at 294 feet.

Tautalafua, who has 20-15 vision, says her power comes from her legs and a lot of hitting work with her dad (David). It's not unusual for Tautalafua to take 250 swings at least three times a week.

"Mostly soft toss so we can work on my swing," she said. "We've been working a lot with outside pitches."

Under her dad's tutelage, she grew up hitting basketballs and weighted balls to strengthen her swing and help her drive through the ball.

"No secrets and no favorite drills, just a lot of repetition," she said.

Before getting in the batter's box for each at bat, Tautalafua repeats to herself to "be patient and swing only at strikes."

For young hitters, she said it's important that they "Stay relaxed in the box and not do too much, don't think too much. Thinking too much doesn't get you any where. That's the advice my dad gave me."

It's working.

In the last 12 months - or last 36 games - Tautalafua has hit 21 home runs and driven in 58. She is averaging a home run in less than every two games, or one in every six at bats.

As a 2011 MaxPreps first-team California All-State player last year, she hit .554 with a .603 on-base percentage, a 1.119 slugging percentage, 15 home runs, 47 RBIs, 51 runs scored and 12 doubles and was named Marine League MVP in leading Carson (27-3) to its first Los Angeles City Section championship.

She was held hitless in only four games last season and none thus far in 2012. Eight of her 11 hits this season have been for extra bases.

As a sophomore, she hit .373 with a .475 on-base percentage, an .882 slugging percentage, 16 home runs, 40 RBIs, 40 runs scored and four doubles. As a freshman, she was named first-team all-league after hitting .351 with a .426 on-base percentage, a .574 slugging percentage, five home runs, 21 RBIs, 28 runs scored, four doubles and one triple.

Tautalafua, a second-team MaxPreps All-American and a USA Junior National Team camp invitee, has success everywhere she plays. She has played on three USA/ASA Class A national-championship teams (12U, 14U, 16U) and two Premier Girls Fastpitch national championship teams (16U and 18U). When not leading the Carson Colts, she plays club ball for the SoCal Athletics and the Orange County Batbusters.

In signing Tautalafua, Long Beach State University coach Kim Sowder said, "She is one of the most powerful and consistent hitters we have ever recruited. She is also very gifted defensively and will have a strong impact on our program the day she gets here."

Tautalafua has shattered the Colts' career home run record. She has 42 with likely two dozen games remaining. The old school mark was 35 - set by Christina Schallig, who played at California and Long Beach State.

Despite her prestigious power numbers, Werner chooses to hit Tautalafua in the leadoff spot.

"It's a luxury. We have tremendous hitters in the No. 3 (Brittany Moeai) and No. 4 (Brianna Tautalafua, Darian's sister) spots," said Werner. "Last year, leading off Darian had 16 more at-bats than the No. 3 or No. 4 batters. That's maximizing her at-bats."

And with college-bound teammates such as Moeai (UCLA), Alicia Barajas (Southern University), Brittanie Lamotte (Chico State) and Laura Herrera (Florida State College-Jacksonville), pitching around Carson's leadoff hitter isn't much of an option. The Colts batted .408 as a team in 2011 and are hitting .519 this season.

But Werner says there is more to Tautalafua's games than just power.

"She is the No. 1 shortstop in California. She is a legitimate five-tool player," said Werner, in her seventh season at Carson. "She does it all. She has great arm strength and is so sound defensively. She has great range. I've seen her make plays in the hole and backhand plays that I don't think other players could make."

Werner added "she might be, likely is, the best high school player I have seen." And with a 3.2 grade point average, academics are not a concern. Add to that, Tautalafua leads her team by example.

"She's a quiet leader. She leads by example," said Werner, who has a 148-48 record at CHS. "She's the hardest-working kid I've had and she never complains. My favorite two words come from her often: ‘Yes coach.' I love coaching her. She's been my starting shortstop since she arrived at Carson."

Though Tautalafua plays shortstop at Carson, she says she prefers third where she sees the ball better. She played third as a 16-year-old when the Batbusters won two national titles (Premiere and ASA) in the same summer.

"I'd have to rate that as my summer team highlights and rate winning the CIF as my high school highlight," said Tautafalua, who plans to become a nurse.

What is she looking forward to most at Long Beach State?

"Hearing the announcer say my name and hear my family cheering for me in the stands," she said.

Her goals there?

"Winning a national championship."

But first comes her Carson goals of another section title and more home runs. She's at 42, and counting.