Amanda Frederick: Student of the game

New London - Saturday mornings in the Frederick household usually meant a trip to the softball field starting from the time Amanda's hand could barely wear a glove.

Amanda played catch with her father Curt, and they talked about the sport that helped them forge a close relationship.

"It was our favorite thing to do," Curt said. "It's been a great connection for us. We have a common, deep passion for the game."

Amanda especially took to heart one piece of advice, something that she continues to follow as a standout catcher at the Coast Guard Academy.

"Since I was young, my Dad drilled into me that the coachable player is going to be the player that makes it," Frederick said. "It's not going to be the one with the natural talent. It's always going to be the one that's coachable and can take criticism and actually put it into (use).

"I love learning about the game. I'm a pretty good student of the game. I really get excited to learn anything. … I just try to soak up as much as I can and put it into action and see what happens."

Frederick, a junior from Lebanon, Ohio, is furthering her softball education at Coast Guard. She stops by coach Donna Koczajowski's office to talk strategy, watches games on ESPN and soaks up advice from her teammates.

Upon learning Monday that Coast Guard (30-8) would be playing Salem State (33-8-1) in the NCAA Division III Regional today (2 p.m.) at Wellesley (Mass.) College, she immediately wanted to learn everything about her opponent.

"She's already thinking and preparing for our next opponent and that's what I expect from a catcher and I expect from her," Koczajowski said.

Frederick's approach, along with a tireless work ethic, has elevated her play. She recently became the first Coast Guard athlete to be named New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

A three-time All-NEWMAC first-team pick, Frederick leads the team in hitting (.464), doubles (15), runs scored (38) and RBI (41) and stands second in the conference with eight home runs. She's also on pace to break the program's career RBI record.

"She's having an outstanding year," Koczajowski said. "Behind the plate and in front of the plate and leadership on the field, she's just giving everything that I've asked for. I've asked more from her this year and she's delivered."

Koczajowski, a former catcher, admits that she's harder on Frederick than any player on the team.

She also trusts Frederick to call the pitches instead of receiving signals from the dugout. Of course, Frederick better be right because she ends up catching heat for hard-throwing sophomore ace Hayley Feindel's mistakes.

"I naturally blame her for calling the wrong pitch," Koczajowski said. "She's right most of the time."

Fortunately for Frederick, Feindel rarely makes a costly mistake, owning a stingy 0.96 ERA, 13 shutouts and a nation-leading 331 strikeouts.

Feindel credits Frederick for her success as well as helping her adjust to academy life.

"I definitely would not be where I am without her," Feindel said. "I have to attribute the strikeout record to her. She helps me so much by looking at the batter's swings on deck and calling pitches. She's a great help and a great captain.

"She understands the game."

Probably by today's first pitch, Frederick will be able to recite every Salem State player's batting average and tendencies. Maybe even know their favorite movie.

No detail is too small for Frederick, something that she learned during her childhood days on the softball field.

"We looked at the game at a deeper level," Curt said. "We looked at the strategy of the game."

Today, Curt will be in Chicago following Coast Guard's game on the internet. He hopes the Bears reach the Division III College World Series in Wisconsin, so he can make the relatively short drive to watch Amanda play.

Amanda made his father's last trip to New London - a 12-hour drive - worth it, slugging a home run.

"She's had quite a career," Curt said. "I remember a father-daughter talk we had. I thought she was talented back when she was 10 or 11 years old. I said, 'Sweetheart, you have the talent to play this game at a level very few people have an opportunity to play.' I had no idea she'd take it this far.

"It's been an absolute blessing and joy to work with her since she was barely old enough to hold a glove. She's a very unique individual."

g.keefe@theday.com