Local coach wins award from peers for softball

OTHELLO — Coach Rudy Ochoa was named the Fastpitch Coach of the Year by the Washington State Coaches Association last weekend at the Washington State Softball Hall of Fame. He received the award after a committee of his peers chose him out of all the coaches within the organization. Ochoa received a similar award in 2002.

"They sent me an e-mail and a profile sheet to fill out," said Ochoa. "Then they read some of the things from the profile when I got the award."

Ochoa has coached softball in Othello for the past 10 years and coached his team to the state championship series six times. Ochoa's record is 227-36 for his 10-year tenure as head coach.

Ochoa's teams have been league and district champions nine times and state champions twice. The team has also finished second in the state twice and recorded a third and fourth place finish at the state tournament.

"I don't usually like to brag," said Ochoa. "It's an honor to get the award. It feels pretty good."

Ochoa credits much of his team's success to his assistant coach, Mike Jensen, saying, "A program cannot function without a great assistant coaching staff and Mike is one of the best."

Ochoa's involvement with sports is not limited to softball. He has also coached wrestling and volleyball.

"It's real nice to be honored like that," Ochoa said.