Katella’s Lohmann Is Hot Property : Empire League: Senior shortstop led Orange County with a .541 batting average and Knights to league title last year.

Katella softball Coach Rhonda Weyer has heard the jocular offers, but she wouldn’t trade shortstop Tammy Lohmann for anyone.

“I’ve had a lot of coaches come up to me and say, ‘I’ll trade you five players for your shortstop,’ ” Weyer said.

“I say, ‘No way.’ ”

It’s all fun, harmless banter. Of course, a standout high school softball player cannot be traded for a starting pitcher, a power hitter and players to be named, but Lohmann’s importance to her team is no joke.

Last season as a junior, Lohmann led Orange County with a .541 batting average, was named the most valuable player of the Empire League, and was a first-team, all-Southern Section player for the second consecutive season.

But more important, Lohmann helped the Knights’ to their first Empire League championship since 1977 and led them to the semifinals of the Southern Section playoffs, a postseason performance that included a first-round victory over perennial-power Kennedy.

“No one expected us to do that,” Lohmann said. “It built our confidence up more because we never had passed the first round of the playoffs. It showed us that we could beat a team that has always been ranked above us.”

This season--her fourth as a starter--Lohmann is the captain, one of only two seniors on the team.

“I think we’ll do really well this year,” Lohmann said. “Our team’s really together and everyone’s working really hard at it.”

Lohmann downplays the skills that have earned her a scholarship to Arizona State. She credits her coaches, on the East Anaheim Bobby Sox, on her summer-league traveling teams and at Katella, for helping her develop her game.

“My daughter is the most level-headed person I know despite all the hype she gets,” said Terri Pace, Lohmann’s mother. “I can brag on her and everybody else can, but if you ask Tammy, she says, ‘I’m just a member of the team.’ ”

But from the beginning, it was clear that Lohmann was more than just another infielder. Even when she was an 8-year-old, people marveled at her powerful throws.

“There were girls that had to put padding in their gloves when she threw it to first base,” Pace said. “She’s just very, very strong.”

The summer before her freshman year, Lohmann joined the Orange County Athletics, a traveling team, and continued to improve. Last summer she left the Athletics for the Orange County Batbusters and helped them finish second in the nation in the 18-and-under division, losing in the title game to another Orange County team, the Raiders. She has since rejoined the Athletics.

Playing for the traveling teams has helped Lohmann gain the exposure and the experience that helped her earn a place at Arizona State, but she also likes playing in high school because it gives her a chance to help younger players.

It also gives her a chance to fatten up on high school pitching. She hit .439 her freshman season and .382 as a sophomore before her county leading-effort last season. The leadoff batter, she also hit three home runs and had 25 stolen bases.

Lohmann, who was also a first-team, all-Empire League selection in volleyball last fall, decided on Arizona State after also taking recruiting trips to Washington, Ohio State, Fresno State and Utah State. She chose Arizona State for its strong softball program and the school’s criminal law program. She would like to become a juvenile detective.