Westlake Gives Tolzin a 2nd Chance as Coach

Eighteen months after being forced out as softball coach at Camarillo High, Darwin Tolzin is returning to the perennially tough Marmonte League.

Tolzin, 55, was hired Wednesday to coach softball at Westlake.

Tolzin is the fourth coach in as many years at Westlake. Beth Calcante, a former All-American at Cal State Northridge, stepped down in September after one season to pursue other interests.

Joseph Pawlick, Westlake’s athletic director, said the recent turnover in the program, combined with Tolzin’s experience and qualifications, made the veteran fast-pitch player and coach an obvious choice.

“We’re extremely happy to have him,” Pawlick said.

And Tolzin is happy to be back coaching.

“I promised them a contender in three years,” Tolzin said. “And the talent is there to do it.”

Tolzin was forced to resign at Camarillo after it was discovered he pitched batting practice to a player on a Sunday and later lied about it. CIF rules prohibit games or practices on Sunday.

Camarillo, 22-6 in 1995, Tolzin’s last season, forfeited a second-round Division I playoff victory after the disclosure.

In 5 1/2 seasons under Tolzin, Camarillo was 102-37-1, won two Marmonte League titles and the Southern Section 5-A Division title in 1991.

Last season, Westlake finished 14-11 and did not make the playoffs.

To the letter: Shawanda Hotchkiss, a sophomore guard at Valley College, has signed a letter of intent with San Francisco.

Hotchkiss (5 feet 6) averaged 22.7 points and seven rebounds a game last year for the Monarchs. The former Channel Islands High player was the only freshman selected to the all-state junior college team.

Big loss: Tim Falconer, a 6-11 center, has transferred from Saugus High to Williston North Hampton School in Massachusetts.

Falconer led the region with 100 blocked shots in 24 games last season.