Daddy's Little Girl: Frazzas Form Formidable Duo

Kaitlyn Frazza's ambition is to become a nurse one day, but she appears to have another calling as well—perhaps in the coaching field.

The former Caldwell High softball standout recently completed her second season as an assistant coach for the future Chiefs' summer program.

After assisting Mike Giordano with the 12U softball team last year and working with Giordano's daughter, Desi, who plays at Penn State, Frazza coached alongside her father, Peter, this summer with the 14U softball team, which reached the Bi-County Softball League tournament championship.

Kaitlyn Frazza, who will be a sophomore at the University of Scranton, batted .320 in her freshman season. The nursing major finished her high school career with a .439 batting average—the best in school history—and finished with 152 hits, which ranks third on the school's all-time list.

The younger Chiefs heard of Frazza's accomplishments and looked up to her as a role model.

''I taught the team to have fun," said Frazza, who played in the outfield her freshman season at Scranton after being a second baseman in high school. "These are going to be some of their best memories and I tried to teach them not to be too hard on themselves and just have fun."

Frazza, 19, was a nice complement and liaison to her father who the young teens were able to relate more easily to.

"I fell in love with all the girls," she said. "I think it's always good to have a girl coach. I can tell them, 'I know exactly what you're going through.' I think the fact that I'm close to their age, I can also relate to them better."

Frazza said one of the areas she helped develop was the players' aggressiveness.

"My dad would hit me balls and I would dive to catch them and the kids would be like, 'if my coach can do it, so can I,'" she said. "You take baby steps. It really made me feel good that they looked up to me."

John Nufrio, whose daughter, Allie was the team's speedy center fielder, said that the father-and-daughter tandem were a "good balance."

"Many of the kids are like little sisters to her," Nufrio said. "She takes time individually with them. One of the things Kaitlyn brought that was so important was the bond. She talked to them not just about softball, but as a girl playing softball. They confided in her and look up to her as somebody who really cares about the individual."

Kaitlyn Frazza was the team's first base coach and often took players aside during games to point something out.

"She's a role model to them," Nufrio said.

While setting an example for the players, Frazza also developed a stronger bond with her father.

"Being able to coach with your child is fabulous," Peter Frazza said.