Tooele High School softball coach Barry Pitt has been named the 2007 West Sectional Coach of the Year for softball by the National Federation of State High Schools (NFHS) Coaches Association. He learned of the honor Wednesday afternoon.

"I knew I had been nominated two or three months ago when I was selected softball coach of the year in Utah," Pitt said.

Tooele High athletic director Richard Valdez notified the Tooele Transcript-Bulletin of the honor after the high school received a letter Wednesday from the executive director of NFHS Coaches Association Robert Kanaby.

"Your contributions to high school athletics are truly deserving of our recognition and thanks," the letter reads. "As the West sectional winner you are automatically a finalist for the national coach of the year in your sport."

The West section includes the states of Arizona, California, Hawaii, California and Utah.

Tooele High School has won four state softball championships in five years and has claimed seven state titles since 1990.

Pitt said the junior leagues in Tooele County help provide superior players by the time they reach the high school level. "The talent in this county in softball is incredible," he said. "All I have to do is fill out the line-up card."

During the past seven-year reign under Pitt, the Lady Buffs sport a 30-6 record in state tourney play with an 83.3 winning percentage. Tooele softball is 42-11 over the past decade in state tourney action.

After winning three-straight titles from 2003 through 2005, Canyon View spoiled Tooele's quest for four-straight in 2006. But the Lady Buffs were quickly back on top in 2007.

"Every title means something different. This one was special because we came back and beat the same team that beat us for the title last year," Pitt said after winning his fourth championship in 2007.

During the 2007 state tournament Tooele opened with a 12-2 rout of Carbon and edged past defending champion Canyon View 1-0. The Lady Buffs then disposed of Juan Diego 3-0 and toppled Hurricane twice 11-2 and 6-0 to win the championship.

Mark Watson: mwatson@tooeletranscript.com