Chris Grotemat was vaguely familiar with girl's fast pitch softball prior to April 26.

That's the day he had to coach first base during Harleton's opening playoff game.

"I knew what he knew was very minimal," said Harleton head softball coach Justin Kniffen. "I was a little nervous, not from the fact that I didn't think Chris was going to do a good job, just from the standpoint that there might be some (signage) miscommunication."

But Grotemat, the perpetually-happy first-year Harleton coach, learned fast.

"It was a 24-hour cram-fest," he said, following the Lady Wildcats' 8-3 bi-district win over Redwater. "I was up all night. I was on Youtube, Google, you name it, trying to learn everything I could about the game."

Call it a trial by tire.

"My main goal was just not to be noticed. If I went unnoticed, that means I probably didn't make any mistakes," he said.

Mistakes or not, Grotemat (pronounced GROW-tah-MAT) put his Web-research skills to the test that day (not to mention his ability-to-function-while-sleep-deprived skills) and has since become a fixture on the first-base line at Harleton's Polo Grounds (also known as the Lady 'Cat Softball Complex).

He was again at first during Harleton's best-of-3 area series win over Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill last weekend and is set to straddle the chalk in the Lady 'Cats third-round regional quarterfinal set against New Boston, which begins tonight.

Grotemat, who doubles as head boy's basketball coach, has been filling in for Harleton assistant softball coach Delia Crockett, who has been out after undergoing extensive foot surgery — mainly on her left foot — about a month ago.

"Delia told me (earlier in the season) that she was going to be having surgery," Kniffen said. "So I knew she was going to be out and I wasn't real sure what I was going to do."

That's when Grotemat stepped in.

"He (Grotemat) told me, 'I'm so fascinated by this softball game,'" Kniffen said. "I was glad he wanted to do it. He's one of those guys, if he's interested in it, he jumps into it."

Kniffen said Grotemat has since gotten more at ease on the field, although he still needs work with his fungo hitting.

"We've started to get a little chemistry going," Kniffen said. "He knows what I want now and the girls are beginning to get more comfortable with him."

Crockett, meanwhile, has been unable to attend any of Harleton's playoff games thus far but is planning on being in attendance for the series this weekend.

"It's kind of frustrating not being able to be out there but I'm glad (Grotemat) stepped in to help," said Crockett, who was forced into the surgery after severe back problems over the summer eventually caused troubles in her feet.

Crockett, who is also in her first season at Harleton after serving as Ore City's head softball coach, was not at school all of last week and part of the week before — on doctor's orders — but has returned to work this week with the help of crutches and a protective boot.

"I'd be out there if I could," she said. "But it makes me feel better knowing Kniffen has somebody out there to help."

Youtube, Google, Grotemat and all.