From the Bench: After Nearly Two Decades, Softball at BMS to See New Face as Billy Estok Steps Down
By Jeff Toquinto on June 21, 2026 from Sports Blog
There are optimists. There are eternal optimists. Then, there is Billy Estok.
I met Estok a few decades back when he was still working at the CJIS Division of the Clarksburg-based FBI center just on the outskirts of Bridgeport. Early on, I learned of his love for baseball, sports, and the Pirates.
To this day, Billy Estok’s optimism about the Pirates fascinates me. If ever there was a team to throw the towel in on, that would be the one. Estok always, and to this day, sees the bright side.
Perhaps when he began coaching with the Bridgeport Middle School girls softball program in 2009, as an assistant to Vernon Louk, I knew it was a good thing. And not necessarily because I thought it would add to Louk’s and the team’s winning ways.
Estok, from what I could tell, is exactly what you want from a coach around kids. Upbeat, encouraging, fun, optimistic (of course), and able to smile when things were not going as planned.
Eighteen years later, I can tell you that I was right. He has been involved with six championships, including five as a head coach and one undefeated season, during his time at BMS.
The reason for this blog? Estok is stepping down just a few years shy of two decades on the job. In the thankless world of coaching where those involved are paid pennies on the dollar for the time invested and headaches received, Billy Estok has earned a written pat on the back.
Before we get to the end of Estok’s career, a rewind to its origins. And it goes back to his love of the Pirates.
“I’ve been a Pirates fan since I was 6 or 7 years old and played the game until I got too old and got into a men’s softball league in Pennsylvania,” said Estok.
He kept playing softball, and following the Pirates, while working for the FBI when he went to Virginia. When he continued his FBI work in Clarksburg, the Bridgeport resident’s daughter was interested in the two sports her dad loved. Eventually, she chose softball.
“That’s when I got into coaching. I coached in the Bridgeport Girls Softball Association starting with the U-8 group to the U-12. I was practicing at the field, and Larry Guzzi asked me if I was interested in taking over the softball team at Bridgeport Middle,” said Estok.
Turns out Estok was interested. And Guzzi was no ordinary guy asking. He was Louk’s assistant coach who wanted to see the program end up in good hands.
Estok was supposed to assume reigns as the head coach in 2009 before fate stepped in. Estok wanted to be involved but had something more pressing to deal with on the personal front.
“Unfortunately, my mother passed away, and I was the executor of the estate,” said Estok. “It was not fair for me to be coach and need to miss some practices. I became the assistant and it was decided I would take over in 2010, but 2009 was pretty good.”
Not only did the Braves win the title in 2009, but the team did so with Estok getting a chance to coach with his daughter on the championship roster.
“There were a few other good things beyond coaching her from that season. That one year as an assistant I got a crash course on everything related to the program, from where equipment was to just how to manage things you don’t think about that I learned that year from Vern,” said Estok. “He showed me the ropes and then was my assistant after that for several years. The best part was that it started a long-lasting friendship that’s in place today.”
Showing the ropes to Estok by Louk gave a title-level program what it always needs – stability at the top. Eventually, over the next 17 years, the team had stability and would win five more Harrison County titles, including a 2015 season with a big zero in the loss column.
“I loved coaching because I felt like I was giving back to the community in the manner my job with the FBI Community Outreach program 
focused on,” he said. “It’s been a great ride, and to have former players call you coach, parents stop to talk with you and have so many wonderful memories. That’s a great payoff.”
focused on,” he said. “It’s been a great ride, and to have former players call you coach, parents stop to talk with you and have so many wonderful memories. That’s a great payoff.”
Estok, still spry and sharp, could have continued. He opted not to for the same reason he stepped away from the FBI.
“There’s that little voice that talks to you, like it did when I was eligible at the FBI to retire. My oldest daughter married the year I retired and told me I would be babysitting soon,” Estok said with a laugh. “I retired, and a year later I’m babysitting. I’m retiring from this for family reasons as well.”
And they are once again related to grandchildren. All three of Estok’s grandchildren are into sports. His granddaughter plays softball, and his two grandsons are into c-ball and t-ball, respectively.
“Coaching was taking away some of the time to watch them, so that was a big factor,” said Estok. “Plus, I don’t want to have to wrap up a round of golf to go practice. I play with Vern, Art Petitto, Devon Raddish and now I won’t have to worry about the time. I’m ready to enjoy retirement.”
Even though he has plenty to look forward to, the decision was not an easy one. And it rests with the players in the dugout.
“I’ll miss the players more than anything. I didn’t get an opportunity to tell them my plans as everyone turned in their uniforms this year and it was dumping the uniforms and get on the busses to get home. We usually were able to talk and enjoy the season we just had when uniforms were turned in,” said Estok. “I would have liked to have told them, but I know word has already slowly leaked out that I put in my resignation.”
His resignation was submitted to Harrison County Superintendent Dora Stutler. It was approved at a recent Board of Education meeting.
“I don’t think people realize how much time he puts into it. At middle school, you’re putting in the same time and energy as high school, but i
t’s not as seen,” said BMS Assistant Principal Emilee Yurish. “I’ve seen it. He puts in time, and he gets results.
t’s not as seen,” said BMS Assistant Principal Emilee Yurish. “I’ve seen it. He puts in time, and he gets results.
“Understand, good results aren’t always wins. It’s experiences, and life lessons for success for our student-athletes,” she continued. “His time and commitment led to success in so many ways. He’s greatly appreciated by the administrators at our school, and we wish him well. His fingerprints will show on the program for years to come.”
Estok hopes that he left the program in good shape. And he knows, for at least a few more years he’ll get that rewarding feeling whenever he catches from Bridgeport High School softball action.
“I’m going to miss coming home after practice, looking at the field, and seeing those high school kids playing. I realized, at a minimum, I did something right because they were still playing,” said Estok. “I hope they enjoyed their experience as much as I enjoyed it. I feel like it was a pretty good run.”
Pretty good? You do not have to be an optimist to say it was a pretty good run.
Enjoy retirement coach. You have earned it.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Coach Billy Estok outside the Braves dugout. In the next two photos, both from 2024, Estok is shown first in the front row, far left, at the team's annual pancake fundraiser, and coaching the bases in the bottom photo.
