Living up to the hype

It was the bottom of the sixth inning Friday, a scoreless, first-round CIF Division IV softball game between two teams, Ocean View and Bishop Montgomery, locked in a tight battle, both fighting to keep their respective seasons, as well as their title hopes, alive.

Tensions were high but hits had been at a minimum as the game reached its late stages.

It was at this point where Ocean View held high hopes with Nikole Afusia up to bat.

And the senior catcher didn’t disappoint.

In fact, it was exactly the type of situation in which Afusia thrives.

“I love the adrenaline, the pressure you face in those moments where you could possibly make that game-winning hit, score that winning run that will lift your team to victory,” she said.

And that’s what Afusia did for Ocean View on Friday, her single into right-center field driving home freshman Sarah Craig from second base for the game’s lone run, leading to the Seahawks’ 1-0 win.

Hitting — timely, powerful, seemingly effortless, however done — is what Afusia does best.

The 17-year-old is the top hitter in the Golden West League. In the 25 games Ocean View had played through Friday, Afusia held a .519 batting average. Her 42 hits — 13 doubles, three triples and three home runs among them — has accounted for 37 runs batted in. She has drawn 14 walks and has scored 39 times herself.

For the past two years, she had been the league leader in batting average and among the top 10 hitters in the county.

As a junior, she committed to Arizona State.

“I’m mostly a power hitter but I’m the type of player who strives to score runs for my team however possible, whether it’s by sacrifice fly or a drive to the gap,” she said. “I’m just looking to put the ball in play every time I go to bat. I just want to help my team win in any way that I can.”

And Ocean View has been winning this year.

A lot.

Entering today’s quarterfinal round game against Gahr, Ocean View has run up the best record in school history at 25-1. A blend of experience — such as what Afusia brings to the equation — with youthful talent and a coaching staff that has taken the program to new heights in the past four years, has molded this Seahawks team into one of the favorites for the Division IV crown this year.

Afusia summed up the squad’s outrageous success in two words: “great chemistry.”

“It’s insane at how close we all are,” she said. “Everybody knows the game well and most of the girls play travel ball throughout the year. The winning has been great, overwhelming, really, but besides that, I just love this team.”

Afusia describes her leadership role on the team as “expressive” and says she strives to lead by example.

“I have great coaches [Randy Cruz and Mike McLaughlan] who not only treat me as a player but as a leader, too, like another coach on the field,” she said.

“I take my roles seriously but we all have fun playing the game.”

Afusia has started on varsity all four years but began as a third-baseman before settling into her catcher’s role. Randy Cruz began as head coach of Ocean View softball the first year Afusia got into the lineup.

“She’s improved each year,” Cruz said. “She’s worked extremely hard and she’s really been like a third coach for us out there. She’s really an awesome girl and a great leader on the field.”

Locked in that scoreless game with Bishop Montgomery, Afusia said she took an early timeout to settle Holli Floetker, a sophomore pitcher who Afusia said she noticed was a “bit nervous” at the start of the game, but ended up doing a “perfect job” on the mound in a complete-game victory.

“She’s really a great leader and she gives me confidence on the mound,” said Floetker who improved to 14-1 after striking out 10 and shutting out Bishop Montgomery. “I trust her to call the pitches. She works hard and she takes all the responsibility on herself but she’s not forceful. She just does a great job.

“I think what makes us click even more than just being pitcher-and-catcher is that we’re friends off the field, too.”

Another thing that makes Afusia click are those moments, such as the defining one she faced Friday, with the game and Ocean View’s spectacular season, on the line.

“I knew I had to do what I possibly could to help us get that one run,” she said. “My heart was pumping but I was really excited for the opportunity. When I hit that ball and Sarah hustled to score from second base, I just smiled. I knew that we were a step closer to winning.

“I’ve been with this program for four years and the team has improved each and every year. What we’ve accomplished this year has been phenomenal, no matter how it ends. But I wouldn’t mind wearing a CIF ring, though.”

MIKE SCIACCA covers sports. He can be reached at (714) 966-4611 or by e-mail at [email protected].