MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week: Harmony softball

Timely hitting and pitching is historically an unbeatable combination on the diamond. Throw in some nearly flawless defense and it's easy to understand how the softball team at Harmony has opened the season at 18-1.

The Longhorns have combined a powerful offense with the remarkable pitching and overall play of senior pitcher and shortstop Aleshia "Lele" Ocasio to outscore its first 19 opponents 150-20.

With a defense that has committed less than one error per game — 14 overall — coach Jeff Fiorelli's team has backed up last year's 26-4 campaign with an even better one thus far.

For their outstanding performance, the Longhorns have been selected as the Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

"As a coaching staff we have been focused on two main things: our team chemistry and bonding and also our speed and agility," said Fiorelli. "We focus on our speed and proper footwork. ... We emphasize proper hand movement and proper footwork because the key role in routine plays on the field is making sure your movements are under control and properly done."

Fiorelli even went as far as to set up a training course with sixteen different stations and exercises, such as bench jumps, sled pushes, and ladder climbs, which is used to supplement regular practice.

The Longhorns started the season with five straight shutouts, while scoring 58 runs of their own, and have added three since giving them eight on the year.

"(Ocasio's) demeanor on the mound is — that is her world," said Fiorelli. "She dares you to try to get a hit on her and she thrives on that. The other girls can tell and they see that intensity that she brings and they feed off of that energy.

"Lele lives for being in that circle, but she doesn't like the spotlight and she doesn't like to talk about it. She had five consecutive no-hitters to start off the season and in the sixth game she was in the sixth inning when she gave up a hit. I felt sorry for the next batter who was up at the plate because I think she threw it 70-mph. When asked by a reporter after one of her no-hitters, 'What are you going to do to celebrate?' she replied, 'Go home and do my homework.'

"She isn't someone who is going to throw her glove up in the air — she see's it as a game within a game. Lele is going to throw a strike and dare you to hit. Her mentality is that when the game is on the line, she wants the ball."

With only 12 on his roster, Fiorelli's team is small but mighty, while being ranked seventh in the very large state of Florida.

Harmony is hitting .371 as a team, lead by Ocasio (.491) who has six homers. She's backed up by Lily Mann (.453) and Brooke Harris (.412). Oscasio and Madison Urquiola (.364) lead the team with 20 RBIs each.

On the mound Ocasio is almost untouchable with a 15-1 record with a 0.34 ERA. In 82 innings she's struck out 164, exactly two per frame.

Molly Baker (3-0, 0.91) with 29 strikeouts in 31 innings is also more than capable on the mound.

"They are a very tight knit group and as coaches we had to talk about taking the twelve players we did because the JV team has strong players as well, but we knew we had a set group we wanted and then a few great role players, so we felt we could get away with the twelve," said Fiorelli.

To increase team bonding the coaching staff set up drills where the girls were divided into teams, with the winners receiving a reward. Recently, they also attended a Florida State vs. Florida softball game together.

"This was great to have the girls all there, sitting together, bonding and watching these two teams play," said Fiorelli. "As a coach, that was one of my main goals this season, was to come together as a team and have that chemistry."

The Longhorns hope to erase a 1-0 loss to eventual 7A champion St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) in the semifinals. STA went on to beat Freedom (Tampa) 1-0 in the championship.

Clearly the softball in Florida is clean and crisp.

The Longhorns have risen swiftly up the power rankings over the years. In 2009, Harmony was 19-8-1, followed by seasons of 20-8-1, 13-10, 22-8 and 9-5 in 2012 before last year's breakout season.

"No question, their ultimate goal is to win a state championship," said Fiorelli. "Our school is 10 years old and no sport has won a state title yet. As coaches, we put an emphasis on needing to play every single game like it is the state championship game. Before every game we talk to them and say, 'This is the state championship game, how are you going to go out there and play tonight?' That way they won't be nervous when they are really there.

"They know they have the talent and if they focus on each game at a time they can reach their goal."

MaxPreps editorial assistant Kirstin Beal contributed to this report.

Do you know a team that deserves consideration for Florida Team of the Week? Email us with your nominations at FLteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.