DAVID JONES

FSU's Powers, Stetson's Griffin cheer for each other

David Jones
FLORIDA TODAY
Eau Gallie High graduate Alex Powers is starring for the FSU softball team.

They grew up competing with and against each other, so it's only natural that every now and then Jessica Griffin, a record-breaking catcher approaching 100 career RBI at Stetson, and Florida State infielder Alex Powers take a peek to see how the other is doing.

"I played with her and against her all throughout the years," said Griffin, who played at Space Coast Junior/Senior High School. "We played back in my 12-and-under and 10-and-under and we kind of branched out and played against each other in high school. We follow each other. We keep in touch a little bit, as much as we can with being in school and everything.

"I respect her so much to come back from all those (knee) surgeries and perform the way she has is amazing. I was really proud of her and how she was representing Brevard."

Powers, a graduate of Eau Gallie, said: "She's doing really well. We don't talk as much as we used to but I do keep up with her stats. It's fun seeing people I grew up with in Melbourne doing so well in college. I think we both worked really hard to get where we are. We just excel as much as we can with what we were given. I think we've both been very lucky to be where we are, to be doing well in college and having a great time where we're playing."

Both have a good story to tell. The combined statistics of the two going into this week are something for Brevard's softball programs to brag about. Both rank second on their respective teams in home runs, Powers with nine after FSU's 37-11 start going into Wednesday night's game at Florida. She's tied for the FSU lead in RBI with 41 while Griffin is No. 2 for the Hatters (25-15) with10 homers and 39 RBI.

Catcher Jessica Griffin is one of the leading hitters on the Stetson softbal team.

FSU reached the College World Series last year. Stetson received an NCAA Tournament bid.

And both will play huge roles in how far their teams go this postseason.

Powers' success has included a lot of bumps in the road. Her freshman year she tore the ACL in her right knee in the fall and sat out the season. The following fall she tore the ACL in her other knee the day before workouts began and almost immediately had surgery.

Four months later, she was able to rejoin the team but ended up just being able to hit in 2014, as the Seminoles reached the WCWS. Last fall she was able to play the infield some and hit. With a .289 average this year and one of the club's top run producers the 'Noles have been careful to limit her running as much as possible.

"It's hard when I feel like I can't move as well as I used to," she said. But there's good news. Powers has gone from two knee braces to just wearing one and plans to use this summer to get her speed and agility back.

Griffin has overcome her own struggles but in a different way. This year's club has run into some tough opponents that have hurt the resume for the postseason. Stetson will have a tough time making a return trip to the NCAA tourney unless it plays well in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament in early May.

"It's softball so it's going to bite you when you least expect it," she said of the midseason slump. "We faced some really good pitching, we faced some good bats. It's kind of hard to adjust for our pitchers, especially. They work hard but when you come across such good hitting teams ... it's kind of hard to come back from that. (But) I'd never give up on this team, it's a great group of girls."

Griffin said her 10 homers surprised even her.

"The home run thing kind of came out of nowhere I guess," she said. "It's from these past two years of working out, getting serious in the weight room helped me out so I'm very happy with how that's come through."

Obviously her primary goal is getting back to the NCAA Tournament.

"That was one of the greatest experiences of my life just to be a part of that," she said. "It would be great to win the conference again and win my senior year to close everything out. It would be nice to go back and finish with a bang."

Now able to contribute more, Powers eyes a return to Oklahoma City with another shot at the national championship.

"It's the pinnacle of my playing career," she said of last year's WCWS. "It's where every little girl playing softball wants to be. It's where we all aspire in college to be at, to be playing in. Just the whole experience, the thousands of people that are there, the thousands of people that are watching at home, it's every girl's dream of playing on the biggest stage of college softball."

If the Hatters get hot, there's a chance Stetson could wind up in regional play at Florida State. It almost happened last year, going to Gainesville instead. That means the two old friends could be reunited.

"It would be amazing," Griffin said. "This team has worked so hard and we've been together for so long, to see a season end like that and to go to regionals at Florida State or to go to Florida again it would be a great experience, especially for our seniors to be able to do it again. "

Just think, a few short years ago Griffin and Powers were battling on the fields of Brevard. Now both are talking about winning tournaments and accomplishing big things once again. For fans of the sport in the area, to see players continue and develop has to be a thrill.

Griffin and Powers keep taking a peek to see what the other is doing as the season grows longer, fingers crossed for the other one. Unless they end in opposite dugouts of course. Then it would be just like old times.

Contact Jones at djones@floridatoday.com or follow on Twitter: @DaveJonesSports