Student-Athlete of the Week: Ayva McComas

The Niwot softball team has earned a trip to the postseason for the first time since 2015, thanks in large part to newcomer Ayva McComas, who has been a powerful threat for the Cougars on both offense and defense this year. According to Niwot Head Coach Bobby Matthews, the freshman’s “team first mentality” has also proved a powerful force among her teammates.

“She is a huge leader on the team and does it without saying anything,” he wrote in an email. “Not too many practices has she gone home with clean clothes. She practices all out, all the time. She dives and runs around and tries to push her limits.”

Ayva and her older sister Aliyah came to Niwot from the Loveland area, where the older McComas was a pitcher for state champions Mountain View as a freshman. For the first 15 games of 2018, Ayva was Niwot’s starter behind the plate, catching for Aliyah, who has now assumed starting pitching duties for the Cougars.

Since Sept. 18, she has been the team’s starting shortstop, after swapping positions with junior Reagan Wills. There, she has proved a natural, with just one error in eight games. Her most memorable turn in the infield came on Sept. 29 against Fort Lupton, where she turned three double plays, including one unassisted twin-killing to save the Cougars from a walk-off loss.

While McComas has been impressive in the field, she has been a star at the plate. She currently leads the team in all hitting categories but one, and ranks among the Northern League’s top five for average (.616) and RBIs (38). Overall, she has 45 hits in 73 at bats, 21 of them for extra bases, including two home runs.

The Cougars finished the expanded 23-game season with a 15-8 record and were ranked 20th overall in the final RPI standings. On Oct. 13, the team will head to Golden to take on Pueblo West for their first appearance in a regional tournament in three years.

For Matthews, McComas has brought more to the lineup than just talent and athleticism.

“Her work ethic was noticed from day one of summer lifting,” Matthews wrote. “Ayva and her sister really pushed themselves in the weight room every time. She has been a great addition to the program.”