ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Elizabeth Ozim

Foundation Academy sophomore centerfield Elizabeth “Lizzie” Ozim currently leads the Lady Lions with 33 runs, 30 hits and five triples. Ozim owns a .484 batting average, a .535 on-base percentage, has four stolen bases, a .693 slugging percentage and two doubles. Assistant softball coach Armand Winters said of Ozim: “I’ve coached her since she was 8 years old. I feel like over the years, she has always been kind of the underdog, yet every single season she does as much or more than everyone.” 

Tell us about your years as a softball player.
I started softball when I was 6 years old at Windermere Little League, and I played travel ball since I was 9 years old. 

Why softball?
When I was little, I just grew up liking the game. My dad always loved watching baseball, so I just kind of grew up loving the game. 

What do you love most about softball as a sport?
The environment that the team brings and the culture. It’s always fun to play with my best friends. 

What do you believe softball has taught you not only on the field but also off of it? 
Softball has taught me that I can’t always be perfect. Being a perfectionist, a lot of my life I have liked to do things perfectly. Softball is a game of failure, so it’s important to learn that you can’t always be perfect. 

Do you have a favorite drill at practice? 
It’s not really a drill, but my favorite thing to do at practice while we are warming up is long toss. I love throwing the ball super far over my friends’ heads. 

Do you prefer hitting or batting? 
I love hitting; it’s probably one of the best feelings to hit a walk-off. I love to hit. 

What do you think makes you a unique player on the softball field? 
A unique player to me means that you have to be strong physically and mentally, and be a good leader to younger teammates. I always try to be a good leader, especially (now that we have) a young varsity team. Being a sophomore, I’m one of the older girls in the team, so I try to be a good leader for the younger girls. 

How do you instill leadership in your team? 
I try to keep the younger girls on track. Some of them are less experienced, so I like to help them with fundamentals — work on throwing and hitting on the T, (and) helping them see little things they may need help with on their swing. 

Do you have a favorite softball team or player?
Skylar Wallace on the Gators is probably one of my favorite players to watch. She is a shortstop, and she makes really cool plays all the time. She’s just fun to watch.  

What is your favorite hobby? 
I like to go to the beach. It’s definitely my favorite place to be when I’m not playing softball. 

What are three things you would take with you to a deserted island? 
A pilot, a plane and a co-pilot, so I can leave. 

What is your favorite movie? 
I’ve always liked the movie “Finding Nemo.” I don’t know why, but I’ve always liked that movie since I was little. 

What TV series are you watching right now? 

“Outer Banks” — I’ve been watching it all the time. 

What’s your favorite type of music?
I love Taylor Swift. 

Who is your favorite superhero? Why? 
I don’t really have a favorite superhero, but maybe The Flash, because he is really fast. I want to be really fast. 

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why? 
I’d definitely like to teleport, because my parents are late a lot. So, if I could teleport, I would always be on time. 

What are three places you’d like to visit? Why? 
Hawaii, Bora Bora — I’ve always told my parents I want to go to Bora Bora — and maybe Greece, because of the beach. 

If you could go back in time to a specific period of history, which one would it be and why?
Definitely the 1970s — just the clothes that they wore and the style.

What color would you say represents your personality? 
Definitely pink. I just think of myself as a bright person with a bright personality. 

If you could be an animal for a day, which one would you be and why? 
I’d probably want to be an ant, because when I see them on the ground, they work very hard and they are super small. So I would like to see what life is small-size.