Here is what USD's Nick McCoy had to show in his first two seasons playing for the Toreros: 2 at-bats, 0 hits. That's because USD had an all-conference catcher behind the plate in Jordan Abruzzo. Although Abruzzo graduated, McCoy's prospects didn't look much brighter this season with backup Logan Gelbrich taking over.

McCoy, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound sophomore redshirt from Westview High, may have been advised to seek opportunity elsewhere if he wanted to see any significant playing time. No way that was happening.

“This was the choice I made,” said McCoy, who sat down with Westview coach Beau Champoux three years ago to consider his options before committing to USD as a recruited walk-on.

Champoux told McCoy: “You might not play right away, but it's the chance to do big things playing with and against the best players in the country.”

Said McCoy: “Coming in I knew what I was up against with Jordan and Logan, two great catchers. It was hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel at some points. I just stayed confident in myself and worked hard every day here.”

McCoy got his chance when Gelbrich struggled with his hitting early in the season.

“He's really made himself, with coach (Mark) Viramontes, into an excellent defensive catcher,” said USD coach Rich Hill. “With all of these games we're playing, doubleheaders and five-game weeks, he's gotten an opportunity to play.”

McCoy's .254 batting average isn't among the team leaders, but he has had several meaningful hits and RBI for the Toreros. McCoy's persistence at the plate has impressed Hill as much as his efforts behind it. “He just takes such a tough at-bat and that fits in with our system so well,” said Hill. “For him to play defense at the same time, he's earned the right to be back there.”

McCoy has been catching junior left-hander Brian Matusz for the All-American's Friday starts. Gelbrich is Matusz's roommate. So don't ask Matusz to choose one over the other.

“Both of them are great catchers,” said Matusz. “I'll take either one of them.”

Matusz will say this: “I'm in a groove with McCoy. We're on the same page with everything. We have something special going.”

It's special for McCoy to now be an active participant on a team ranked No. 12 in the nation and in the midst of a school-record 13-game winning streak.

“It was a little overwhelming at first,” said McCoy. “I was 155 pounds coming out of high school. Just a little kid who worked hard. But I never thought I was in over my head. I just came in and competed.”