Only few sports teams at Mary Star Of The Sea High School had great seasons during the 2011-2012 school year but none had as much success as their softball team.

The reason? Few opponents if any, could hit off the Stars' imposing freshman pitcher Marina Vitalich.

Now currently in her sophomore season on the girls basketball team, Vitalich was one outstanding revelation for a program that was coming off a Camino Real League championship. Yet, with her arrival, the Stars achieved heights they'd never reached before... and then some.

It didn't start as well for Vitalich in her debut, as Mary Star took on then-defending CIF-Southern Section Division VII champion Calvary Chapel of Downey.

In a fourteen-inning duel that ended in a football-like 14-14 draw, Vitalich surrendered all 14 runs, yet eight were unearned, but still managed to strike out 11 batters. Changes were eventually made by the Stars' next game but after that opener, all future Mary Star opponents would pay dearly thanks to a determined battler in the circle.

Take eventual two-time CIF-Los Angeles City Section Small Schools champion Port Of Los Angeles for example.

It was Vitalich's first career home start at the San Pedro Softball Complex, and she would outduel fellow freshman standout Nicolle Miranda by hurling a four-hitter with six strikeouts in powering Mary Star to a 5-1 victory, setting the tone for what would turn out to be a magical season for Vitalich and her teammates.

Mary Star would go on to set a team-record for wins in a season with a 21-7-1 record, successfully defend their Camino Real League title, post solid victories over both in-city neighbors POLA and San Pedro, claim the consolation championship of the El Segundo Tournament, third place in the Katella Tournament, and advance to the CIF-Southern Section Division V quarterfinals.

Vitalich, the 2012 San Pedro News Pilot Softball Player Of The Year, would also set individual pitching records for Mary Star, as she finished with a record of 19-5, a 1.54 ERA and 215 strikeouts in 149 innings pitched. Vitalich also tallied three-no hitters for the Stars and had pinpoint control with all her pitches, walking only 37 with five hit batters.

In two Camino Real League victories, Vitalich posted 15 strikeouts in wins over Cantwell Sacred Heart of Montebello and St. Monica of Santa Monica.

Some of the pitches she uses includes a drop pitch, changeup, screwball, riseball and fastball.

Hitting wise, Vitalich was just as solid with a .333 batting average, a home run and 24 RBIs with three doubles and three triples. In the Stars' 2-0 win over West Valley in the first round of the CIF-SS Division V playoffs, Vitalich was responsible for both runs, hitting a bloop single that drove in Lexie Geich, and scoring off the following RBI-single from fellow pitching partner Veronica Webb.

A third-generation member in her family that's well-known at the small Catholic school in San Pedro, Vitalich has already made a name for herself after just one season, making the All-CIF Southern Section Division V team, and was chosen as both the Player and Pitcher Of The Year in the Camino Real League.

Don't get caught slipping when you face Mary Star softball because if you do... Vitalich will leave you scratching your head after taking a called third strike.