Twelve years of hard work has finally paid off for Port Of Los Angeles High senior pitcher Nicolle Miranda and Mary Star High softball senior pitcher Marina Vitalich, as both signed national letters of intent on Wednesday to further their educations and play collegiate softball.
Miranda, a three-time CIF-Los Angeles City Section Pitcher Of The Year (Division III in 2012 and 2013, Division I in 2014) is bound for Eastern Michigan University. So far with the Polar Bears, Miranda has won two City Section Division III championships and guided the Polar Bears to the Division I semifinals last season.
"I'm excited for next year and for what EMU has to offer to me," says Miranda, who went 19-6 with a 1.63 ERA and 202 strikeouts opposed to 18 walks in 146 2/3 innings pitched last season, while also hitting .402 with four home runs, 25 RBIs, 35 hits and 19 runs. "I can't wait to play with four amazing coaches and the girls that are soon to become my family."
Miranda is the first student-athlete in the history of the San Pedro-based charter school to host a signing day ceremony, adding to an already positive vibes at POLA just five days after beloved principal Tom Scotti agreed to return.
"Nikki has helped lead this small school on the BIG stage," Port Of Los Angeles High softball coach Melissa Bugarin-Espinoza says of Miranda, also noting the Polar Bears' playing in killer tournaments and competing in Division I for the City. "Never once backing down to D1 opponents and putting her fierce competitive nature to test and come up big in these duels. I know big things lie ahead and she will do great things."
Miranda was surrounded by family, POLA teammates, her coaching staff, principal Scotti, athletic director Dave Martinez, school administration along with her current and former travel ball coaches.
"I'm very proud of Nikki," says POLA softball assistant coach Mark Miranda, also Nicolle's father. "She's worked very hard and sacrificed a lot, but this is the end result."
Miranda's mother Ivee Streator adds: "It was such an exciting moment for Nikki and the whole family. This is what she's worked for and she finally reached her goal. I feel she will have the best experience at EMU and I also feel EMU is lucky to have her."
In three years, Miranda has piled up a record of 58-19 with 625 strikeouts.
Meanwhile over at Mary Star, Vitalich, who signed with George Mason University, became only the second student-athlete at the school to sign a national letter of intent to play collegiate sports, but the first to have a signing day ceremony on campus.
In her three years at Mary Star, Vitalich has been named All CIF-Southern Section in all three years and has posted a record of 55-21 with a school record 785 strikeouts, after going 15-7 with an 0.64 ERA and 321 strikeouts during her junior year, hurling seven no-hitters, two of which were perfect games.
"I was just really excited that after twelve years of playing I could finally sign", said Vitalich, who is also a two-time Camino Real League Most Valuable Player who led the Stars to the CIF-Southern Section Division VI championship game her sophomore season. "I have always dreamed of playing softball on the collegiate level and now my dream is finally coming true."
Vitalich was surrounded by family, her softball teammates, Mary Star softball coach Gregg Aguilar, principal Rita Dever, pitching coach Diana Lewis, and many of her closest friends, including her former catcher Amber Nunez from her sophomore season at Mary Star.
"I want to thank all my coaches, friends and family for always supporting me in all my endeavors and give a big thank you to Diane Lewis, Tony Rico and Norm Perez from the Firecracker organization."
You need to be a member of San Pedro News Pilot to add comments!
Join San Pedro News Pilot