Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week: Athena Vasquez - Newport’s spark

plug

Tony Altobelli

Nothing like a friendly rivalry to bring out the best in you. Just

ask Athena Vasquez what was on her mind when the Newport Harbor High

softball team played crosstown nemesis Corona del Mar on March 22.

“We were fired up for that one,” Vasquez said. “We went into that game

to win only. We definitely had some fuel for that game.”

That fuel was supplied courtesy of a Sea Kings’ 6-5 nine-inning win

over the Sailors on March 10 in a game that more ups and downs than a

kangaroo on caffeine.

Vasquez made sure the only “up” went to the Sailors in their 6-1 win.

“No matter what sport, Newport and CdM is a great game,” the Daily

Pilot Athlete of the Week said. “We were focused to win that game and we

managed to do so.”

Vasquez had three hits and four RBIs in the Sailors’ win. She is

currently hitting .389 from the leadoff spot and has an on-base

percentage around .600.

That win came on the heels of a strong showing at the Garden Grove

Tournament, where the Sailors took second place in the second division of

the Tournament. Vasquez was named to the all-tournament team.

“Athena is a player who hates to lose, plain and simple,” Newport

Coach Jess Martinson said. “If she makes a mistake, she’s the first one

to get on herself. She’s probably one of the most competitive players

I’ve ever coached.”

That hatred to lose has helped the Sailors (8-6) continue their upward

trek toward being a team to beat in the Sea View League.

“We’ve learned to never give up, no matter what the score is,” Vasquez

said. “Some of our wins have been comeback wins in the last inning or

two. We know it’s never over, even against good teams.”

Vasquez began her playing career at the age of six where she played

baseball. It wasn’t until a NCAA softball game turned her sights to her

current sport.

“I was watching a UCLA-Arizona State softball game and I became hooked

to softball,” Vasquez said. “I was watching these girls play the game at

such a high level, it was amazing.”

The key to Vasquez’s success at the plate is finding her pitch. “As a

leadoff hitter, you have to have patience,” she said. “You try to get as

much info from the pitcher as possible so you can share that with your

teammates and help them at the plate.”

Vasquez does a lot more than just help the Sailors with the bat.

“She’s probably the best fielding shortstop I’ve ever coached,” Martinson

said. “She anticipates each play before it happens, especially covering

third on a stolen base opportunity. She’s always in the right position.”

Martinson sees Vasquez as a leader by example and should be the leader

of the Sailors for the next two years. “Every player on the team knows

who works the hardest,” he said. “I’d like to see her become more of a

vocal leader, but that will come in time.”

When she’s not playing softball or basketball for the Sailors, Vasquez

can be found with her family, surfing, drawing, fishing or even sailing.

“She’s just a great person,” Martinson said. “I’m glad she’s on our

side, that’s for sure.”