Tars’ Vasquez, Mesa’s Topps sign to play college softball

Newport Harbor High senior Athena Vasquez and Costa Mesa High

senior Anne Marie Topps have signed letters of intent to continue

their softball and academic careers at Wisconsin and Oregon,

respectively.

Vasquez, a three-time All-Newport-Mesa selection, chose Wisconsin

after visiting Louisville, Arizona State, Princeton and Sacramento

State. A slick-fielding shortstop, Vasquez, a former member of the

Daily Pilot’s Little League Dream Team in baseball, hit .355 with

nine RBIs, 16 runs and nine stolen bases for the Sailors last spring.

Topps, a two-time second-team All-CIF Southern Section Division IV

and All-Newport-Mesa performer, hit .444 with 36 hits, six homers, 28

RBIs, 28 runs and 13 steals as a junior shortstop for the Mustangs.

She helped lead Coach Rick Buonarigo’s Costa Mesa squad to the CIF

playoffs for the third straight season.

-- by Barry Faulkner