Marina Vitalich

WOMEN’S SOFTBALL

Marina Vitalich’s journey in athletics is defined by excellence, perseverance, and leadership. A San Pedro native and third-generation graduate of Mary Star of the Sea High School, she became one of the school’s most decorated athletes. Marina set records with 77 career wins, 1,154 strikeouts, and multiple perfect games and no-hitters, while leading the Stars to their first-ever CIF Championship Finals in 2013. She ranked among the CIF-SS top ten for strikeouts and was the first Mary Star pitcher to defeat powerhouse San Pedro High.

Her honors included MaxPreps All-American, Cal Hi Sports All-State, and the 2015 MSHS Athletic Achievement Award. She was also a three-time All-CIF selection, four-time Camino Real League First Team honoree, and four-time MSHS MVP. Marina earned three league championships, three-time Camino Real League Most Valuable Player honors, and three-time Camino Real League Pitcher of the Year recognition. She also excelled in basketball, twice earning Santa Fe League All-League honors as a point guard.

Continuing her career at George Mason University, Marina became the first pitcher in school history named Atlantic 10 Co-Pitcher of the Year (2017) and set the program strikeout record with 551. A three-time Atlantic 10 All-Conference honoree and NFCA All-Region pick, she threw both a perfect game and a no-hitter before the Covid-19 pandemic cut her senior season short.

Using her final year of eligibility, Marina joined Loyola Marymount University’s softball team while attending law school. She quickly became the Lions’ ace, earning All-West Coast Conference First Team honors in 2020–21, leading the league in conference wins and strikeouts. She finished her collegiate career with 56 wins and 718 strikeouts. The following season, she served as a Graduate Assistant, helping LMU capture its first-ever WCC championship.

Internationally, Marina and her sister Amanda made history as the first American-born athletes to compete for Croatia’s National Softball Team. Representing Croatia from 2015 to 2024, she pitched in European Championships across Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Poland. Off the field, she raised funds and delivered equipment to help grow the sport in Croatia.

After retiring in 2024, Marina transitioned into administration as Assistant Director of Compliance for athletics at Pepperdine University.