UCLA has had great success recruiting elite players out of the prestigious Corona Angels program recently.

These have included All-American pitcher/first baseman and Jr. National Team invite Rachel Garcia (2015), outfielder Aailyah Jordan (2016), pitcher/utility player Stephanie Soriano (2016) and shortstop/outfielder Kinsley Washington (2017).

You can add another to the list and she’s a very, very good one: shortstop Anna Vines, who was a key cog on the 14U team that won PGF Nationals last summer under the guidance of Head Coach Marty Tyson.

According to the freshman’s father, Anthony, Anna committed Tuesday night when she told the Bruin coaches she’d be heading to Westwood in the fall of 2018.

Anna, who attends Peninsula High in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. (in the Los Angeles area), had schools all over the nation looking at her including Oregon where she tripped last fall and Tennessee, where her older sister, Brooke, signed in November.

Brooke is rated as the No. 7 player in the 2015 Hot 100 and, like her younger sister, uses her speed to change games. Brooke also has won a National Championship as she was part of the So Cal A’s team that won PGF Nationals in 2013. She is known as one of the best slappers and table setters in the country and at PGF Nationals last summer helped the A’s take 3^rd by going 16-for-32 at the plate.

Anna is also known for her great offensive and defensive skills. Coach Tyson told Full Count Softball on Monday: “Anna has great versatility and is a fierce competitor. She also has unbelievable speed.”

The newest Bruin helped the Angels go 8-1 at PGF Nationals where she hit .414 (third highest on the team), tied for most hits with 12 and led the champions with four steals.

Look for her to be in the top 20 of all the 2018’s when the Hot 100 is revealed starting next Monday. It’s a very strong for shortstops in what is shaping up to be a special class.

“First of all, Anna appreciated all the universities that expressed interest in her as a student athlete.  God’s glory!  UCLA offered Anna an opportunity to play with girls she has a connection and chemistry with currently.  Anna actually knows four Corona Angel future Bruins and several others from local Southern California travel teams.”

“The idea of her staying home close to family was really compelling and she connected with the UCLA coaching staff.  Academically Anna felt UCLA was a best fit for her.  “

As Coach Tyson said, Anna has the talent and skills to play several positions and can also play second and anywhere in the outfield.

A lefty, she uses her speed to hit and slap and has been a part of two National Championships, the other coming at ASA 10U Nationals when Anna played with Team Watley coached by Robert Young.

She’s also an honor student who, her father adds, “loves to compete and loves the game of softball at every level.  She is a believer in Jesus and He is her Rock who gets her through life.”

As for ending the recruiting process, Anthony continues: “Anna appreciated all the universities that expressed interest in her as a student athlete.  God’s glory!”

“UCLA offered Anna an opportunity to play with girls she has a connection and chemistry with currently.  Anna actually knows four Corona Angel future Bruins and several others from local Southern California travel teams.  The idea of her staying home close to family was really compelling and she connected with the UCLA coaching staff.  Academically Anna felt UCLA was the best fit for her.”

And if Anna and the UCLA coaches would have their way, another Angel would be a future Bruin: moving up from the 14U team with Anna to Tyson’s Gold squad that made it to the 18U National Championship game at PGF is pitcher Megan Faraimo, who was so dominant that Tyson game her the championship trophy!

Faraimo went 8-1 with a 1.08 ERA at Nationals and recorded 79 K’s in 51.2 innings. She’s being heavily recruited by teams everywhere, but according to Coach Tyson won’t commit until the fall as she wants to get her freshman grades completed first.