North Dakota State University women's softball coach Darren Mueller announced today that outfielder Maritza Lopez-Portillo (San Diego, Calif./Mater Dei Catholic H.S.) has signed a national letter of intent to play softball and continue her education at NDSU.

Lopez-Portillo joins nine other high school athletes who will join the program -- pitcher Tabby Bayers (Maplewood, Minn./St. Paul North H.S.); second/third baseman Cheyenne Garcia (Vista, Calif./Rancho Buena Vista H.S.); shortstop/third baseman/outfielder Logan Moreland (Woodland, Calif./Woodland H.S.); outfielder/third baseman Sam Peterson (Omaha, Neb./Burke H.S.); catcher/first baseman Alyssa Reina (Auburn, Calif./Bear River H.S.); shortstop/outfielder Katie Soukup (Omaha, Neb./Burke H.S.), third baseman Cassidy Szeredy (Pittsburg, Calif./Carondelet H.S.), and first/second baseman Jackie Stifter (Winsted, Minn./Glencoe Silver Lake H.S.).

OF MARITZA LOPEZ-PORTILLO Bat: R Throw: R (San Diego, Calif./Mater Dei Catholic H.S.) HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year starter for Mater Dei Catholic High School at pitcher and the outfield for head coach Michael Centrullo ... Mater Dei Catholic won three California Interscholastic Federation (C.I.F.) Division 4 championships during her career ... Three-time All-C.I.F. first team selection ... Three-time all-Mesa League first team pick, earning second team honors as freshman ... Hit .475 with 11 home runs and 57 RBI as a senior ... Had a 1.030 slugging percentage adding in 12 doubles and five triples ... As a junior, batted .478 with nine home runs and 34 RBI ... Had a .938 slugging percentage with 13 doubles and six triples ... Career-high .575 on-base percentage as a junior, .525 as a sophomore ... During her sophomore season, hit .436 with six home runs and 34 RBI ... Had a .772 slugging percentage adding in seven doubles and six triples ... Finished prep career with .409 batting average and .787 slugging percentage with 36 doubles, 28 home runs, 20 triples and 142 RBI ... An all-around athlete, two-year starter at outside hitter on volleyball team, and two-year letterwinner as sprinter on track and field team ... PERSONAL: Daughter of Luis and Gabriela Lopez-Portillo ... Played summer league with the SoCal Breakers and with Cheyenne Garcia the past two years.