Area Sports by Michael Dashiell

Marquita Espinoza, Samantha Flett, Dion Serras and Hugo Vasquez have been named Peninsula College's top athletes for 2008_2009.

The students were recognized for their achievements at the June meeting of the Peninsula College board of trustees.

Board members chose the four athletes for outstanding leadership, sportsmanship, citizenship, academic achievement and athletic ability.

_ Espinoza, a Sequim High School standout, earned Peninsula College's 2009 Jim Lunt Award for softball by smashing the single_season home run record and playing almost every game as catcher for the Pirates. Due to an injury she sustained her freshman year, she still has a year of eligibility remaining and is likely to put the career home run mark out of reach. She was a team captain as a freshman and will serve on Peninsula's student government in 2009_2010.

_ Flett, of Wellpinit, won the 2009 Art Feiro Award for women's basketball. She led the Pirates in scoring, assists and steals and was among the Northwest Athletic Association of Community College leaders in those categories. Her Pirates finished second in the North Region and became the first Peninsula women's basketball team to win a game at the NWAACC Tournament, where they posted a top-12 finish. Flett also served two years in student government. She will continue her career with a basketball scholarship to Eastern Oregon University in the fall.

_ Serras, of Mount Lawley, Australia, was the men's basketball Art Feiro winner. He was a leader on and off the court, with a very positive spirit and work ethic. In addition to athletics, he also served as a Peninsula College student ambassador. Serras will continue his collegiate hoop career at Western Oregon University.

_ Vasquez, of Leavenworth, received the 2009

Wally Sigmar Award. He helped the Pirate soccer team to two straight NWAACC Final Four appearances, scoring 10 goals and 11 assists in his two_year career as a Pirate. He is playing semi_professional soccer in Mexico.