Blevins, Atkins Honored as Heritage High Athletes of Month

Heritage High Athletes of the Month Lexi Blevins and Torrey Atkins accept their awards from Menifee 24/7 editor Doug Spoon.

Heritage High School's first Menifee 24/7 Athletes of the Month are softball standout Lexi Blevins and track and field star Torrey Atkins.

Blevins and Atkins were honored for their athletic accomplishments in March as well as their overall performance in school. Nominations and final selections were made by Heritage High coaches and Athletic Director David Drake. Each athlete received a certificate and an iTunes gift card.

Atkins, just a sophomore, has already made a name for himself in the first few weeks of the track season. A transfer from Long Beach Poly, Atkins runs the 110 high hurdles, 300 intermediate hurdles and the first leg of the school's 4x4 relay team.

When he first tried out for the track team at Long Beach Poly as a freshman, Atkins was a sprinter. He soon fell in the love with the hurdles. His dedication has paid off; the sophomore already holds the school record in the 110 HH (14.70) and the 300 IH (39.86).

"I love that race," said Atkins, who broke the meet record at the March 2 Saddle Up Invitational at Vista Murrieta High with a time of 14.90 in the 110 HH. "It's more competitive to me than the sprints."

Atkins said he has a set of hurdles at home and practices daily to achieve his goal of qualifying for the CIF state meet in June.

How did he first get started in track at Poly?

"I was in PE class one day and it felt like it was just for lazy people," he said. "They said, 'OK, try out for the track team.' "

Blevins, a junior, has already made an oral commitment to attend Tulsa (Okla.) University. She has been on the Patriots' varsity softball team since she was a freshman and has dominated as a pitcher, posting a 0.91 ERA so far this year.

"I have really enjoyed coaching Lexi this season," said Angela Ramiro, Blevins' coach. "She is extremely focused and a natural athlete. Her hard work and dedication to the game are admirable."

Blevins grew up in Menifee, developing her softball skills in the city's ASA program. She said the technique she has improved over the years is the secret to her success.

"I've always had the speed, but not the form," she said. "I've worked hard on both speed and more movement of my pitches. But the key is to keep my confidence. I don't think about my form when I'm pitching."