Softball Star Bustos Commits to Northridge

Cal State Northridge’s chances of competing for an NCAA softball championship were improved considerably Thursday when Crystl Bustos announced that she intends to sign a national letter of intent with the Matadors.

Bustos, 20, is the two-time National Junior College player of the year and former star shortstop at Canyon High. She hit over .600 with more than 150 runs batted in the past two seasons at Palm Beach Community College.

She is attending College of the Canyons this semester while trying to obtain her Associate of Arts degree. She said she will enroll at Northridge next fall or in January.

“It’s close to home and I want to play in front of my family again,” Bustos said. “I know a lot of people who play for Northridge.”

How good is Bustos? So good that there isn’t a college softball coach in the nation who wouldn’t want to sign her.

“Any coach would say she’s probably the best player they’ve ever seen,” said Dale Moore, who has coached Bustos since she was 11 in travel ball.

Bustos has been playing for a slow pitch team while helping coach a 14-and-under team. She hopes to play shortstop for the Matadors.