Watsonville High sophomore Amelia Martinez was named the Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division’s Pitcher of the Year for the 2024 regular season.
The Wildcatz’s star pitcher finished with a 13-2 overall record in 20 appearances in the circle. She had a 1.59 ERA with 138 strikeouts and 38 walks, while giving up just one home run in 101 1/3 innings pitched, according to statistics on the MaxPreps website.
“I was shocked, I didn’t think I would get that. But I know I worked hard and it paid off,” she said.
Martinez was instrumental in helping Watsonville capture the Mission Division title following an 11-1 record in league play this season. It was their first league crown since sharing the now defunct Monterey Bay League Gabilan Division title with Hollister High in 2017.
Watsonville coach Pete Legorreta—who is also Martinez’s grandfather—said the grind never ends for the ‘Catz’s ace hurler.
“[Martinez] had a really nice successful season and I was really happy. She worked real hard,” Legorreta said.
Martinez was playing for the Suncats Jimenez travel softball team before she recently made the move to the Warrior Academy Softball program. During the offseason, she also spent time in the weight room to improve her strength.
“I worked more on location and getting more movement on my pitches. And then I also did stuff to increase my speed, which helped,” she said.
The prep softball season finished nearly a month ago, yet Martinez is still practicing every weekend. She’s also set to compete in Premier Girls Fastpitch tournaments during the summer.
Martinez’s drive on becoming the best pitcher in the Mission Division comes from wanting to prove she was a much better player than most viewed her in 2023.
As a freshman, she faced the PCAL Gabilan Division—the top tier of the four divisions within the league. The Wildcatz went winless with an 0-14 record in league play that season.
“I think that drove me to work harder and also just wanting to have redemption,” she said.
Legoretta said his granddaughter isn’t the biggest physical specimen, but Martinez is determined and tries to be crafty with her pitches such as the breaking ball.
“Nowadays with those bats, if you just throw a fastball you’re gonna get pounded, and they go far, real far,” Legorreta said. “[Martinez] works on her speed, but then the speed just goes down to her breaking balls, they just make them a little bit harder.”
Legorreta said another reason Martinez had so much success was the outstanding defense behind her.
The ‘Catz were led by senior Julia Maldonado and freshman Esperanza Sigala, a slick shortstop who filled a void in the infield. Both players earned All-PCAL First Team honors.
“[Martinez] pitched well, but her defense really got her back and really performed,” Legoretta said.
Maldonado and Sigala were also a pair of sluggers for Watsonville.
Maldonado batted a .429 (24-for-56) average with 10 doubles, 24 RBIs and 20 runs scored—all a team-best for Watsonville.
Sigala wasn’t far behind as she batted a .390 (23-for-59) average with one home, four triples, five doubles, 19 RBIs and 16 runs scored.
Apart from being the ‘Catz’s main pitcher, Martinez batted a .357 (20-for-56) average with one home run, two triples, three doubles, 13 RBIs and 15 runs scored.
Watsonville senior Cameron Llamas along with juniors Ashley Jimenez and Jillian Lerma each earned All-PCAL Second Team honors.
“I think it shows that we’re going in the right direction. And that we have a group of girls who want to work hard and be good, and who actually care,” Martinez said.
Monte Vista Christian junior Kayla Fullalove-Silveira earned All-PCAL First Team honors, while freshman Gia Johnson earned all-league second team honors.
Fullalove-Silveira had a stellar season at the plate, batting a .653 (49-for-75) average with five home runs, five triples, 13 doubles, 43 RBIs, 35 runs scored and 13 stolen bases for the Mustangs, who placed fifth in the PCAL Mission Division with a 3-9 record in league play.
2024 All-PCAL Softball
Mission Division
Pitcher of the Year
Amelia Martinez, Watsonville
Offensive Player of the Year
Nicole Tapson, Carmel
Defensive Player of the Year
Savannah Hardy, Pacific Grove.
First team
Lily Grundy, Carmel
Allie Hacker, Carmel
Nicole Tapson, Carmel
Ava Mangiapane, Carmel
Malaya Carrillo, King City
Amber Mercado, King City
Lisa Villanueva, King City
Kayla Fullalove-Silveira, Monte Vista Christian
Savannah Hardy, Pacific Grove
Isis Turner, Pacific Grove
Julia Maldonado, Watsonville
Amelia Martinez, Watsonville
Esperanza Sigala, Watsonville
Second team
Ky Dahle, Carmel
Angelina George, Carmel
Chloe Lemaster, Carmel
Aliza Carrillo, King City
Avery Munoz, King City
Raylie Moore, King City
Gia Johnson, MVC
Lili Gaona, Pacific Grove
Alex Giammanco, Pacific Grove
Felicia Houde, Pacific Grove
Hope Yoshiyama, Santa Catalina
Ashley Jimenez, Watsonville
Jillian Lerma, Watsonville
Cameron Llamas, Watsonville
Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship team
Lily Grundy, Carmel
Samantha Franco, Gonzales
Amity Hearne, King City
Ava Alvarado, MVC
Erin Shoemaker, Pacific Grove
Layla Borman, Santa Catalina
Kianna Perreira, Watsonville
Cypress Division
Offensive Player of the Year
Jordan Smith, Alisal
Pitcher of the Year
Mikayla Sanchez, Greenfield
Defensive Player of the Year
Jasmin Estrada, Alisal
First team
Jasmine Estrada, Alisal
Nevaeh Lopez, Alisal
Sam Ortiz, Alisal
Jordan Smith, Alisal
Micah Smith, Alisal
Mikayla Sanchez, Greenfield
Kalissa Barrera, Marina
Alyssa Castillo, Rancho San Juan
Hemeria Dela Torre, Pajaro Valley
Kaimi Tulua, Seaside
Alexia Calderon, Soledad
Kassandra Hernandez, Soledad
Desiree Peraza, Trinity
Second team
Aailiyah Ruiz, Alisal
Carmelina Esquivias, Alisal
Zoe Martinez, Anzar
Chloe Zavala, Greenfield
Jayla Navarro, Marina
Cerise Salas, Marina
Sydney Smith, Marina
Olivia Contreras, Pajaro Valley
Andrea Ruano, Rancho San Juan
Norma Tulua, Seaside
Jaylynn Garcia, Soledad
Arlette Mosqueda, Soledad
Delylah Ocampo, Soledad
Isabelle Combs, Trinity
Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship team
Isabella Ramirez, Alisal
Yara Hernandez, Greenfield
Kyra Grantham, Marina
Katie Acosta, Pajaro Valley
Delylah Magdalene, Rancho San Juan
Leveaha Duran, Seaside
Alexia Calderon, Soledad
Verbena Cain, Trinity
Eligie Bellizio Sportsmanship Team
Seaside
Gabilan Division
Most Valuable Player
Mia Phillips, Hollister
Pitcher of the Year
Abi Jones, Salinas
First team
Dani Amendola, Alvarez
Madeline Bermudez, Hollister
Dom Olivera, Hollister
Mia Phillips, Hollister
Denae Lee, Monterey
Ella Myers, Monterey
Aliyah Morgan, North Monterey County
Kalea De Leon, North Salinas
Sophia Cardinale, Notre Dame
Maya Martinez, Notre Dame
Sabrina Hardin, Stevenson
Jessica Cisneros, Salinas
Abi Jones, Salinas
Second team
Michelle Wallace, Alvarez
Johnny Casarez, Hollister
Grace Peffley, Hollister
Ryanna Elliott, Monterey
Taylor Page, Monterey
Johana Alonzo, NMC
Leslie Ruiz, NMC
Kiersten Jara, Notre Dame
Aalyssah Huihui Martinez, Notre Dame
Shailene Riemedio, Notre Dame
Sam Regalado, Salinas
Ava Thompson, Salinas
Claren Wong, Stevenson
Richard Chamberlin Sportsmanship team
Michelle Wallace, Alvarez
Avery Chavez, Hollister
Jenna Deese, Monterey
April Gonzalez, NMC
Iliana Parez, North Salinas
Emma Herrera, Notre Dame
Sam Regalado, Salinas
Claren Wong, Stevenson
