Aptos High senior Jewels “Sparky” Chavez was a huge difference maker this season for the Mariners softball team and she became what head coach Phil Rojas called the best leadoff hitter during his tenure with the program.
“I nicknamed her (Sparky) because of how she got us going this year,” he said.
Chavez finished with a slugging percentage of .753, striking out just three times in 87 plate appearances and led with a team-best 12 steals.
She batted a .571 average (44-of-77) with seven doubles, two triples, one home run, 20 RBIs and 31 runs scored for Aptos (14-10) this season, which finished second in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League standings with a 12-3 record in league play.
The coaches within the league recognized Chavez for her efforts by naming her the league’s Impact Player of the Year at this year’s end-of-the-season meeting.
Rojas said Chavez—who dealt with injuries in the past—had a healthy senior year and showed what she can do on the field.
“Just so proud of her for how she represented the Aptos softball program,” Rojas said.
Chavez will attend Sacramento State and plans to be a walk-on for the softball program.
Aptos sophomore Kailani Aguayo and junior Mileena Carbajal both earned All-SCCAL First Team honors; while senior Riley Carrera earned all-league second team honors.
San Lorenzo Valley High (21-2, 15-0) won the league title outright this season. They were led by junior Alyssa Struthers—the league’s Most Valuable Player—and Pitcher of the Year senior Ameila Sizemore.
All-SCCAL Softball
Individual Awards
Most Valuable Player: Alyssa Struthers (Jr.), San Lorenzo Valley
Pitcher of the Year: Amelia Sizemore (Sr.), SLV
Impact Player of the Year: Jewels Chavez (Sr.), Aptos
Coach of the Year: Mark Brown, SLV
First Team
Kailani Aguayo (So.), Aptos
Mileena Carbajal (Jr.), Aptos
Gracie Delgado (So.), Scotts Valley
Morgan DeVillires (Jr.), Harbor
Jazzy Doubek (So.), Scotts Valley
Lucy Federspiel (Fr.), Soquel
Angie Fulkerson (So.), SLV
Bailey Fulton (So.), Aptos
Olivia Renouf (Jr.), SLV
Bella Reynolds (Sr.), SLV
Taylor Wilson (So.), Scotts Valley
Second Team
Riley Carrera (Sr.), Aptos
Poppy Coursey (So.), Santa Cruz
Bailey Ghigliazza (So.), Soquel
Lanies Nunez (Fr.), Aptos
Cheyenne Owen (So.), SLV
Molly Pisciotta (So.), Santa Cruz
Jazzy Phillips (Fr.), Scotts Valley
Charlotte Ramirez (Sr.), Aptos
Leah Serna (Fr.), Santa Cruz
Anaya Sutcliffe (Sr.), SLV
Honorable Mention
Makenzie Lashley (So.), Aptos
Lilly McGee (So.), Aptos
Raegan Fulton (Jr.), Aptos
Malibu Dominguez (So.), Harbor
Juliet Ray (So.), Harbor
Addisyn Schaefer (Fr.), Harbor
Jori Fields-Rapley (So.), SLV
Andrea Oropeza (So.), SLV
Ali Reger (Jr.), SLV
Shaya Craig (Fr.), Santa Cruz
Akita Gomez (Fr.), Santa Cruz
Mikayla Norman (Fr.), Santa Cruz
Sofia Grigg (Jr.), Scotts Valley
Abby Howell (So.), Scotts Valley
Nick Powell (So.), Scotts Valley
Natalia Perez (Jr.), Soquel
Eliza Srevens (Fr.), Soquel
