Scotts Valley High junior Taylor Wilson, No. 22, was named the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League's Softball Player of the Year for the 2024 season. (Juan Reyes/Press Banner)

Scotts Valley High junior Taylor Wilson earned the league’s top honors as the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League’s Player of the Year for the 2024 season.

“This award means a lot to me because it was my goal from the beginning of the season and I am so grateful that I was selected in the end,” said Wilson via text message. “It makes it really special that I could stand out enough to all of those coaches and people for them to recognize me.”

The Falcons’ star player batted a .508 average (31-for-61) with three triples, seven doubles, nine RBIs, 25 runs scored and 20 stolen bases. She was also a stalwart on defense as the Falcons’ third baseman, recording 35 assists and eight putouts with just two errors in 45 total chances, according to statistics on the MaxPreps website.

“My work ethic really isn’t that special, I don’t like doing bad,” she said. “I also love playing softball, so it isn’t hard for me to go out and practice a lot.”

Taylor helped lead the Falcons to an SCCAL softball crown for the first time since 2017. 

In the 2024 season, Scotts Valley finished 13-2 in league play and 14-7 overall, earning a trip to the Central Coast Section Division II playoffs.

“There were a lot of fun moments this season and I loved playing with this group of girls,” Wilson said. “It was just a fun moment when we won league because that was something new for all of us and I hope that we can do it next year.”

Scotts Valley coach Jeremy Wilson said having her daughter win the league’s top accolade is a huge honor for her and the softball program.

“There are some talented girls in this league, and to be recognized as the player of the year is pretty special,” he said. “What made it even more special is that she was nominated by another coach in the league, and not by me.”

Jeremy Wilson added that Taylor works hard at her craft and believes this award will help push her game to the next level.

The Falcons’ second-year coach also went home with some hardware after Jeremy Wilson was named the SCCAL’s Coach of the Year. He said it was an honor to be recognized by his peers within the league and owes it to the players on this year’s squad.

“They are the ones that work so hard to put the coaching into action on the field,” he said. “I owe that accolade to them.”

Other top award winners include Aptos High senior pitcher Mileena Carbajal, who recently committed to Indiana Institute of Technology on a softball scholarship.

Carbajal had a 1.65 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings pitched for the Mariners in 2024.

Aptos coach Phil Rojas said Carbajal was well deserving of the award, especially after having the best season in her four years with the Mariners.

“[Carbajal] developed her screwball that made her tough to hit this year,” Rojas said. “Mileena was determined to be the best. I was so proud of her. Her strikeouts were definitely up.”

Harbor High senior Morgan Devilries earned the Heart & Hustle award.

Scotts Valley junior infielder Gracie Delgado, junior pitcher Sofie Seese and freshman outfielder Chloe Kent each earned All-SCCAL First Team honors.

Delgado batted a .397 average (23-for-58) with a team-best four home runs, two triples, five doubles, 15 RBIs, 20 runs scored and five stolen bases.

Seese had a 1.13 ERA with 93 strikeouts in 86 2/3 innings pitched, going 9-7 overall in the circle this season.

Kent also looked impressive with 35 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings pitched for the Falcons. She batted a .367 average (22-for-60) with three doubles, one triple, eight RBIs and 14 runs scored.

San Lorenzo Valley senior outfielder Alyssa Struthers, junior infielder Angie Fulkerson and senior catcher Olivia Renouf each earned All-SCCAL First Team honors.

Struthers tallied 32 hits, including seven doubles, two triples, two home runs and 13 RBIs for the Cougars, who finished with a 15-11 overall record and placed third in the SCCAL standings going 11-4 record in league play.

Fulkerson had 26 hits, including five doubles, one triple, one home run and 18 RBIs, while Renouf finished with 26 hits, including five doubles and 16 RBIs.

SLV junior pitcher Abby Krepelka, senior infielder Ali Reger and junior outfielder Cheyenne Owen, and Scotts Valley junior infielder Abby Howell and junior outfielder Jazzy Doubek each earned All-SCCAL Second Team honors.

Jeremy Wilson is expecting to have his starting nine players—most of them playing together since they were eight years old—return for the 2025 season.

Wilson said it was an amazing feeling to win a league title and hang a banner in the gymnasium for this year’s group of girls.

“Looking forward to seeing what this group can accomplish next season,” he said.

2024 All-SCCAL Softball

Individual Awards

Most Valuable Player: Taylor Wilson (Jr.), Scotts Valley

Pitcher of the Year: Mileena Carbajal (Sr.), Aptos

Heart & Hustle Award: Morgan Devilries (Sr.), Harbor

Coach of the Year: Jeremy Wilson, Scotts Valley

First Team

Emma Burgueno (Fr.), Aptos

Bailey Fulton (Jr.), Aptos 

Regan Fulton (Sr.), Aptos

Angie Fulkerson (Jr.), San Lorenzo Valley 

Olivia Renouf (Sr.), SLV

Alyssa Struthers (Sr.), SLV

Gracie Delgado (Jr.), Scotts Valley

Chloe Kent (Fr.), Scotts Valley

Sofie Seese (Jr.), Scotts Valley 

Emma Niizawa (Fr.), Soquel

Second Team

Kalani Aguayo (Jr.), Aptos

Lanies Nunez (So.), Aptos

Malibu Dominguez (Jr.), Harbor

Ella Dunton (Fr.), Santa Cruz 

Makayla Norman (So.), Santa Cruz 

Abby Krepelka (Jr.), SLV

Cheyenne Owen (Jr.), SLV 

Ali Reger (Sr.), SLV

Jazzy Doubek (Jr.), Scotts Valley

Abby Howell (Jr.), Scotts Valley 

Honorable Mention

Cara Allshouse (So.), Aptos 

Lilly McGee (Jr.), Aptos 

Nova Neu (Fr.), Aptos 

Addison Schaefer (So.), Harbor 

Juliet Ray (Jr.), Harbor

Miranda Navarro (So.), Harbor

Jori Fields-Rapley (Jr.), SLV 

Fallyn Lachmund (Sr.), SLV 

Grace Purscher (Fr.), SLV 

Amaris Gonzalez (Jr.), Santa Cruz 

Leah Serna (So.), Santa Cruz 

Izzy Fetke (Fr.), Santa Cruz 

Ava Eagle (Sr.), Scotts Valley 

Natalie Murry-Skalland (Fr.), Scotts Valley

Nick Powell (Jr.), Scotts Valley 

Katie Niizawa (Fr.), Soquel 

Mallely Valdez (So.), Soquel 

Lucy Federspiel (So.), Soquel

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A Watsonville native who has a passion for local sports and loves his community. A Watsonville High, Cabrillo College, San Jose State University and UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism alumnus, he primarily covers high school athletics, Cabrillo College athletics, various youth sports in the Pajaro Valley and the Santa Cruz Warriors. Juan is also a video game enthusiast, part-time chef (at home), explorer and a sports junkie. Coaches and athletic directors are encouraged to report scores HERE.

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