By Jimmy Friery
Seven players from the Vaqueros Softball team were deservedly named All-Conference following the conclusion of this season, including four making the 1st Team.
SBCC finished 3rd in the WSC-North with a 10-4 conference record and 19-15 overall record. Both of those totals are the best since 2017, marking a program on the rise.
Freshman Gracie Verdugo played a big role in the team's success this year, leading in average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage (.444/.500/.717), home runs (6), RBIs (37), and strikeouts (2). A 1st Team selection, look for her to have a monster 2025 season.
Another freshman, Mia Reveles, also earned 1st Team honors. All three components of her slash line were second on the team (.381/.482/.690), while she led in triples (6), walks (20), and runs (44). Her 34 stolen bases—only getting caught once—led the conference with 8 to spare.
Jessica Reveles made the 1st Team, too, with a slash line of .374/.469/.542. Her 13 doubles, 33 RBIs, 16 walks, and 21 stolen bases were all good for 2nd on the team.
Elliana Ryan rounds out the four 1st Team selections for the Vaqueros. Her 14 doubles and 20 extra base hits led the team, further slugging 5 homers and driving in 31 runs. With a final slash line of .358/.426/.642, she also was a serviceable pitcher, logging 16 appearances with a 4-3 record.
Catcher Mackenzie Ensign was one of the three Vaqueros to earn 2nd Team All-Conference honors. She was 5th on the team in hits (34), behind the four 1st team Vaqueros, batting .327. A tough out, she only struck out 4 times on the year compared to 10 walks.
Alena Johnson, the Vaqueros primary pitcher, used her 11 wins and 3.18 ERA to also make the 2nd team. Her ERA was 2nd best in the conference, only behind Pitcher of the Year Amanda Smith (Moorpark). The exclamation point of her and the Vaqueros' season was the last game of the year, on the road, where she tossed a 1-hitter to beat Hancock 3-0 and steal 3rd place from them. Johnson was no slouch in the batter's box, either, smacking 4 homers to the tune of a .314/.437/.543 line. Only a freshman, she looks to be a big part of next year's Vaqueros.
Rounding out the group of seven is Alexia Ayala. Also rounding out the seven to hit above .300 in the Vaqueros strong offense, Ayala batted .306 in her second season at SBCC.
