Cuesta Softball finished the 2023 campaign tied for second place in the Western State Conference and missed a chance for their program's first playoff berth since 2015 due to a seeding formula tiebreaker. Despite their season ending earlier than expected the Cougars were well represented on the all-Western State Conference teams. Eight Cuesta players, including a trio of first teamers, earned all-WSC honors this year which is the program' largest contingent in a decade, when the 2014 team set the record with 10 all-WSC selections. The Cougars' honors list was led by a trio of sophomores on the 2023 All-Western State Conference First Team; two-time All-WSC First Teamer Alura Neill (Felton- Pict) along with a pair of returning 2nd teamers, Emily Valdez (Carmel HS) and Mara Mazanec (Easton), who both moved up a spot in their sophomore season.
Two-time All-WSC First Team and last year's Team MVP, Infielder Alura Neill was the Cougars' Shortstop in 2022 but moved over to the other side of second base this season. She joined Freshman Shortstop Reese Tartaglia (Morro Bay HS) to form one of the best double-play combinations in the State. The Cougars led the State with 28 double plays this season, which also ranks second all-time at Cuesta. A renowned ball-hawk, Neill is the first Cuesta player on record to handle 200 or more chances in back-to-back seasons. On offense, Neill was 2nd on the team with 40 runs scored (8th all time at Cuesta), 23 stolen bases (9th) and a .342 batting average. She ends her Cuesta career tied for the most runs scored in Cuesta History, 75, and in the Top 10 for five other statistical categories (Triples, Stolen Bases, Hit by Pitch, Walks, On-Base Pct)
Two-time All-WSC Centerfielder Emily Valdez was elevated to the 2023 All Western State Conference First Team, after earning second team honors in 2022. Valdez was the team's offensive catalyst and the pitching staff's best friend in Centerfield. She led the Cougars with both a .397 batting average and a team-high 13 extra-base hits, including three triples and four home runs. Once on base, Valdez became a greater threat and used her speed to collect a team-high 28 stolen bases on her way leading the team with 46 runs scored. In the field, Valdez tracked down 80 flyballs in an error free season, including nine in a win over #2 Monterey Peninsula. Valdez's 74 career runs are only one behind Neill's school record and she ends her career 3rd at Cuesta with 46 career base thefts.
Sophomore Mara Mazanec also jumped to the 2023 All Western State Conference First Team, after earning second team honors in 2022. Mazanec split the season between outfield and catcher, while batting .290 on the season. A magician with the bat, she used speed and placement, while collecting only one extra-base hit, to amass her 58 career hits. Mazanec was also a perfect 28-for-28 in stolen bases.
The Cougars placed a program record four players on the 2023 All-WSC Second Team. Pitcher Bella Garcia (Madera) and Outfielder Kaylynn Gray (Oakley) joined the left side of the Cougars' infield, Shortstop Reese Tartaglia and Third Baseman Shayla Bautista (Santa Maria: Righetti HS), on the loop's second team. Garcia split her season between the pitching circle and first base. On the rubber, she was an even 9-9 with a 3.59 ERA over a team-high 117.0 innings, while also recording a team-high 47 strikeouts. She helped herself on offense by batting at a .291 clip and driving in 22 runs. Gray hit in the heart of the Cougars' line-up and batted .328, while finishing second on the team with 31 RBI. Tartaglia led the Cougars with 37 runs batted, while also finishing second on the team with 29 runs scored. She batted .331 on the season and was second on the team with a dozen extra-base hits. Bautista, who is a former collegiate wrestler, put herself on the line for her team, whether it was handling line drives at Third Base or absorbing a school record, for both a season and career, 16 hit by pitches. She batted a solid .333 on the season, however her 13 walks and 16 bean balls helped lift her on-base percentage to team-high .551, which ranks 4th all time at Cuesta.
Freshman Pitcher Hannah Hollingsworth (Watsonville) was accorded 2023 All-Western State Conference Honorable Mention. She was the Cougars' winningest pitcher, with a 10-5 record, and her .667 won-loss percentage ties her for 7th all time (minimum 15 decisions) at Cuesta. Hollingsworth owned a team-best 3.18 ERA over a 101.1 innings on the season.
2023 WSC Softball Awards
Emily Valdez- All-WSC First Team
Alura Neill- All-WSC First Team
Mara Mazanec- All-WSC First Team
Reese Tartaglia- All-WSC Second Team
Shayla Bautista- All-WSC Second Team
Kaylynn Gray - All-WSC Second Team
Bella Garcia- All-WSC Second Team
Hannah Hollingsworth - All-WSC Honorable Mention
