University of Redlands two-way star Katlyn Gandara and California Lutheran University ace Ashlyn Flinchum were named the Athlete and Pitcher of the Year atop the 2024 SCIAC Softball All-Conference teams.
Gandara fueled what was the conference’s top offense by a wide margin with an average of 6.5 runs per game to earn a share of the regular season title and the top seed in the SCIAC Tournament. Last year’s rookie sensation as the 2023 SCIAC Pitcher of the Year led the league in batting average (.475) and RBI (25) as well as accumulating nine wins on the mound.
Flinchum made her SCIAC debut with authority in lifting the Regals to their first full-season tournament appearance since 2015. She led the conference with a .209 batting average against and 75 strikeouts - nearly twice as many as anyone else - over 10 complete games in 12 starts.
Newcomer of the Year recognition was bestowed upon Gisella Lai, who took over centerfield duties early in the season and proceeded to bat .400/.475/.600 and tied for the league lead with four triples. She also recorded a pair of outfield assists and was successful on all three stolen base attempts.
Whittier College’s Sara Chiala was presented the Character Award in recognition of her exemplary success on the field, in the classroom and with involvement in the community and school service. A two-time Whittier “Purple Heart” and one-time “Iron Woman Award” winner, Chiala has been the heart and soul not only to Poet Softball but the entire school, where she serves in the Center for Advising for all students on probation still working to obtain their degree. She also works at the Orthopedic Sports Therapy Center and volunteers at San Jose Sting Organization every year as a Coach and mentor for their 14U girls team.
Debby Day and the Regals dugout garnered Coaching Staff of the Year honors after steering Cal Lutheran to its first full-season conference tournament appearance since 2015. The Regals integrated newcomers Flinchum and SCIAC home run leader Jessica Waters to improve by four wins on last year’s seventh-place finish.
CMS and Chapman led all teams with five total selections, with the Athenas landing four players on the First Team. Five others had three selections, with every team represented by at least two players. Pomona-Pitzer Colleges’ Devin Waddell, the 2023 Athlete of the Year and 2022 Newcomer of the Year, and Whittier’s Emily Adkison became three-time First Team selections, with Waddell also cracking the Second Team as a pitcher. Gandara was one of five players to repeat on the First Team, along with Rose Malen and Miranda Murphy (Chapman), 2023 Newcomer of the Year Kylie Liu (Pomona-Pitzer) and Emma Suh (CMS). Athena Rachel Sapirstein and Bulldog Natalie Horton bumped up from the Second Team, where Chapman’s Iliana Serna earned her third All-Conference honor. 2022 Pitcher of the Year Jillian Kelly (Chapman) and three others - Destiny Garcia (CMS), Taylor Gray (University of La Verne) and Alysha Wagner (Occidental) - made the All-Conference cut for a second consecutive season.
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Athlete
of the Year |
Pitcher
of the Year |
Newcomer
of the Year |
Character
Award |
Coaching
Staff of the Year |
Katlyn Gandara
Redlands |
Ashlyn Flinchum
Cal Lutheran |
Giselle Lai
CMS |
Sara Chiala
Whittier |
Debby Day
Cal Lutheran |
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| First Team All-SCIAC |
| Name |
Institution |
Year |
Position |
Hometown |
| Katlyn Gandara |
Redlands |
So. |
P/DP |
Whittier, Calif. |
| Ashlyn Flinchum |
Cal Lutheran |
Jr. |
P |
Ventura, Calif. |
| Jade Johnson |
CMS |
Sr. |
P |
El Segundo, Calif. |
| Rose Malen |
Chapman |
So. |
P |
San Rafael, Calif. |
| Kylie Liu |
Pomona-Pitzer |
So. |
C |
Palo Alto, Calif. |
| Emily Adkison |
Whittier |
Jr. |
1B |
Laguna Niguel, Calif. |
| Devin Waddell |
Pomona-Pitzer |
Jr. |
1B |
Sherman Oaks, Calif. |
| Cassandra Zapata |
La Verne |
So. |
2B |
Fairfield, Calif. |
| Rachel Sapirstein |
CMS |
So. |
3B |
Kirkland, Wash. |
| Natalie Horton |
Redlands |
Sr. |
SS |
Palmdale, Calif. |
| Angelina Alderete |
La Verne |
Jr. |
RF |
West Covina, Calif. |
| Nadia Collins |
Cal Lutheran |
So. |
CF |
Simi Valley, Calif. |
| Giselle Lai |
CMS |
Fy. |
CF |
Arcadia, Calif. |
| Miranda Murphy |
Chapman |
Jr. |
CF |
San Diego, Calif. |
| Emma Suh |
CMS |
Jr. |
2B/RF |
La Mirada, Calif. |
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| Second Team All-SCIAC |
| Name |
Institution |
Year |
Position |
Hometown |
| Bella Carreon |
Pomona-Pitzer |
Jr. |
SS |
Foster City, Calif. |
| Destiny Garcia |
CMS |
Sr. |
2B |
Whittier, Calif. |
| Taylor Gray |
La Verne |
Gr. |
3B |
San Diego, Calif. |
| Jillian Kelly |
Chapman |
Jr. |
P |
Woodland Hills, Calif. |
| Evelyn Lorch |
Occidental |
Jr. |
C |
Hemet, Calif. |
| Sara Luna |
Whittier |
Jr. |
CF |
Downey, Calif. |
| Paige Messenlehner |
Redlands |
Jr. |
RF |
Fresno, Calif. |
| Maya Palos |
Whittier |
Jr. |
C |
Monterey Park, Calif. |
| Iliana Serna |
Chapman |
Jr. |
3B |
Placentia, Calif. |
| Devin Waddell |
Pomona-Pitzer |
Jr. |
P |
Sherman Oaks, Calif. |
| Alysha Wagner |
Occidental |
So. |
SS |
Corona, Calif. |
| Jessica Waters |
Cal Lutheran |
Fy. |
1B |
Spokane, Wash. |
| Jordan Westerfield |
Chapman |
Jr. |
1B |
Placentia, Calif. |
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