Santa Cruz County had four high school softball teams seeded in the upcoming Central Coast Section playoffs. That’s the good news.

The bad news? Recent history indicates that none will enjoy postseason success. (And for the sake of this story, success is modestly defined as “win one game.”)

County teams went a combined 0-4 in 2024, 0-3 in ’23, and 1-4 in ’22.

Soquel is the last county school to win a first-round CCS game. The Knights routed King City 14-0 in Division III but lost to eventual champion Carlmont 1-0 in semifinals.

The locals are poised to break the county’s postseason skid when the ’25 playoffs open Saturday. Scotts Valley will compete in D-I, Aptos in D-III, and San Lorenzo Valley and Watsonville in D-IV.

The repeat Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League champion Falcons (21-5-1) was seeded No. 7 in D-I, and play at No. 2 Gilroy (18-7) at 11 a.m. The Mustangs, led by senior pitcher Ariela Yslava, finished second to unbeaten Willow Glen (26-0) in the Blossom Valley Athletic League’s Mount Hamilton Division.The Falcons, who have a 2024-25 CBED enrollment of 645, competed in the CCS D-II playoffs last season and lost 3-0 to Milpitas, which has an enrollment of 2,991. Gilroy’s enrollment is 1,618.

“I think it’s crazy they put us Division I,” said Jeremy Wilson, who is stepping down as head coach after three years at the helm. “I wish they’d leave schools by enrollment. We’d like to play a little longer, but it is what it is. We were good and we earned enough power points.”

Scotts Valley has outscored opponents 177-69 this season. The Falcons are batting .344 (221 for 643) with 47 extra-base hits and 58 stolen bases.

“Gilroy has a really good pitcher. I don’t think we’re doomed. We have good pitching too. It’ll be a big challenge. We have to be at the top of our game. We have to have solid at-bats, competitive at-bats. I think we can play with anybody.”

The Falcons have a connection to the county’s last team to win a playoff game. Falcons pitcher Sofie Seese was a freshman on that team. The University of Nevada committed ace transferred to Scotts Valley after her sophomore year.

If the Falcons get past Gilroy, they’ll face either No. 6 Mills (21-3-1) or No. 3 Saratoga (19-2) in the semifinals.

In other quarterfinals, No. 5 Hollister (14-11) plays at No. 4 The Kings Academy (17-7), and No. 8 Homestead (13-4) plays at No. 1 Live Oak (23-2).

Aptos (15-7), the SCCAL runner-up, is seeded No. 7 in D-III. The Mariners play at No. 2 Alisal (18-6) in Salinas on Saturday at noon. The Trojans tied Carmel for second place in the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Mission Division behind champion Pacific Grove.

The Mariners have outscored opponents 204-84. The Mariners are batting .418 (240 for 574) with 83 extra-base hits and 75 stolen bases.

“You never know what is going to happen once you submit your CCS form,” said Mariners coach Phil Rojas. “I always expect to play a top team. A number 7 seed is what it is. Going to Alisal will be a challenge. They had a great season and have some good players. I feel we have a great team as well. It should be a good matchup. We will prepare for them and give them everything we’ve got.”

If the Mariners get past the Trojans, they’ll face either No. 6 Sobrato (11-10) or No. 3 Prospect (17-5) in the semifinals.

In other quarterfinals, No. 5 Los Altos (14-10) plays at No. 4 Westmont (13-14), and No. 8 Mountain View (10-12) plays at No. 1 Carmel (19-5).

SLV (12-9), the SCCAL’s third-place finisher, is No. 6 in D-IV. The Cougars play at No. 3 Woodside (13-11) on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Wildcats tied for fourth place in the Peninsula Athletic League’s Bay Division.

No. 2 Watsonville (13-13), the sixth-place finisher in the PCAL’s Gabilan Division, hosts No. 7 Cupertino (15-8) on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Pioneers took second to Saratoga in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League’s El Camino Division.

If SLV and Watsonville win their openers, they’ll square off in the semifinals.

In quarterfinals on the other side of the bracket, No. 5 Sacred Heart Cathedral (11-12) plays at No. 4 Lincoln (15-9), and No. 8 Palma (8-14-1) plays at No. 1 Notre Dame San Jose (17-9).

Kyleigh Mace, a Scotts Valley resident who pitches for Archbishop Mitty in San Jose, is also playoff-bound. The junior ace, who is committed to BYU, and the No. 8 Monarchs (14-7-1), the third-place finisher in the West Catholic Athletic League, play at No. 1 Willow Glen in the Open Division quarterfinals.