The Watsonville High girls’ flag football team continues to roll in the month of October following a 31-0 win over Soledad High on Oct. 18.
Senior quarterback Itzel Martinez had a pair of touchdown passes for the Wildcatz’s “gold” squad, which has won three straight dating back to Oct. 9.
Senior receiver Juleanna Ramirez caught one of Martinez’s TD passes, and sophomore receiver Itzury Vazquez caught the other score for Watsonville.
Watsonville senior receiver Joselyn Gutierrez sprinted to the end zone for a 35-yard touchdown, while the defense recorded three interceptions—two of them for touchdowns.
Junior defensive back Monique De La Mora and senior safety Mariana Ramirez each had a pick-six, and sophomore Regina Sientes came down with one interception.
Martinez recorded three more TD Passes in a 25-8 victory over Harbor High on Oct. 11. Ramirez had two touchdown receptions including a 65-yard catch for a score, and one rushing TD. Junior receiver Brianna Leon hauled in one TD reception for the ‘Catz, who improved to 9-8 overall (Gold Team is 8-3; Black Team is 1-5).
Next up, Watsonville will host a Super Saturday Jamboree event on Saturday. Games are slated to begin at 9am.
At Aptos 27, Scotts Valley 16: Izzy Graff, a junior, recorded a pick-six for the Mariners in their win over the Falcons on Wednesday.
Junior quarterback Gabi Dow also also found her way into the end zone, while senior Nancy Cervantes and freshman Lauren Galster contributed with successful extra point attempts.
Dow added three more TD passes in their 28-0 win against San Lorenzo Valley on Oct. 14.
Ava “Gavin” Churchill, Emi Gansaeuer Pilcher and Graff were on the receiving end of those scores. Freshman quarterback Dakota Bamford completed a 12-yard TD pass to Annika Routh.
Mia Parello, Angelique Nunez, Julia Silveria and Cervantes were all successful in their extra point attempts.
On defense, Elenah Esquivel recorded an interception that put an end to an SLV drive.
“I do want to give a shout-out to my coaching staff: Gabby Fely, Angela Chmelicek and Gabriella Russo,” said Aptos coach Denise Russo in an email.
Aptos will host Hollister High on Friday night in a double header starting at 6pm.
The Mariners are hosting Soquel High on Saturday at 9am. The inaugural flag football season will conclude with a Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League Tournament on Oct. 28.
Track and field
Watsonville shines in regular season finale: The ‘Catz were led by both Katelynn Ruiz and Giancarlo Mendo, who each won their respective 3-mile race during Pacific Coast Athletic League Central meet No. 3 on Oct. 12.
Giancarlo, a senior, won the Mission Division boys race in 15 minutes, 53 seconds, followed by teammates Rodrigo Barranco (16:23) in fifth, Desi Salinas-Holz (17:52; 28th), Jared Sunga (17:55; 31st) and Diego Gonzalez (18:15; 39th).
Ruiz won the girls race in 18:23 to help the ‘Catz take second as a team with a score of 59, just behind winners King City with 38 points.
Fellow teammate senior Angela Hebert (20:31) took sixth, followed by Lizbeth Gomez Abrica (21:05; 13th), Alma Vasquez (23:07; 25th) and Giselle Marquez (24:32; 32nd).
Giancarlo and Ruiz both outpaced all Gabilan and Mission athletes competing in the regular season finale at North Monterey County High School.
Next up, Watsonville will compete in the PCAL Masters Meet at Palo Corona Park in Carmel on Oct. 28.
