This week’s edition of the Pajaronian Sports Ticker highlights local prep athletes for their performances during the week of Feb. 24-March 2.
Preps of the Week
Boys: Pajaro Valley junior Izaak Ocampo broke three records on one day at the track and field Winter Time Trials at Pajaro Valley High on Feb. 24. Ocampo won the boys long jump by setting a meet and school record of 20 feet, 11 inches, and placed second in the 200-meter dash to set a new school record in 23.24 seconds. He also placed third in the 100 in 11.97 seconds.
Girls: Monte Vista Christian senior Kyra Driscoll recorded 12 goals and five assists in three games for the Mustangs girls’ lacrosse team, which went 2-1 to begin the regular season. Driscoll is coming off a five-goal performance in MVC’s 17-9 win over Pioneer in non-league action on March 1.
Rising Stars
- Aptos High sophomore DeSean Gomez won the 100 in 11.65 seconds during the Winter Time Trials at Pajaro Valley High on Feb. 24.
- Monte Vista Christian freshman Maya Moore had six goals and two assists for the Mustangs girls’ lacrosse team in their 17-9 win over Pioneer in non-league action on March 1. Sophia Sheridan contributed three goals and had two assists for MVC.
- Pajaro Valley senior distance runner David Hernandez moved up to eighth all-time on the Grizzlies’ track and field record board in the 800 after he placed fifth in 2:13.35 during the Winter Time Trials at Pajaro Valley High on Feb. 24.
- St. Francis’ Micah Cervantes, Nash Horton, Junior Ibarra and Nicholas Fantl each had multiple hits for the Sharks in a 13-3 non-league victory over San Lorenzo Valley on Feb. 28. Ibarra and fellow teammates Trey Silva and Javier Fonseca each recorded three RBIs. Ibarra also pitched three innings and recorded five strikeouts.
- San Lorenzo Valley’s Cody Houston batted 1-for-2 with a pair for RBIs for the Cougars baseball team in a 10-2 loss to St. Francis in non-league action Feb. 28.
- Scotts Valley’s Kaleb Wing batted 2-for-3 including one double with one run scored in a 10-2 non-league loss to Salinas on Feb. 29. Corbin Giesen pitched 4 1/3 innings and recorded eight strikeouts, while giving up three runs and three hits. Jacob Pauka, Jack Sanders and Jack Abel each had one base hit. Scotts Valley will host Sobrato on Monday at 3:30pm.
- Watsonville junior Katelynn Ruiz had a strong start to the track season after she took second in 5:25.23 in the 1600 at the Winter Time Trials at Pajaro Valley High on Feb. 24.
- Watsonville freshman Alex Paniagua won the 200 in 23.23 seconds and took second in the 100 in 11.77 at the Winter Time Trials at Pajaro Valley High on Feb. 24. Fellow teammate senior Ruben Mora took third in the 110-meter hurdles (18.16) and 300 hurdles (44.43).
Games to Watch
- St. Francis vs. Hollister, baseball, Wednesday at 3:30pm: The Sharks will attempt to keep things rolling against the defending Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division champion Haybalers in the teams’ league opener in Watsonville.
- Watsonville at Aptos, softball, Friday at 4pm: A non-league battle between “Black and Blue” will be a good warm up for both the Mariners and Wildcatz during their first week of action.
- Monte Vista Christian at Aptos, girls lacrosse, Monday at 6pm: The Mariners are heading into their second year of competition and will take on a fierce Mustangs team that is loaded with talent from the top to bottom of the roster.
Coaches and athletic directors are encouraged to submit scores and highlights to [email protected]. Follow sports editor Juan Reyes (@jmreyes831) on Twitter for scores and news updates.
