This week’s edition of the Pajaronian Sports Ticker highlights local prep athletes for their performances during the week of Jan. 30 – Feb. 5.
Coaches and athletic directors are encouraged to submit scores and stats to jr****@pa********.com. Follow sports editor Juan Reyes on Twitter @jmreyes831 for scores and news updates.
Preps of the Week
Boys: St. Francis junior Sam Braun led the Sharks boys’ basketball team with 33 points including six 3-pointers in a 76-70 win over Rancho San Juan in Pacific Coast Athletic League Cypress Division action on Feb. 4. He also had 26 points including four 3-pointers in an 85-41 over Greenfield High on Jan. 31 and helped lead the Sharks to a 57-53 win over Watsonville High, handing the Wildcatz their first loss in league play this season.
Girls: Pajaro Valley High sophomore Valeria Acosta recorded a hat trick for the Grizzlies’ girls soccer team in a crushing 9-1 win over North Monterey County High in PCAL Mission Division action on Jan. 31. Acosta also recorded a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win against Pacific Collegiate School in league play, helping Pajaro Valley (8-6-2, 4-3-1) extend its win streak to three straight. The Grizzlies have a crucial meeting at first place Rancho San Juan (10-4-2, 7-1-1) on Monday at 5:45pm.
Rising Stars
- Aptos High’s Diego Tiran, Luve Granstrom, Nami Banks and Eddie Alvarez each scored one goal for the Mariners boys’ soccer team in its 4-0 win over Scotts Valley High in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League action on Feb. 2. Goalkeeper Noah Curran had one save in the clean sheet victory for Aptos (11-6-0, 6-2-0), which will host Santa Cruz on Tuesday at 7pm.
- Aptos High senior Summer Jacob’s first half goal was enough to help the Mariners girls’ soccer team get past Scotts Valley in a 1-0 win in SCCAL action on Feb. 2. Jacobs was set up with a penalty kick that she netted in the 37th minute for the game’s lone goal. Sophomore goalkeeper Alessandra Zuniga had three saves for Aptos (11-3-1, 8-0-0), which will play at Soquel on Tuesday at 5pm.
- Pajaro valley High senior Ignacio Aguado recorded two goals and a pair of assists for the Grizzlies boys’ soccer team in a 7-0 win over Marina in PCAL Cypress Division action on Feb. 2. Fellow teammates Kristof Garcia, Carlos Mata, Johan Vazquez, Isaac Rojas and Giovanni Bedolla each scored one goal for Pajaro Valley (12-1-3, 7-1), which will host Rancho San Juan (9-4-2, 7-1) on Monday at 3pm.
- Pajaro Valley High’s Leilani Vazquez and Isabella Brandon each scored one goal in a 3-1 win over Pacific Collegiate School in PCAL Mission Division action on Feb. 2. Fellow teammate Leslie Carrisoza recorded one assist for Pajaro Valley (8-6-2, 4-3-1), which will look to extend its three game win streak at Rancho San Juan on Monday at 5:45pm.
- St. Francis junior Junior Ibarra scored 16 points in a 76-70 win over Rancho San Juan in PCAL Cypress Division action on Feb. 4. and Joseph Rose added 14 points, while Christian Magana had eight rebounds for St. Francis (14-6, 9-1), which plays at King City on Monday 8pm.
- St. Francis High junior Elias Garcia records the hat trick for the Sharks boys’ soccer team in a 4-1 win over Trinity Christian School in Pacific Coast Athletic League Santa Lucia Division action on Feb. 4. Fellow freshman teammate Liam Rawson scored one goal for the Sharks (2-10, 1-7), who earned their first league win of the season.
- St. Francis High’s Monse Ramirez records the hat trick for the Sharks girls’ soccer team in a 4-3 win over York School in PCAL Cypress Division action on Feb. 4. Fellow teammate Liam Rawson scored one goal for the Sharks (5-6-1, 5-3-0), who will host Santa Catalina School on Monday at 3:30pm.
Games of the Week
- Pajaro Valley vs. Rancho San Juan, boys soccer, Monday at 3pm: The Grizzlies (12-1-3, 7-1) and the Trailblazers (9-4-2, 7-1) are neck and neck in the race for the PCAL Cypress Division title. Pajaro Valley beat Rancho San Juan in the teams’ first meeting.
- Aptos at Santa Cruz, girls soccer, Thursday at 7pm: The Mariners (12-3-1, 8-0) will attempt to finish the SCCAL season with an unblemished record in league play against a Cardinals (9-3-3, 3-2-3) team that is looking to play spoiler.
- CCS Southern Regionals, wrestling, Saturday at 9am: Watsonville High will host this year’s CCS Southern Regionals featuring the best wrestlers from the PCAL, SCCAL and Blossom Valley Athletic League all under one roof.
