High School Sports

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville High senior wrestler Danisha Nuñez was finally able to see some action last weekend after a hectic offseason delayed her return to the mat.  The reigning Pacific Coast Athletic League champion made an appearance at the 13th annual Lady Royal Tournament at Overfelt High...

Aptos High seniors Cameron Saldaña and Jack Spinelli were a powerful dynamic duo for the Mariners boys’ basketball team this season. They led Aptos (22-6, 9-1), co-champion of the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League, to the Central Coast Section Division III finals against Burlingame. The coaches...

WATSONVILLE—The dream scenario for most softball players is having a chance to win it all for their team with one swing of the bat. Watsonville High junior Abreanna Alba was given that opportunity in Wednesday’s shootout against San Benito High.   “I felt like throwing up, my...

APTOS—Aptos High football coach Randy Blankenship joined the state’s 300-win club last year, becoming one of a dozen coaches who have reached that feat. Prior to that he brought home four Central Coast Section championships to the Mariners’ program since he arrived in 2010.  But the...

The term “statistics can be misleading” is meant for players like former Gilroy High and Monte Vista Christian standout Brendan Doyle, who is second on the tight end depth chart on the University of Memphis football team.  On Friday, the Tigers (9-3) play Iowa State...

WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley High boys soccer coach Cesar Rojas  wanted to test his players and made it a point to schedule some of the toughest non-league opponents around in the area. The Grizzlies—who have yet to suffer a loss—responded to their first-year skipper by firing right...

WATSONVILLE—Absolute domination was how Monte Vista Christian performed in its season opener against Del Mar with a 27-0 victory. Since then, they haven’t skipped a beat. Mustangs second-year manager Johnny Ramirez said it set the stage for them this season.  “I wanted that game to see where...

A plan was set in place this season for St. Francis High senior Eilias Garcia and his fellow teammates on the boys’ soccer team. Since the start of the winter season, they’ve been learning step by step how to execute that plan, and slowly enough...

APTOS—Watsonville High senior Lucky McHenry took second place at 285 pounds at the 53rd Pat Lovell Holiday Wrestling Classic at Aptos High on Dec. 22. McHenry, who was Santa Cruz County’s lone finalist, finished 3-1 with three pins. He was pinned in one minute by...

SALINAS—The race for first place in the Pacific Coast Athletics League Gabilan Division is not over for the Aptos High football team despite last week’s heartbreaking loss at Rabobank Stadium. The Mariners traveled to Salinas to face off against rival Palma, hoping to stay atop...