High School Sports

San Lorenzo Valley High junior Jaden Shabry and the rest of the baseball team is beaming with confidence as they enter the 2024 Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League season starting this week. The Cougars star shortstop and pitcher is batting a .368 (7-of-19) average with...

The Pajaronian’s Athletes of the Week were selected based on their performances during the week of Oct. 7-13. Coaches and athletic directors are encouraged to submit nominations to sports editor Juan Reyes at [email protected].  Boys Casey MacConnell (Sr.), Aptos Casey Maconnell played a critical role on both...

The start of the 2023 football campaign officially kicks off this weekend after weeks of summer practices and offseason workouts. It’s a fresh start for the five local teams: Aptos, Monte Vista Christian, Pajaro Valley, St. Francis and Watsonville high schools, which are set to...

WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley High sophomore Kristof Garcia is one of the youngest players on the Grizzlies boys’ soccer team roster this season.  However, the standout midfielder is slowly developing into one of the best on the pitch, especially the way he’s been playing as of late.   Garcia...

The Aptos High girls’ soccer team in 2023-24 had one of its most inspirational seasons in the program’s history. Mariners superstar Alexa Castañeda wanted to make her case throughout the campaign as one of the league’s top players.  Meanwhile her mom and head coach, Gina Castañeda,...

WATSONVILLE—St. Francis High junior Sam Braun and his teammates had to wait an extra week to kick off their run in the Central Coast Section playoffs.  It probably felt just as long for the No. 4 seeded Sharks to close out Tuesday night’s 62-59 overtime...

Watsonville High cross country coach David Knight said qualifying for the Central Coast Section Cross Country Championships will and always be the end goal for them.  Mission accomplished. The Wildcatz boys’ and girls’ teams both advanced to the section finals following another strong performance at the...

The 38th Annual Central Coast 2023 All-Star High School Football Game is taking place at Rabobank Stadium in Salinas on Saturday at 7pm.  The game will feature players from Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito County high schools who were selected by their respective coaches.  “The...

Monte Vista Christian senior Nico Downie was like a lightning bolt on the football field during the 2024 fall season, using his blazing speed to zip past defenders and into the end zone. The Mustangs’ star receiver led the Pacific Coast Athletic League with 1,619...

APTOS—For the first time in the 53-year history of Aptos High athletics, the girls’ lacrosse team will represent the blue and white in the program’s inaugural season this year. With little to no experience across the roster, the Mariners will be faced with the task...