High School Sports

Aptos High senior Jewels “Sparky” Chavez was a huge difference maker this season for the Mariners softball team and she became what head coach Phil Rojas called the best leadoff hitter during his tenure with the program. “I nicknamed her (Sparky) because of how she...

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...

In the span of just one year, the Watsonville High football team has already gone through more changes than some programs might deal with over the course of a decade, or two.    Marcus Northcutt was named interim head coach after Joe Gregorio announced that he...

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...

This week’s edition of the Pajaronian Sports Ticker highlights local prep athletes for their performances during the week of Feb. 20-26.  Coaches and athletic directors are encouraged to submit scores and stats to [email protected]. Follow sports editor Juan Reyes on Twitter @jmreyes831 for scores and...

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...

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,...

St. Francis saw its historical season come to a close after an early exit in the Central Coast Section playoffs on Tuesday evening.  The No. 3 seeded Sharks fell to No. 6 Crystal Springs in three sets 25-18, 25-14, 25-21 in the Division V quarterfinals. Senior...

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— The Watsonville High girls’ basketball team has not played a game this season with the entirety of their roster - and therefore have yet to reach their full potential. The Wildcatz have plenty of numbers with 18 players on the roster, but the temporary...