Sports

In terms of championships, the year 2017 was a special one for the teams from the Pajaro Valley. Whether it was individuals capturing titles, teams breaking droughts or freshmen setting the section and state ablaze, several local athletes were a cut above the rest.

SCOTTS VALLEY—Watsonville High senior fullback Mathew Flores finished with 50 yards rushing and a touchdown in a 49-12 loss against Scotts Valley High the teams’ Pacific Coast Athletic League Cypress Division opener on Sept. 24.  Watsonville senior quarterback Colin Parker found receiver Anthony Campos for...

The Watsonville High boys’ soccer team was seconds away from capturing its first-ever CIF NorCal championship. But its season came to an end in heartbreaking fashion with a last-second goal by Marin Academy that stole the Division II title in a flash.  It’s a moment that...

WATSONVILLE—A trio of runners for the Aptos High girls’ cross country team recorded an impressive top-5 finish in Thursday’s Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League Championships.  Brooke Willoughby led the way with a third place finish in 18 minutes, 42 seconds at the 3-mile course at...

Aptos senior Nick Tovani had a team-best 20 points for the Mariners boys’ basketball team in their 71-56 loss to Bellarmine in the 76th Annual Carmel Invitational on Dec. 21. Fellow teammate Isaiah Ackerman contributed 12 points, while Ryan Solorio had 10 points for Aptos,...

A lot could be said about last season’s remarkable run for the Aptos High boys’ basketball team which not only turned several heads, but became the dark horse of the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League.  They finished co-champion with Santa Cruz High and they reached...

OKLAHOMA CITY—Santa Cruz Warriors forward Lester Quinones finished with a game-high 36 points to help lift the Sea Dubs in a 112-108 win over the Oklahoma City Blue at the Paycom Center on Sunday afternoon. Fellow teammate Dusty Hannahs followed with 25 points for the...