Sports

St. Francis High alumni Nick Ciandro, right, and Sahid Valenzuela suited up for the Cal State Fullerton baseball team in its season-opening series against Stanford.

Watsonville High’s Abel Pena and Monte Vista Christian’s Christian Cabaug were given the No. 2 seed in their respective weight classes for the upcoming Central Coast Section Wrestling Championships.

In a stunning move Tuesday, Monte Vista Christian announced Jubenal Rodriguez was leaving his post at Gilroy High to take over the football program at the private school in the outskirts of Watsonville.

Playing in their first Central Coast Section playoff game since 2013, the No. 12-seeded Wildcatz made even more history by surviving a possible game-winning shot at the horn to beat unseeded Milpitas High, 47-46, for their first postseason win since 2008.

For the second straight season, the Pajaro Valley High boys’ basketball team will travel to Soledad High in the first round of the Central Coast Section Division III playoffs.

The Mariners were pumping their fists, dishing out hugs and taking photos with their outright Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League championship banner after downing Soquel, 63-54, in the league tournament final on Saturday.

Watsonville High senior striker scored a pair of goals and dished an assist in last week’s crucial Monterey Bay League Gabilan division wins over San Benito High and Pajaro Valley High. With the victories, Watsonville finished second in the division, and advanced to the Central Coast Section Open Division.

Watsonville High received the No. 8 seed and will play at top-seeded Los Gatos High when the brutal division starts up on Saturday at 3 p.m.