Sports

Easily the youngest team Blankenship has had in his eight years at the school, Aptos grew up right before his eyes in Friday night’s massive 35-13 Monterey Bay League Gabilan division victory over five-time defending champion Palma High at Rabobank Stadium.

Senior quarterback Sean White ran for a pair of scores, senior running back Cody Paresa added another and the Monte Vista Christian Mustangs started Monterey Bay League Gabilan division play with a 25-14 win over the North Salinas High Vikings on Saturday evening at Rabobank Stadium in Salinas.

The last two seasons, P.V. didn’t have enough girls to place as a team at league finals — at least five runners are required to record a score — but this year Reyes and assistant head coach Christina Guerrero have the tough task of picking a starting seven.

Watsonville High freshman Layla Ruiz and senior Daniela Salazar finished first and second, respectively, at Thursday’s Monterey Bay League Pacific division Center Meet at Pinto Lake County Park.

The Mariners are not out of it yet but they are definitely in a hole for the rest of the league season after the 25-20, 25-18, 18-25, 25-19 loss to the loaded Knights. The loss not only dropped the four-time defending SCCAL champs into second place in the league standings but also dashed an impressive 30-match win streak against league opponents in the regular season, which dated back to 2015.

The Pajaro Valley High Grizzlies edged the Watsonville High Wildcatz in girl’s volleyball for the first time since the 2009 season on Tuesday night in Monterey Bay League Pacific division action. The scores were 25-14, 25-13, 23-25, 25-21.

Watsonville High Athletic Director Marcus Northcutt will serve as the interim head coach of the boy’s basketball team, the school’s principal Elaine Legorreta told the Register-Pajaronian on Tuesday.

The Aptos High Mariners have had a whole week to prepare for their Monterey Bay League Gabilan division debut against the Palma High Chieftains and they without a doubt needed the extra time to sort out their shortcomings over the first three weeks of the season.

Aptos High and St. Francis High will try to make big splashes in their new leagues, while Watsonville High, Pajaro Valley High, North Monterey County High and Monte Vista Christian have their sights set on cementing themselves as one of the best teams in their league.