Sports

APTOS—The Aptos High girls’ soccer team is off to a sizzling start after recording back-to-back shutouts to begin the regular season. Ella Shoemaker, Angelique Nuñez and Lucy Korinth each scored for the Mariners in their crushing 3-0 victory over Fremont High in the team’s opener...

Behind their hard-hitting one-two punch of outside hitters Maggie Walters and Sam Strah, top-seeded Soquel topped No. 2 Aptos 25-20, 18-25, 25-14, 25-16 on Saturday night for the Central Coast Section Division III title at Watsonville High.

Joey Garibay, St. Francis, (Sr.): Sharks’ senior finished with 77 receiving yards, two touchdowns and a fumble recovery in last week’s PCAL-Cypress win against Greenfield. Kaylani Lacy-Trout, Watsonville, (Fr.): Wildcatz’s freshman finished with a team-high 13 kills and six blocks in Thursday’s win over Stevenson...

After allowing an early score in the first half, M.V.C. exploded for three goals over nine minutes to hold off an upstart No. 8 Nueva squad for a 3-1 win, the program’s first playoff victory since the 2007-08 season.

Senior running backs James Sandoval and Matthew Barcelo combined to rush for 312 yards and five touchdowns, and Watsonville’s defensive front made life difficult for Pajaro Valley High senior quarterback Max Arevalo in the Wildcatz’s 35-6 win over their cross-city rival.

The Cabrillo College football team began the season with a 31-7 thumping of Contra Costa College in non-conference play.

James Garza was hired to lead the school’s baseball program, and Zach Cook was tabbed to take over the girls basketball team, Watsonville Athletic Director Mark Northcutt recently told the Register-Pajaronian.