Sports

WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley High athletic director Joe Manfre is entering his second season as head coach of the football team.  When he took over the program, the process of having to coach in an abbreviated Covid-19 season was still a whirlwind to him.  Manfre said this season...

APTOS—The high school football season unofficially kicked off this past weekend with the Santa Cruz County Jamboree at Cabrillo College. St. Francis, Pajaro Valley and Watsonville high schools along with four other schools within the county scrimmaged for the first time this season at...

Jeal Leal scored twice for the Watsonville High boys’ soccer team as they edged St. Ignatius College Prep, 3-2, in the Central Coast Section Open Division quarterfinals on Saturday. The No. 2 seed Wildcatz, who won the PCAL Gabilan division championship, needed overtime to beat...

WATSONVILLE—On a gorgeous Monday afternoon at Pajaro Valley High School dozens of student-athletes began to partake in their daily practice routines. But among the sea of green and gray associated with the Grizzlies, a small splotch of black and gold could be seen: Layla...

WATSONVILLE—The North Monterey County High softball team continues its mission to prove that last year’s Central Coast Section Division V championship run was no fluke. The Visesio sisters—Amelia and Dejalei—had a tremendous all-around impact for the Condors in their 6-1 victory over St. Francis High...

St. Francis High made great strides throughout the season and ended up as one of the most improved teams in the Pacific Coast Athletic League Santa Lucia division. The coaches within the division saw the consistent improvement, as four Sharks were named to the all-league...

The Santa Cruz Roller Derby is rolling back into action with a new season on Saturday.  After being pushed onto the back burner during the Covid pandemic, close to 40 roller skaters, garbed in knee pads, helmets and skates, are back on the track. Now, with...

The Oakland Raiders recently played its final regular season game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday. I made the trip to Colorado to watch the “Silver and Black”, which nearly made an exciting come-from-behind victory. Raiders quarterback Derek Carr tried to connect with rookie receiver Hunter Renfrow on a...

The action finally returns at the Ocean Speedway after a month-long break. The track will roar back to life once again with the sound of revved up engines on Friday night.

APTOS—The Aptos High baseball team is off to a great start this season thanks to its strong pitching. Jorden Espinoza, a sophomore, was the latest Mariners’ pitcher that helped extend their win streak to six with a 10-1 non-league victory against Alvarez High on Tuesday. The...