Sports

The junior goalkeeper posted her second shutout of the tournament and made a huge save in penalty kicks to lift Watsonville over Santa Cruz High in the championship of their own tournament on Saturday night.

Jeal Leal, Watsonville, (Jr.): Wildcatz’s junior forward recorded a goal and an assist in the season opening win against Pajaro Valley. He has a team-high four goals. Audrey Hernandez, St. Francis, (Jr.): Sharks’ junior recorded 21 points in a season-opening win against Pajaro Valley in...

WATSONVILLE—It took a while for the Pajaro Valley High girls’ basketball team to turn its season around prior to the start of league play. But once the afterburners came on the Grizzlies have gone full speed ahead, including in Friday night’s 32-25 win against Gonzales...

APTOS—The Aptos High girls soccer team notched another shutout with an 8-0 win against Pacific Collegiate School on Saturday afternoon. The Mariners’ defense has not allowed a goal in three straight games, having outscored opponents 20-0 during that span. The Mariners were coming off a 7-0...

A plan was set in place this season for St. Francis High senior Eilias Garcia and his fellow teammates on the boys’ soccer team. Since the start of the winter season, they’ve been learning step by step how to execute that plan, and slowly enough...

APTOS—Aptos High football coach Randy Blankenship joined the state’s 300-win club last year, becoming one of a dozen coaches who have reached that feat. Prior to that he brought home four Central Coast Section championships to the Mariners’ program since he arrived in 2010.  But the...

APTOS—Watsonville High senior Lucky McHenry took second place at 285 pounds at the 53rd Pat Lovell Holiday Wrestling Classic at Aptos High on Dec. 22. McHenry, who was Santa Cruz County’s lone finalist, finished 3-1 with three pins. He was pinned in one minute by...

In the Gabilan division, Watsonville will not only be tasked with knocking off three-time reigning champ Salinas High, but a load of other technically sound squads like Gilroy High, Alvarez High and Notre Dame-Salinas.

WATSONVILLE—The dream scenario for most softball players is having a chance to win it all for their team with one swing of the bat. Watsonville High junior Abreanna Alba was given that opportunity in Wednesday’s shootout against San Benito High.   “I felt like throwing up, my...

Watsonville High junior Laya Ruiz had a simple plan going into this year’s cross country season: go big or go home. “I’ve definitely put in a lot more work than I have before,” Ruiz said. Ruiz has won three Pacific Coast Athletic League center meets this...