Professional Sports

Aptos High senior Ella Porter trained for seven days a week on her craft as the quarterback for the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League flag football champion Mariners during the 2025 campaign.  Their season came to an end Nov. 3 after an early exit in...

Scotts Valley High alum Robert Hipwell took one step closer to getting into the “Big Leagues” after his name was called during the second day of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft.  The Santa Clara University third baseman was selected by the San Francisco Giants...

AROMAS—Watsonville native Hugo “Prince” Chavez Jr. won his professional boxing debut in February that ended with a technical knockout, taking him less than one round to get the job done.  On Saturday, the 18-year old will attempt to keep his unblemished 2-0 record intact.  The “Prince”...

SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz Warriors on Thursday announced the Golden State Warriors signed guard Lester Quiñones to a 10-day contract, making him the first call-up for the Sea Dubs this season. The standout guard became the 33rd player in franchise history to be called up....

MONTEREY—The 74th installment of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am was well underway as professional golfers teamed up with celebrities and professional athletes for Day 2 of the tournament.  It was my first experience at such a high level golfing event, so the objective was to...

For the first time in 52 years, the annual Wharf to Wharf Race will not begin at the traditional starting line in front of The Grove, aka the Coconut Grove, at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.   Instead, the 16,000 expected participants will wait for the...

MONTEREY—The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am kicked off Wednesday morning with a trio of golf events that entertained spectators and benefited local charities.  PGA Tour Professionals teamed up with professional athletes in a putting challenge that went down to the wire, while celebrities swung and chipped...

Haley Batten placed ninth in the women’s mountain bike event three years ago at the Tokyo Olympics. One would figure that’s already quite the accomplishment itself just being able to get to that point. Instead, she departed the “Land of the Rising Sun” feeling as...

Aptos native Nikki Hiltz captured their third consecutive USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships title after winning the 1,500-meters in 4 minutes, 03.15 seconds at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. on Aug. 2. The 30-year-old former Aptos High standout edged Sinclair Johnson (4:03.77) and Emily...

Boulder Creek native Jennifer Serbin punched her ticket to the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship following a solid performance during the qualifiers two weeks ago. The Scotts Valley High alumna shot 3-under-par 67 behind top finisher Momo Kamiya (66) of Japan at La Rinconada Country Club...