Professional Sports

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”...

SEASIDE—Monterey Bay F.C. forward Adrian Rebollar earned a spot on the bench on USL Championship’s Team of the Week for Week 20. The Watsonville native earned his league top-18 honor for his performance on the pitch last Saturday night's 2-0 win over New York Red Bulls II...

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...

Monterey Bay F.C. bolstered its roster on Thursday after the club announced it reached terms with Liga MX veteran Rafael Baca on a contract for the remainder of the season. The deal, which is still pending league and federation approval, includes a club option for...

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...

Watsonville native Luke Keaschall made his Major League Baseball debut with the Minnesota Twins on April 18, hoping to make a name for himself right off the bat. No pun intended. The former Aptos High baseball standout made quite the impression after he batted 2-for-4...

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...

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...

Watsonville native Adrian Rebollar and Monterey Bay FC teammate Carlos Guzmán were both named to the USL Championship Team of the Week for their performances in the Union’s 3-1 victory over the Phoenix Rising FC on March 29.  Rebollar notched his first goal of the...

Everlyn Kemboi glanced behind her shoulder once moments just before covering her face as she came storming down Cliff Drive in Capitola to win Sunday morning’s Wharf to Wharf women’s division race.  The 24-year-old American crossed the finish line first in 30 minutes, 29 seconds,...