This week’s edition of the Pajaronian Sports Ticker highlights local prep athletes for their performances during the week of April 1-7 and March 30.
Preps of the Week
Boys: St. Francis High junior Nash Horton tallied six base hits to go along with six RBIs and three runs scored in three games at the San Luis Obispo Baseball Tournament on April 2-3. The Sharks standout batted 2-for-4 with one run scored, 3 RBIs in an 11-1 win over Golden Valley on April 2. Horton recorded one triple and three RBIs in a 6-5 loss to Lakewood High on April 3. He batted 2-for-2 including one double, one triple, three runs scored and a pair of stolen bases in a 5-2 win over Bishop Montgomery, also on April 2.
Girls: Watsonville High sophomore pitcher Amelia Martinez recorded 15 strikeouts to help the Wildcatz softball team secure back-to-back wins. Martinez struck out nine batters and allowed seven runs (five earned) in seven innings pitched in a 14-7 non-league win over North Monterey County High on April 1. She also batted 3-for-4, including two triples and three runs scored. Martinez followed up with six strikeouts and allowed three unearned runs on seven hits in the Catz’s 11-3 win against Pacific Grove in Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division play April 3.
Rising Stars
- Pajaro Valley High boys’ 4×800 relay team (David Hernandez, Patrick Lopez, Erik Michi, Jesse Rodriguez) took third in 9:11.32—a new school record—at the 54th annual Pacific Grove Rotary Invitational on March 30.
- St. Francis High junior Evan Dyer recorded seven strikeouts for the Sharks baseball team in a 5-2 non-league victory over Bishop Montgomery in the second game of a doubleheader in the San Luis Obispo Tournament on April 3. Senior Junior Ibarra had one double and three RBIs.
- St. Francis High senior Micah Cervantes had two hits, two runs scored and a pair of stolen bases for the Sharks baseball team in a 6-5 non-league loss to Lakewood High on April 3. Fellow teammate freshman Nicholas Fantl had a pair of hits and one run scored.
- St. Francis High senior Junior Ibarra batted 2-for-2, with one run scored and a pair of RBIs for the Sharks baseball team in an 11-1 non-league win against Golden Valley on April 2. Fellow teammate senior Trey Silva pitched two innings to record the win and he had two RBIs.
- Watsonville High sophomore Mia Espionza batted 3-for-4, including one double, three RBIs and two runs scored for the Wildcatz softball team in an 11-3 win over Pacific Grove in PCAL Mission Division action April 3. Fellow teammate junior Jillian Lerma had one triple and one double along with a pair of runs scored. Senior Julia Maldonado and freshman Taylor Alves each had a pair of RBIs.
Games to Watch
- St. Francis vs. Palma, baseball – Friday at 4pm: The Sharks (8-4, 5-3) are heating up at the right time and will go against a Chieftains (7-6, 6-4) squad hoping to stay alive in Central Coast Section playoff contention.
- Watsonville Tournament No. 3, softball – Saturday at 9am: The Wildcatz will host local high schools such as Aptos, Scotts Valley and Seaside in the third and final installment of Watsonville’s in-season tournaments.
- Santa Cruz County Meet of Champions, track and field – Saturday at 10am: A group of 15 local high schools will compete in the inaugural Santa Cruz County County Meet of Champions set to take place at Aptos High School. The one-day event will serve as the county championships.
Coaches and athletic directors are encouraged to submit scores and highlights to jr****@pa********.com. Follow sports editor Juan Reyes (@jmreyes831) on Twitter for scores and news updates.
