Watsonville’s Giancarlo Mendo, Aptos’ Mileena Carbajal named Preps of the Week | Central Coast Prep Sports Ticker

This week’s edition of the Central Coast Prep Sports Ticker highlights local prep athletes for their performances during the week of March 18-24.   

Preps of the Week

Boys: Watsonville High senior standout distance runner Giancarlo Mendo won three individual events to help the Wildcatz boys’ track and field team beat North Monterey County High, 78-58, in the teams’ first Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division dual meet of the season March 10. Mendo won the 1600-meter in 4 minutes, 45.97 seconds, followed by the 800 (2:05.46) and 3200 (10:24.21). He also placed fourth in the 1600 (4:28.36) at the 51st Avis Kelley Invitational at Gilroy High on March 23. 

Girls: Aptos High senior starting pitcher Mileena Carbajal won back-to-back games in the circle to kick off Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League play last week. The Arlington Baptist University commit racked up 11 strikeouts, including six in a crushing 19-5 victory over Soquel High in league action March 21. Carbajal also batted 1-for-1 with a pair of walks, two runs scored and two RBIs.  

Rising Stars

• Aptos High’s Raegan Fulton batted 2-for-2, including a three-run home run, five RBIs and three runs scored for the Mariners softball team in their 19-5 win over Soquel in SCCAL action March 21. Bailey Fulton batted 3-for-4 with one RBI and three runs scored, while Lilly McGee batted 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and three runs scored for Aptos. Emma Niizawa batted 3-for-3 with a double and one RBI for Soquel.
• Monte Vista Christian’s Kyra Driscoll had six goals, one assist and seven draw controls for the Mustangs girls’ lacrosse team in a 12-6 win over Santa Catalina in PCAL Gabilan Division action on March 21. Fellow teammates Sophia Sheridan had two goals and five assists, while Jana Bacero-Duncan had nine saves. 
• Pajaro Valley High’s David Hernandez finished the 1600-meter race in 4:53 at the Dublin Distance Fiesta on March 15-16, moving him to No. 7 all-time in the Grizzlies boys’ track and field program.
• Pajaro Valley High’s Emily Lopez finished the 800 in 2:47 and the 1600 in 6:12 at the Dublin Distance Fiesta on March 15-16. She is now No. 5 and No. 7 all-time in the 1600 and 800, respectively, in the Grizzlies girls’ track and field program.
• St. Francis High’s Micah Cervantes, Donovan Dominguez and Javier Fonseca each had multiple hits for the Sharks in an 11-2 win over Salinas High in PCAL Gabilan Division action March 21. Cervantes scored four runs, while Dominguez and Fonseca each scored twice. Nash Horton had three RBIs, and teammates Junior Ibarra and Adrian Leon each had two RBIs. On the mound, Ibarra recorded four strikeouts and gave up two runs on four hits in three innings. Trey Silva earned the win as he fanned three batters in four innings.
• Scotts Valley pitcher Corbin Giesen earned a complete game victory following an 18-2 win against Harbor High in SCCAL action March 19. He gave up three hits, two unearned runs and one walk while recording nine strikeouts. On offense, Scotts Valley was led by Jack Sanders who batted 3-for-3, including two doubles and five RBIs. Lukas Bloom and Giesen each had a pair of hits and three RBIs for the Falcons, who had 14 total hits.
• Scotts Valley pitcher Sofie Seese recorded seven strikeouts without allowing a hit or walk in four innings for the Falcons softball team in an 11-0 win over Santa Cruz. Chloe Kent gave up just one hit and had one strikeout in one inning pitched. On offense, Abby Howell batted 2-for-2 with a pair of RBIs and Brooklyn Williams had a base hit with two RBIs. With the win, Scotts Valley improved to 2-0 in league play. 
• Watsonville High’s Ruben Mora won three events to help the Wildcatz beat the Condors, 78-58, on March 10 in the teams’ first PCAL Mission Division dual meet of the season. Mora took first in the 110 hurdles (17.64), 300 hurdles (42.35) and was part of the 1600 relay team (Isaac Urbina, Patrick Miller-Brown, Jose Pena) that won in 3:49.86. Nathan Aguilar won both the high jump at 5 feet, 9 inches and triple jump (38-8 1/2). Alex Paniagua won the 100 in 11.84 and 200 (23.84), and fellow teammate Lisandro Pantoja won the Discus (117-0).
• Watsonville High junior Katelynn Ruiz won a team-best four events for the Wildcatz in a 77-59 loss to North Monterey County High in the teams’ PCAL Mission Division dual meet March 20. Ruiz took first in the 1600-meter in 5 minutes, 43.99 seconds, 800 (2:35.09) and 3,200 (12:19.50). She was also part of the 1600m relay team (Lizbeth Gomez, Aileen Reyes and Jocelyn Guzman) that won in 4:31.32. Guzman also won the 300 hurdles (51.26), while Jayleen Arredondo won the Pole Vault at 8 feet. Fellow teammate Evangelina Gaona won three events, taking first in the long jump at 13 feet, 6 1/2 inches, triple jump (30-9 1/2) and High Jump (4-6).

Games to Watch       

1. Aptos at Santa Cruz, baseball, Thursday at 4:30pm: The Mariners (4-5, 3-1) will attempt to stay on track against the longtime SCCAL rival Cardinals (4-4, 2-1) in league action.   
2. San Lorenzo Valley vs. Scotts Valley, softball, Thursday at 4:30pm: The Cougars (7-7, 3-1) and Falcons (3-4, 3-0) will meet in a friendly league rivalry game for a chance to move up in the SCCAL standings.
3. Aptos vs. Soquel, track and field, Thursday at 4:30pm: The Mariners are attempting to keep their unblemished SCCAL record intact against the Knights on Trevin Dilfer Memorial Field.   

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.