WATSONVILLE—Aggressive base running and an explosive five-run fifth inning helped lead the Monte Vista Christian baseball team to victory against inner-city rival Watsonville High on Saturday.
Armando Vasquez-Green batted 2-for-2 and notched two RBIs in an 8-2 win at home against the Wildcatz in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League action.
The Mustangs stole eight bases. Vasquez-Green and Eli Sepulveda both had two steals.
Sepulveda batted 1-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
The Mustangs took the lead with three runs in the fourth inning. They extended the lead by scoring five in the fifth.
MVC starting pitcher Alex Marks lasted 2 and 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and a run while striking out three batters.
Watsonville starting pitcher Isidrio Lopez allowed six hits and eight runs over five innings; and notched three strikeouts. Alexander Brown and Frankie Guzman entered the game in relief, throwing 2/3 of an inning and a 1/3 of an inning, respectively.
Richie Ortiz scored the first run of the game. Abraham Bonilla batted 1-for-3 with a run scored; while Dom Hernandez batted 1-for-3 with an RBI for Watsonville (3-6), which plays at San Lorenzo Valley on Thursday at 4pm.
The Mustangs (6-4) play at Harbor High on Tuesday at 4pm.
Softball
St. Francis 15, Pajaro Valley 0 (5 innings): Aaliyah Gomez recorded five RBIs for the Sharks in a win against the Grizzlies in SCCAL play. Gomez, a junior, batted 3-for-3 with a triple.
Breanna Padilla, a freshman, was credited with the victory for St. Francis. The lefthander threw all five innings, allowing one hit and striking out 10 batters.
St. Francis tallied 16 hits on the day. Padilla, Sabrina Noto, Mariah Montalvo, Alicia Mendez and Audrey Hernandez collected multiple hits for St. Francis (7-2), which hosts San Lorenzo Valley on Monday at 4:30pm.
Pajaro Valley will host Harbor High on Tuesday at 4:30pm.
Girls basketball
Aptos 51, Watsonville 42: Jasmine Ackerman recorded a double-double to help lift the Aptos High girls’ basketball team past Watsonville High, 51-42, in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League play on Friday.
The junior forward finished the evening with 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Mariners, who have won back-to-back games after a loss to Santa Cruz High on May 3.
Jaylen Dang contributed 17 points and eight rebounds for Aptos (5-1, 3-1), which will host Scotts Valley on Tuesday at 7pm.
Monte Vista Christian 42, Watsonville 32: Mackenzie Tellez finished with a game-high 20 points for the Mustangs in a win against the Wildcatz in SCCAL action on Wednesday.
Marissa Cortes contributed 11 points, Paloma Ramirez scored five points and Kayla Rader scored four points for MVC (2-4), which hosts Santa Cruz on Tuesday at 5pm.
Scotts Valley 50, Watsonville 34: Xitlali Montesino recorded her first career double-double for the Wildcatz in a loss against the Falcons in SCCAL play on Monday.
The sophomore guard finished with a team-high 12 points and 10 rebounds to go along with four steals.
Daisy Ortiz, a senior, contributed 11 points and six rebounds for Watsonville (2-7, 0-7), which plays at Soquel High on Tuesday at 7pm.
Boys basketball
Aptos 52, St. Francis 36: Jo Joe Moreno finished with a game-high 11 points for the Mariners in a win against the Sharks in SCCAL play on Friday.
Rio Cruz finished with eight points, Anwar Ayyad had six and Hassan Ayyad and Kelly Mcginn each contributed five points for Aptos (3-1), which hosts Scotts Valley High on Tuesday at 5pm.
Christian Magana, Davin Avila and Diego Rameriz each scored seven points; while Joseph Rose and Adam Hernandez each scored five points for the Sharks (0-8), who play at Soquel High on Tuesday at 5pm.
Scotts Valley 71, Monte Vista Christian 37: Nathan Bachman had a team-high 10 points for the Mustangs in a loss against the Falcons in SCCAL play on Friday.
MVC freshmen Jaiden Cote and Nicolas Jimenez each contributed six points for the Mustangs (2-6), who play Santa Cruz High (6-0) on Tuesday at 5pm.
Jack Fletcher and Kaleb Miller each scored a game-high 20 points for the Falcons (5-1), who host Aptos High (3-1) on Tuesday at 5pm.
MVC 51, St. Francis 41: Nathan Bachman scored a game-high 20 Points for the Mustangs in a win against the Sharks in SCCAL play on Wednesday.
Teddy Moore contributed 15 points, Ryan Kenyon finished with seven points and Scott Avey had five for MVC.
Joseph Rose scored a team-high 11 points for the Sharks. Diego Rameriz contributed 10 points, Christian Magana finished with eight, Josh Hernandez had six and Erik Kane ended the night with four points for St. Francis (0-7), which plays at Soquel High on Tuesday at 5pm.
Girls soccer
Aptos 3, Scotts Valley 0: Kirsten Martin notched two assists and a goal for the Mariners in a win against the Falcons in SCCAL play on Thursday.
Jazmine Castaneda finished with a goal and an assist; while Esme Elizondo scored in the 32nd minute for Aptos.
The Mariners were coming off a 7-0 win against Watsonville High on May 3. Martin, Castaneda and Susana Estrada each scored two goals for Aptos (7-1), which will host Ceiba College Prep on Monday at 5pm.
Boys golf
Aptos 206, Scotts Valley 266: Cody Gavasse earned the first medalist honors this season in a win against the Falcons in SCCAL play on May 3.
The sophomore shot four over par 35 at Seascape Golf Club in Aptos. Not far behind were teammates Nick Gavasse and Aiden Fry Parker who each shot 40, followed by Dominic Deluca (43) and Shane Garvey (44).
Scotts Valley’s Joey Duncan shot 45, followed by Jordan Amadia (51), Braden Wilson (56), Carlton Keegan (57) and Ben Farquear (57).
With the win, the Mariners have an overall 4-0 record this season.
Soquel 151, Watsonville 232: Ben Meltzer earned medalist honors for the Knights in a win against the Wildcatz in SCCAL play on May 4.
He shot 3 over par 25 in six holes on the front nine at Spring Hills Golf Course in Watsonville. Ben Cox shot 29, followed by Patrick Mackle (29), Coleman Beech (30), Justin Rifkind (35) and Joey Mackle (36).
Watsonville’s Isaà Garcia shot 43, followed by Angel Lopez (46), Mateo Lopez (46), Diego Guardado (48), Alberto Marinez (49) and Marco Duran (50).
Boys water polo
Soquel 15, Aptos 9: Jack Curran scored a team-high three goals for the Mariners in a loss against the Knights in SCCAL play on Wednesday.
Aptos kept it a close game until Soquel blew up for five goals in the fourth quarter. A notable play was by senior goalie Aidan Gilbert who had a full court goal for Aptos (1-2), who plays Santa Cruz on Wednesday at 6pm.
Nick Graessle scored a game-high six goals for Soquel.
Girls lacrosse
MVC 15, Scotts Valley 13: The Mustangs defeated the Falcons in SCCAL play on Thursday.
Track and Field
Locals compete at Arcadia Invitational: Watsonville High senior Layla Ruiz placed 13th (11:08.66) in the women’s 3,200-meter run at the Arcadia Invitational. Emma McCain of Soquel High placed 20th (11:50.03).
Julian Vargas of St. Francis placed 25th (9:47.49) in the men’s 3,200.
Scotts Valley sophomore Amber Boothby (5:06.75) placed ninth and freshman Ashlyn Boothby (5:06.76) placed 10th in the 1,600 run.
