This week’s edition of the Pajaronian Sports Ticker highlights local prep athletes for their performances during the week of Feb. 13-19.
Coaches and athletic directors are encouraged to submit scores and stats to [email protected]. Follow sports editor Juan Reyes on Twitter @jmreyes831 for scores and news updates.
Preps of the Week
Boys: Pajaro Valley High senior Damian Rodriguez made eight saves and nearly recorded the clean sheet for the Grizzlies boys’ soccer team in a 2-1 win over No. 2 seeded Prospect High in the Central Coast Section Division I quarterfinals Feb. 18. Rodriguez also made five saves in a 4-1 victory over North Monterey County High on Feb. 14, helping Pajaro Valley capture the Pacific Coast Athletic League Cypress Division title and an automatic playoff berth. The No. 7 Grizzlies will travel to Redwood City to take on No. 3 Sequoia High on Wednesday at 3pm.
Girls: Watsonville High’s Melanie Nuñez recorded two goals for the Wildcatz girls’ soccer team in its 2-2 draw against Salinas High in Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division action Feb. 14. Nuñez also had a goal in a 2-2 draw against Hollister High on Feb. 9, helping Watsonville close out the month on a high note including back-to-back victories against Monterey and Alisal in league play. The Wildcatz finished with a 3-9-7 overall record and placed fifth in the Gabilan Division standings with a 3-4-5 record in league play.
Rising Stars
- Aptos High sophomore Noah Curran made five saves for the No. 8 seeded Mariners boys’ soccer team in its 2-0 loss to top-seeded Menlo-Atherton School in the CCS D-II quarterfinals on Feb. 18. Aptos finished the season with a 12-7-0 overall record and placed second in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League with an 8-2-0 record in league play.
- Aptos High senior Kaitlyn Murphy recorded one goal for the top-seeded Mariners girls’ soccer team in its 2-1 loss to No. 8 Branham in the CCS D-II quarterfinals on Feb. 18. Aptos finished the season with a 13-5-1 overall record and won the SCCAL championship with an 9-1-0 record in league play.
- St. Francis High junior Joseph Rose led the Sharks with 17 points including four 3-pointers in its 63-57 loss to Marina High in PCAL Cypress Division action Feb. 14. Fellow teammate Nash Horton scored 12 points and Sam Braun added 11 points, while Diego Rameriz added seven and Christian Magana finished with six points for St. Francis (17-7, 12-2), which will host Eastside College Prep on Tuesday at 7pm.
- St. Francis High senior Emily Riach had 17 points for the Sharks girls’ basketball team in its 40-38 loss to North Monterey County High in PCAL Cypress Division action Feb. 14. Fellow senior teammates Nevaeh Litel had eight points and Aaliysah Gomez added seven for St. Francis, which finished with a 6-17 overall record and went 1-9 in league play.
- St. Francis High’s Miriam Abonce recorded one goal for the Sharks girls’ soccer team in its 1-0 win over Seaside High in PCAL Cypress Division action Feb. 13. Abonce finished the regular season with a team-best 14 goals for St. Francis, which finished with a 7-4-1 overall record and placed second in the Cypress Division with a 7-4-1 record in league play.
- Watsonville High’s Juleanna Ramirez had four saves for the Wildcatz girls’ soccer team in a 2-2 draw against Salinas High in PCAL Gabilan Division action Feb. 14.
Games of the Week
- Pajaro Valley at Sequoia, CCS boys soccer, Wednesday at 3pm: The No. 7 Grizzlies (16-1-4)—ranked No. 21 in the CCS— will travel to Redwood City to take on the No. 3 Ravens (14-4-1)—ranked No. 10 in the CCS—in the D-I semifinals.
- Aptos vs. South San Francisco, CCS boys basketball, Tuesday at 7pm: The No. 3 Mariners (18-8)—ranked No. 33 in the CCS—will take on the No. 6 Warriors (15-10)—ranked No. 42 in the CCS—in the D-III quarterfinals.
- St. Francis vs. Eastside College Prep, CCS boys basketball, Tuesday at 7pm: The No. 4 Sharks—ranked No. 64 in the CCS— are hosting the No. 5 Panthers (15-9)—ranked No. 33 in the CCS—in the D-V quarterfinals.
