In his weekly look at Santa Cruz County high school sports, Thomas Frey chronicles the postseason journey for Santa Cruz High’s boys volleyball team and recaps how the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League season ended in baseball and softball with Central Coast Section play starting this week.
Thomas Frey
Follow Thomas Frey on: Twitter. Thomas comes to Lookout with eight years of high school sports reporting in California under his belt.Covering sports in Santa Cruz County has been a dream of his since he was a student at Cabrillo College in 2014, and then in learning the ropes at the Register-Pajaronian for two years as a prep sports writer.“There is a certain magic about high school sports in Santa Cruz, and you can feel it whether it’s on a football sideline, in the gym or on the golf course,” he says.After graduating from Cabrillo, Thomas used his experience covering sports in Santa Cruz County to become the men’s and women’s basketball, gymnastics and volleyball beat writer at Sacramento State University, a Division I program.As news editor of The State Hornet, the college’s student newspaper, he earned an internship at the Sacramento Bee. Thomas mostly covered high school football, but also covered UC Davis women’s basketball during its run to the 2019 NCAA tournament.After graduating, he spent three years at the Mountain Democrat in El Dorado County, mostly covering news, including the Caldor fire, which burned more than 200,000 acres and destroyed more than 100 structures.“Covering the Caldor fire really showed me how important local news is,” said Thomas, who also photographed the blaze. “Every day evacuees were reaching out to us to find out what was going on in their area. It was truly eye-opening.”Now he’s glad to be back where his career began. Thomas is excited to be covering all the county’s schools: Aptos High School, Harbor High School, Monte Vista Christian School, Mount Madonna School, Pajaro Valley High School, San Lorenzo Valley High School, Santa Cruz High School, Scotts Valley High School, Soquel High School, St. Francis High School and Watsonville High School.“My goal has always been to give every school and athlete the coverage they deserve,” Thomas said. “Whether it’s a section champion or a team without a win, there is always a story to be told.”For stories or tips, please email thomas@lookoutlocal.com.
High school sports roundup: Baseball, softball races coming down to the wire
In his weekly roundup of Santa Cruz County high school sports, Thomas Frey sets the scene for the decisive final stretch in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League and Pacific Coast Athletic League.
High school sports roundup: Spring seasons heading into the home stretch
Thomas Frey surveys another busy week in Santa Cruz County high school sports, from the baseball and softball diamonds to volleyball, golf, tennis, swimming and more.
High school sports roundup: Aptos, Santa Cruz, Soquel battle for SCCAL baseball supremacy
In this week’s roundup of Santa Cruz County high school sports action, Thomas Frey recaps a tight Santa Cruz Athletic League baseball race, softball heroics, a boys tennis showdown and happenings in the pool.
Santa Cruz Warriors’ season ends in heartbreaking 112-109 playoff loss to Stockton Kings
Thursday’s road playoff loss against the top-seeded Stockton Kings closes out what had been an impressive week for Santa Cruz, which had won three games since Friday to keep its season alive.
Crunch time: Santa Cruz Warriors hit the road in quest for playoff return
The Warriors defeated the Rip City Remix in Portland March 30 to secure the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference of the upcoming NBA G League Playoff, which begins April 2. Lookout photojournalist Kevin Painchaud spent time with the Warriors during practice in March as the team made its final playoff push.
High school sports: Santa Cruz High boys volleyball big win and all star basketball rosters
In this week’s look at high school sports action around Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz High School boys volleyball is 18-0 after a win over Valley Christian, a packed baseball and softball slate, plus more on tennis, golf and the lineup for the Reggie Stephens Foundation Central Coast All Star Basketball Games.
High school sports roundup: Soquel takes down Aptos in SCCAL baseball thriller and booming softball bats
In this week’s look at high school sports action around Santa Cruz County, Soquel High rebounds from a loss at Santa Cruz High to beat Aptos High in a packed baseball slate, county softball teams putting up big offensive numbers plus more on tennis, swimming, golf and beach volleyball.
High school sports roundup: Scotts Valley scores big tennis win over Aptos; baseball, softball in full swing
“A true team effort” helped the Scotts Valley High boys team send Aptos High to a rare SCCAL loss. Meanwhile, baseball and softball teams were busy on Santa Cruz County diamonds.
Santa Cruz High comes up short in state basketball championship game
The Cardinals got down early and could never quite come back in Friday’s CIF Division III title game against Bishop Alemany High, falling 63-53. Santa Cruz High finished the season 27-7.