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.
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.
Posted inRecreation & Sports
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.
Posted inRecreation & Sports
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.
Posted inRecreation & Sports
Santa Cruz High heads to Sacramento in pursuit of first state basketball title since 2005
The Cardinals will take on Bishop Alemany High School of Mission Hills at 4 p.m. Friday at Golden 1 Center, home of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, with the California Interscholastic Federation Division III title on the line.
Posted inRecreation & Sports
High school sports roundup: Santa Cruz High one win away from basketball state title game
The top-seeded Santa Cruz High boys basketball team has won its first three games in the CIF Division III state tournament and will face Fresno’s Bullard High on Tuesday night for the NorCal title and a trip to the state championship game in Sacramento.
Posted inRecreation & Sports
High school sports roundup: Santa Cruz boys grab No. 1 seed in state basketball playoffs
Though the Santa Cruz High boys basketball team fell in the Central Coast Section finals Saturday, the Cardinals landed a top seed in the Division III state playoffs and host Oakland’s Head-Royce High School in the first round Tuesday.
Posted inRecreation & Sports
High school sports roundup: Aptos, Santa Cruz lead local contingent into CCS hoops quarters
The Santa Cruz High and Aptos High boys and girls basketball teams are moving toward possible collisions in the Division III Central Coast Section basketball playoffs. Other local schools advancing include the Soquel High boys and girls teams from Scotts Valley High, St. Francis High, Pacific Collegiate and Monte Vista Christian.
Posted inRecreation & Sports
High school sports roundup: Santa Cruz High, Aptos High capture SCCAL basketball titles
Tournament championships were on the line over the weekend in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League basketball, with Santa Cruz High taking the boys crown and Aptos High winning on the girls side.
Posted inRecreation & Sports
High school sports roundup: Santa Cruz High holds top seeds as SCCAL hoops tournaments tip off
Boys and girls basketball tournaments start Tuesday in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League, with Santa Cruz High and Aptos High the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds, respectively, in both. In the Pacific Coast Athletic League, basketball season heads into its final week, and girls and boys soccer season is also winding up in both the SCCAL and PCAL.
Posted inRecreation & Sports
High school sports roundup: Santa Cruz High teams top SCCAL hoops standings; Pajaro Valley, Aptos shine in girls soccer
The Santa Cruz High boys and girls basketball teams both entered this week with 8-0 records in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League, while in girls soccer, Pajaro Valley High is atop the Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division and Aptos High leads the SCCAL.