This week’s edition of the Press Banner Sports Ticker highlights local prep athletes for their performances during the week of April 29-May 5.
Preps of the Week
Boys: Scotts Valley High senior Jack Abel had back-to-back solid games for the Falcons baseball team, which is currently riding a six-game win streak. The team captain had one RBI, two runs scored and two hits, including one home run to center field in a come-from-behind 8-5 win against Soquel High in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League action April 30. Abel followed up with two doubles, one walk, one RBI, one run scored and was hit by a pitch in a crushing 13-0 win over Soquel on May 3.
Girls: Scotts Valley High junior Sofia Niklaus racked up 20 goals and nine assists in three games for the Falcons girls’ lacrosse team. The Falcons standout had 11 goals, a pair of assists, 15 draw possessions and four draw controls in a 14-5 win against Monterey High in the teams’ Central Coast Section play-in game May 4. Prior to that, she recorded three goals and three assists in a 7-5 victory over Monte Vista Christian on May 3, and six goals and four assists in a 12-1 blowout win against Carmel High on May 2.
Rising Stars
- San Lorenzo Valley High sophomore Sophia Sarmiento allowed one run on two hits while recording four strikeouts in a 9-1 victory against Harbor High in the SCCAL play May 2. Sarmiento also batted 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI. Fellow teammate Jori Fields-Rapley had one hit, three RBIs and scored one run for the Cougars.
- San Lorenzo Valley High’s Alyssa Struthers batted 2-for-4, including one home run, two RBIs and a pair of runs scored in a 4-3 win over Aptos High in SCCAL softball action April 30. Fellow teammates Angie Fulkerson and Cheyenne Owen each had a pair of hits, while both Olivia Renouf and Sophia Sarmiento each had one RBI.
- Scotts Valley High starting pitcher Colin Melrose worked out of two bases loaded jams en route to a 13-0 victory over Soquel in SCCAL baseball action May 3. Melrose allowed four hits and four walks, while recording two strikeouts in five innings. The Falcons soared on offense by pounding out 15 hits, including doubles from Blake LaRiviere, Jacob Pauka, Jack Sanders and Quinn Turowski. Fellow teammate Kaleb Wing batted 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and two RBIs. Clayton Pryor, Sanders and LaRiviere each had a pair of hits and one RBI. Pauka each had two hits with one RBI, and Corbin Giesen recorded one strikeout in relief of Melrose.
- Scotts Valley High’s Corbin Giesen and Quinn Turowski each had one home run in a come-from-behind 8-5 win against Soquel in SCCAL baseball action April 30. The Falcons trailed 4-0 in the first inning, but slowly chipped away at the deficit. They finished with 10 base hits, including the three home runs. Giesen hit a two-run shot to left field on a 0-2 count in the second inning, followed by Turowski’s solo shot to left center in the sixth frame. Turowski batted 2-for-4 with one run scored and three RBIs. Abel scored one run and had two RBIs, and Giesen had three RBIs. Blake LaRiviere started on the mound, allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits while collecting a pair of strikeouts in six innings. Jack Parker earned the save.
- Scotts Valley High junior Sofie Seese and freshman Chloe Kent combined for the shutout in a 10-0 victory over Santa Cruz in SCCAL softball action May 2. Seese gave up just one hit and one walk while recording five strikeouts in four innings, and Kent finished strong with three strikeouts. Taylor Wilson batted 2-for-3 with one run scored and three stolen bases, Abby Howell had a pair of hits and three RBIs, Nick Powell had one double, and Gracie Delgado scored three times and had three walks for the Falcons.
- Scotts Valley High junior Skylar Dufour had two goals and three assists in a 14-5 win against Monterey High in the teams’ Central Coast Section girls’ lacrosse play-in game May 4. Dufour also had one draw possession and 13 draw controls, while fellow teammates Dillon Fiorita recorded three assists, Claire Skinner had one goal and Serena Sanford-Brantley had one assist for the Falcons, who had just eight players available to suit up.
Games to Watch
- San Lorenzo Valley vs. Scotts Valley, softball, Thursday and Friday at 4:30pm: The Falcons and Cougars close out the 2024 regular season with back-to-back games that could determine this year’s SCCAL champion.
- San Lorenzo Valley vs. Scotts Valley, baseball, Friday at 4:30pm: The Cougars (5-14-2, 2-10-1) will host a red-hot Falcons (13-7, 8-5) squad in the teams’ SCCAL regular season finale in Felton.
- Scotts Valley vs. Burlingame, girls lacrosse, Saturday at 11am: The PCAL Gabilan Division runner-up Falcons (11-2, 8-2) earned the No. 3 seed in the CCS Division II playoffs and will host the No. 6 Panthers (8-7, 5-5) of the West Bay Athletic League Skyline Division.
Coaches and athletic directors are encouraged to submit scores and highlights to [email protected]. Follow sports editor Juan Reyes (@jmreyes831) on Twitter for scores and news updates.
