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Falcon swimmers lose to Cardinals
The Scotts Valley varsity girls, lacking a few teammates, swam well but came up short April 1 at the Santa Cruz High pool, falling to the Cardinals 88-56.
Aria Leonard was a double winner for the Falcons, winning the 100-yard freestyle in a personal-best 57.92 seconds and the 100 breaststroke with another personal-best time, 1 minute, 14.04 seconds. Elizabeth Von Hanaulter took the win in the 200 freestyle in a season-best 2:14.39, and Abby Utic, Ali Ayers, Lia Burrowes and Kelsey Van Valer teamed up to win the 400 freestyle relay in 4:50.14.
“The girls swam very well, and even though down some key swimmers, they hung right in there, winning four of 11 events and placing in the top three in all events,” coach Mike Ayers said. “Aria’s times are just over the CCS qualifying times, and I’m sure she’ll work very hard and we’ll taper those times down to qualifiers.”
The Falcons are 2-2 on the season as they head to Fresno to swim in the Clovis West High School Invitational on Friday, April 8.
Derby Girls host home game
The Santa Cruz Derby Girls’ Harbor Hellcats will face off against the Merced Rollin’ Roulettes in their first home bout of the season April 16 at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium.
The Hellcats are 1-1 this season. Their first game of the season was a brutal loss to Santa Barbara’s Brawlin’ Betties, followed quickly by a redeeming win versus Bakersfield’s Diamond Divas.
Halftime will feature a mini-bout as the Santa Cruz Derby Groms, the junior derby team, challenges Merced’s junior derby team. It will be the Derby Groms’ first interleague bout.
Tickets are available at www.santacruztickets.com; by phone at 420-5260; or at the Civic Auditorium’s box office, 307 Church St., in Santa Cruz.
Falcons go 1-1 in first day of Steinbeck Classic
Seryna Tapolua hit a home run that helped lift Scotts Valley over Pacific Grove, 7-3, on Saturday, April 2, at the Steinback Classic Softball Tournament at the Salinas Sports Complex.
Nicole Whitney and Danica Houseman both tripled for the Falcons, and Whitney added two walks. Nikki Owens struck out five batters in three innings to earn the win.
The Falcons next dropped a pitching duel to Presentation High, 2-1. Owens took her first loss of the year after tossing a complete game, allowing no earned runs and striking out 13 batters. Houseman and Jackie Eicholz had two hits each.
Tournament play continues Saturday, April 9, at the Salinas Sports Complex.
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