Scotts Valley seniors Aaron Weiss and Ava Decleve had a field day at last week’s 45th annual Central Coast Section Top 8 Track and Field Invitational as each runner recorded a victory on the track.
Weiss won the 800-meters boys race in 1 minute, 54.48 seconds, while Decleve (2:11.26) took home the gold in the 800 girls race during the esteemed event at Los Gatos High on April 18.
Decleve crossed the finish line in photo-finish fashion to beat Crystal Springs senior Anna Salter (2:11.77) in second and St. Francis junior Maya Wastie (2:14.93) in third.
“The race plan was there, and [Decleve] did it,” said Scotts Valley head coach Todd Hoffman. “She executed it really, really well.”
The four-year Falcon veteran got out to a quick start in the race by taking the lead in the first 250 meters while avoiding getting boxed in.
“We’re always telling them to get out in the 800 [race],” Hoffman said.
But in a flash, Salter made her way to the front of the pack by passing up Decleve with about 200 meters to go in the race.
That’s when Decleve turned on the afterburners and hit the final corner like a slingshot en route to the top of the podium.
“That’s [Decelve’s] strength,” Hoffman said. “She’s got speed and strength from her conditioning.”
Decleve, a UCLA commit, was also runner-up in the 200 in 25.34. Los Gatos senior Kaylee Cross won in 24.61, while Palo Alto senior Kailia Leming (25.34) took third.
Scotts Valley senior Dylan Turzak placed 12th in 2:20.36 in the 800, while the Shehorn twins—Hanna (10:50.44) and Hailey (11:28.48)—took second and ninth, respectively, in the 3200.
“Both [Hanna and Hailey] have the strongest mindset I’ve ever seen in my life,” Hoffman said. “They’ve had to work for everything and they’re not afraid to work.”
One example was on March 20 when it was roughly 95 degrees at the Dublin Distance Fiesta, where both sisters ran in the 3200. Instead of complaining about the blistering heat, the Shehorns set a goal to finish the race in a personal best.
“When they’re on the track, they have the most grit,” Hoffman said. “Hailey was, ‘I just tried, and then I got them at the end.’ But they don’t stop, there’s no excuses. They’re just amazing.”
Weiss ran his best race of the spring campaign, according to Hoffman.
“It was a great race. [Weiss] went out pretty good and then it started to slow down,” Hoffman said. “Aaron just said, ‘I’m not slowing down,’ and he just took control. Held on at the end, but he ran such a great and smart race. It was so fun to watch.”
Hoffman advised his ace runner to get in front of the pack in order to position himself well, and to react quickly whenever there’s a chance for any surges.
“If you feel it, go,” Hoffman said. “Just take the lead and take off, and that’s what [Weiss] did.”
Weiss was part of the boys 4×800 relay team with senior William von Haunalter, junior Jackson Stull and senior Nate McKeon that placed eighth in 8:27.01.
Other rising stars on the boys team includes senior sprinters Anton Khomenko, Evan Wong and Vaughn Chomentowski, who is competing in the long jump again this season.
“[Assistant coach] Bradley [Hartman’s] doing a great job with the team,” Hoffman said. “A lot of young kids but those two [Khomenko and Wong] are doing well. And then Vaughn is doing the long jump and he’s getting quicker on the track, too.”
The most amazing part of it all is that Scotts Valley’s coaching staff has been training with the student-athletes while also competing in all of its Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League meets off campus.
Bothman Construction, along with local officials, broke ground two weeks ago on a new sports complex that will include a new all-weather running track. However, the original dirt track has been closed down since October, forcing the Falcons to shift over to neighboring San Lorenzo Valley High for practice.
“We just have to deal with it,” Hoffman said.
Next up, the SCCAL Championships at Harbor High on May 2 at 10am.
High school baseball
Cougars win back-to-back: Porter Boyd finished with three hits and three RBIs in SLV’s 11-8 victory over Lincoln in nonleague play on April 18.
Boyd had one double, scored once and had one stolen base, while teammate Sean Johnson also had three hits with one RBI, one run scored and a stolen base.
Jesse Fulkerson had a pair of hits, including one double and two RBIs for SLV. Teammates Larrabee Mitchell and Spencer Bruce each had three runs scored, while Brody Egner had one double and scored twice.
The Cougars were coming off a 3-1 win over Harbor in SCCAL action on April 16 to earn their first victory in league play this season. Egner had a pair of hits, while Gus Nunns had one hit and scored one run for SLV—winners of two straight.
Sophomore pitcher Liam Fields-Rapley allowed one earned one on four hits while striking out two in seven innings against the Pirates.
SLV (3-15, 1-6) plays at Soquel in SCCAL play on Thursday at 4pm.
Falcons drop fifth straight: Matthew Casper had one hit and a pair of RBIs in Scotts Valley’s 7-2 loss to Soquel in SCCAL play on April 17.
Teammates Bryce McDonnell and Nick Acton each had one base hit and scored one run for the Falcons, who dropped to 2-5 in league play and have lost five consecutive.
Scotts Valley (5-11, 2-5) hosts SLV in SCCAL play on April 28 at 4pm.
High school softball
Cougars split in SCCAL play: Grace Purtscher had four hits and four RBIs in SLV’s 15-4 rout over Harbor in SCCAL play on April 14.
Teammate Bailey Filice had a pair of hits and three RBIs, while Audrey Jouglet finished with two hits and two RBIs. Ray Alvarez tallied three hits and one RBI for the Cougars.
Elie Colby allowed three runs on four hits while collecting a pair of strikeouts in four innings pitched.
Purtscher allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits while striking out five in a 4-0 loss to Soquel in SCCAL play on April 16. Jouglet and Sophia Sarmiento each had one base hit for SLV (7-6-1, 4-3), which hosts Santa Cruz (2-10, 1-6) on Thursday at 4:30pm.
Falcons snap three game skid: Lorelei Warner finished with three hits, three RBIs and scored a pair of runs in Scotts Valley’s 18-3 crushing victory in five innings over Santa Cruz in SCCAL play on April 16.
Sierra Finsthwait also had three hits, including one triple to go along with one RBI and two runs scored for the Falcons. Teammate Gabriella Gauthier tallied a pair of hits and scored twice, while Chloe Kent had two hits, including one home run, two RBIs and four runs scored.
Warner and Jazzy Phillips recorded six and five strikeouts, respectively, in the circle for Scotts Valley, which bounced back following a 6-4 loss to Soquel in league play on April 14.
Scotts Valley (4-7-1, 3-3) hosts Aptos (14-4, 7-0) in SCCAL play on Thursday at 4:30pm.
Boys golf
Cougars cap off regular season with a win: San Lorenzo Valley finished the regular season on a high note with a strong 178-194 victory in the rain against Santa Cruz in SCCAL play at Boulder Creek Country Club on Tuesday.
SLV senior Tanner Brewer saved his best for last after he shot an incredible one under par (30), recording birdies on the first and fifth holes to finish with medalist honors.
Garret Dahlen excelled again for his team following a fabulous score of 33 with birdies on the first two holes and finishing out strong.
Other top SLV scorers included Carson Chubb and Isaac Skinner coming in paired with a 38, followed by Lochlin Bischofberger (39) and Ryder Schram (41).
“Congratulations to Tanner Brewer for having an incredible season, and a way to go out with a bang,” said SLV head coach Philip D’Andrea. “This was a building year for the Cougars, but all in all, it was still a great success finishing the season with a 6-4 record. Looking forward to next year.”
Boys volleyball
Falcons soar to second straight win: Troy Thompson collected a game-best 28 assists to lead Scotts Valley past Watsonville for a convincing win in three sets 25-9, 25-8, 25-18 in nonleague play Tuesday evening.
Thompson added seven serving aces, four digs and a pair of kills, while teammate Will Shanks finished with 13 digs, seven kills and three aces.
Bentley Clarkson tallied 10 kills, three aces and two digs for Scotts Valley, which was coming off another sweeping win against Aptos in three sets 25-17, 25-22, 25-23 in SCCAL play April 16. Thompson had 22 assists, 15 digs, two aces and one kill in the victory against the Mariners.
Scotts Valley (7-15, 3-6) hosts Mount Madonna (9-7, 5-4) in SCCAL action on Thursday at 5:30pm.
