Everybody has them. Some are burgundy, while some are variegated with fragrant flowers. I’m talking about shrubs that provide reliable good looks without a lot of work.

In Scotts Valley, P.A.L. is more than just a good friend who kids like to hang out with. It stands for Police Athletic League, and it’s the tackle football and cheerleading league that many Scotts Valley youngsters participate in during the late summer and fall.

Three of the five Scotts Valley Little League All-Star teams remain undefeated in District 39 play and are heading toward their respective tournament finals. Those three teams have each run up lopsided cumulative victory margins along the way. The 7- and 8-year-olds have outscored their opponents 55-13 during their three wins, the 10-year-olds run differential is 44-2 with a 3-0 record, and the 10- and 11-year-olds have rolled up a 75-8 split en route to their 4-0 mark.