The 2024 spring season is in full swing for the Scotts Valley High boys’ tennis team following a shocking victory over longtime league rival Aptos High on March 14.
In dramatic fashion, the Falcons stunned the Mariners, 4-3, in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League action, which also snapped Aptos’ 53-game win streak in league play that dates back to 2017, including the abbreviated 2021 season.
Tied at 3-all, it came down to the No. 3 doubles match to determine the winner.
Scotts Valley seniors Hunter Young and Julian De Santos sealed the deal in two sets with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Samer Awwad and Owen McGinty of Aptos.
“This was a true team effort and I’m so happy for the guys, especially the seniors,” said Scotts Valley head coach Scott Goodrich, in his fifth year at the helm. “Aptos head coach Sam Brown is a class act, as are his players and the Mariners have set a high bar in this league year in and year out. My team dug deep today and played clutch tennis at high pressure moments. It was exciting to watch two solid teams’ compete.”
Aptos won three of four singles matches but the Falcons fought back, winning tie-breaker matches at No. 4 singles and at both No. 1 and No. 2 doubles.
The Mariners got off to a strong start with senior Koosha Safari defeating Scotts Valley senior James Delaney in two sets (6-0, 6-2) in the No. 1 singles match.
Aptos followed up with sophomore Ben Zaretsky beating Falcons senior Marshall Dodge (6-1, 6-0), and senior John McGowan defeating Falcons senior Henry Spitzer (6-1, 2-6, 1-0 [10-5]) in a third set tiebreaker.
Scotts Valley stole the momentum when senior Jules Dudek and sophomore Aditya Hannon beat Sean Spencer and Jack Taylor (6-1, 4-6, 1-0 [10-8]) in a third set tiebreaker.
Meanwhile, two more matches were heading to tiebreakers.
In the No. 4 singles match, Falcons junior Elijah Diamond defeated senior Jack Eldridge (1-6, 6-3, 1-0 [11-9]).
Scotts Valley doubles team Wesley Theissen and Gabriel Dodge beat Nick Hambright and Adam Allen (6-4, 4-6, 1-0 [11-9]) en route to a historical win.
Scotts Valley beat Santa Cruz in league action on Tuesday to improve to 3-0 in league play. The Falcons will continue SCCAL play at San Lorenzo Valley on March 26 at 4:30pm.
“I’m just so proud of the guys who played today and proud of our entire team of 21 great guys,” Goodrich said.
Baseball
Aptos 8, Scotts Valley 6: Corbin Giesen gave up five runs (two earned), four walks and recorded one strikeout for the Falcons in a loss to the Mariners in the teams’ SCCAL opener on March 15.
Blake LaRiviere pitched the final five innings for the Falcons, and had two RBIs and one run scored. Kaleb Wing batted 2-for-2 with one run scored and an RBI, while Clayton Pryor batted 1-for-2 with three walks for Scotts Valley (3-2, 0-1), which plays at Santa Cruz on March 22 at 4:30pm.
Scotts Valley 6, Santa Clara 1: Senior pitcher Colin Melrose gave up one unearned run on four hits and one walk to go along with five strikeouts for the Falcons in a non-league win over Santa Clara on March 9.
Jack Abel had three hits, while Jack Sanders and Clayton Pryor each had two hits for Scotts Valley. Quinn Turowski had a bases loaded double in the 7th inning to open it up for the Falcons.
Scotts Valley 7, Sacred Heart Prep 1: Corbin Giesen recorded four strikeouts while giving up one run on three hits and two walks in a non-league win against Sacred Heart Prep on March 6. Blake LaRiviere came in to relieve Giesen, recording five strikeouts and giving up two hits in three innings on the mound. LaRiviere and Jack Abel each had two of the Falcons’ nine base hits in the game.
Boys golf
San Lorenzo Valley 216, Aptos 217: James Dahlen earned medalist honors for the Cougars after he shot at even par (35) in a SCCAL win over the Mariners at Seascape Golf Club on March 14.
SLV’s Keenan Buntz shot a 42, followed by teammates Luke Fontinell (45), Wyatt McCabe (45) and Conner Scarborough (49). Ben Nowark led Aptos with a 39, followed by Colby Culbertson (44), Andrew Cox (46) and Shawn Roschelle (47).
Softball
San Lorenzo Valley 7, Soquel 1: Ali Reger batted 3-for-4 including one double and three RBIs for the Cougars in their win over the Knights in SCCAL action March 14.
Reger also pitched four innings, allowing just one earned run on four hits and recording one strikeout. Jori Fields-Rapley recorded three strikeouts in three innings pitched.
Olivia Renouf batted 2-for-2 with one run scored, while Alyssa Struthers batted 2-for-4 including one triple and two runs scored for SLV. Fellow teammate. Cheyenne Owen batted 2-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBIs.
Up next, the Cougars (5-6, 1-1) will host Santa Cruz on March 26 at 4:30pm.
Boys volleyball
Falcons continue to develop on the court: After three straight losses in SCCAL play, the Falcons (2-4, 0-3) are hoping to bounce back in a home match against San Lorenzo Valley on Thursday at 6:30pm.
Scotts Valley dropped its league-opener to Aptos in three sets (25-18, 25-22, 29-27) on March 5. But senior Chase Welle was still proud of the way the Falcons battled until the match point.
“I felt like we definitely could have won that last [game], especially,” said Welle, following the loss to Aptos. “I think we’ll definitely get them at home.”
Welle said they have a strong front row with players such as Welle, Ben Luckey, Will Shanks and Devin Bloom. Welle also mentioned their team chemistry is stronger than ever.
“My goal is just to destroy every ball,” Welle said. “I’ve been trying to get my serve down but it’s getting there.”
Welle believes the Falcons can be contenders in the SCCAL with the likes of Aptos, Harbor and Santa Cruz—the three favorites to capture a league crown.
“Those guys are all powerhouses but in CCS [playoffs], I think we’d definitely take a far run,” he said.
Up next, the Falcons will host Mount Madonna School on March 26 at 6:30pm.
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.
