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.

Robbie Erlin, a 2009 Scotts Valley High graduate who was drafted by the Texas Rangers, was named South Athletic League Pitcher of the Week for June 21 to 27.

The San Lorenzo Valley Minors Cardinals were forced to take the long way through the Tournament of Champions when they lost their opener to Scotts Valley, 10-0. However, they rebounded with a win over Capitola-Soquel, 9-2.

The Scotts Valley Trouble club softball teams fared well at the annual Father’s Day Tournament in Salinas a weekend ago, with three of the four teams winning their age brackets.

The San Lorenzo Valley Little League Majors Red Sox defeated the Phillies in two consecutive games to win the second-half championship and a berth in the regional Tournament of Champions