The San Lorenzo Valley girls water polo team will likely improve on its 1-6 2008 record in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League on the strength of goaltender and captain Johanna Coker.

Scotts Valley High football coach Louie Walters intentionally packed his team’s early-season schedule with quality opponents this year, figuring some early pain in the win-loss column will translate into a tougher Falcons team for the league play to follow.

The San Lorenzo Valley High football team will look for an opening-season win as the Cougars host Alisal High this weekend.

The Scotts Valley High varsity football team will play Alice High School in Texas, Friday, Sept. 4, fresh off winning the annual Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League jamboree at Cabrillo College.

Despite heat in the mid- to upper-90s as summer winds down, the high school cross country teams in the San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley have a plentiful crop of runners out for the 2009 season. Both teams have about 50 members, and each has aspirations of running in the state championship meet in late fall.

For years, the saying in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League football has been that the road to the title runs through Felton, an homage to the success the San Lorenzo Valley Cougars have achieved over many years under longtime head coach Doug Morris.