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County’s high school football teams prepare for ’26 campaign with scrimmages this weekend
All 10 high school football teams from Santa Cruz County will see their first live action, full pads, against real opponents during scrimmages this weekend.
Campbell’s Trevor Gillis, San Francisco’s Stephanie Blankley swim to 2026 Cruz Cruise wins | Local Roundup
Campbell’s Trevor Gillis and San Francisco’s Stephanie Blankley earned wins in the non-wetsuit division at the Cruz Cruise in Santa Cruz on Sunday to cap 2026 Open Water Weekend.
Santa Cruz golfer Peter Wood moves into Round of 16 at 2026 NCGA Senior Match Play Championship | Local Roundup
Santa Cruz’s Peter Wood and Jud Spencer advanced from stroke play at the 20th NCGA Senior Match Play Championship on Monday.
SC’s Eli Fitchen-Young withdraws from World Athletics U20 Championships with injury | Local Roundup
Santa Cruz track and field talent Eli Fitchen-Young suffered an ill-timed injury that forced him to withdraw from the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Watsonville native Luke Keaschall for goes deep for Twins in Seattle | Glimpse of the Action
Watsonville native Luke Keaschall, an Aptos High alum, hit his fifth home run of the season for the Minnesota Twins on Saturday.
Santa Cruz’s Haisley Flanagan, teammate take second at AVP Juniors National Championships | Beach volleyball
Santa Cruz’s Haisley Flanagan and teammate Madison Gillinger took second place in the Girls 16U division at the 2026 AVP Juniors National Championships, which ran July 22-24 in Hermosa Beach.
Artūrs Medveds, Paige Wood register dominant wins at 2026 Wharf to Wharf Race
Rancho Cucamonga’s Arturs Medveds repeated as champion at the 2026 Wharf to Wharf Race in commanding fashion, and Paige Wood, of Flagstaff, Arizona, also turned in a dominant showing to secure the women’s crown Sunday morning.
Aptos native Nikki Hiltz extends 1,500 win streak in thrilling fashion at 2026 USATF Outdoor Championships
Star middle distance runner Nikki Hiltz, a Paris 2024 Olympian, needed to pass one runner and hold off another in the final 10 meters if the 31-year-old Aptos native was to keep an impressive win streak alive.
Latvia’s Arturs Medveds set for title defense at 2026 Wharf to Wharf Race
A slew of injuries has drastically reduced to the Wharf to Wharf Race’s international field this year, but event officials expect that the 54th running of the 5.91-mile road race will be every bit as spectacular as previous editions.
Nikki Hiltz, Jessica Kain advance to 1,500 final at 2026 USATF Outdoor Championships
Aptos native Nikki Hiltz and Scotts Valley native Jessica Kain both advanced from qualifying to the women’s 1,500 meters final at the 2026 Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships on Thursday.
Local trio to compete in 2026 USATF Outdoor Championships | Local Roundup
Three former Santa Cruz County residents — Aptos High alumna Nikki Hiltz and Scotts Valley alumna Jessica Kain and Vanessa Fraser — will compete at the 2026 Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships.
Aptos’ opening statement | Glimpse of the Action
District 39 champion Aptos beat D-9 champ Soledad 11-1 in the teams’ opener at the Section 5 Majors All-Stars Tournament at Aptos Little League on Friday. Aptos hosts either Los Gatos (D-12) or Los Altos (D-44) in the winner’s bracket final on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Soquel ace Jake Escalante drafted by Athletics on Day 2 of 2026 MLB Draft
Recently graduated Soquel High ace Jake Escalante, currently rehabbing his left arm after undergoing Tommy John surgery in early June, was drafted by the Athletics on Day 2 of the 2026 MLB Draft on Sunday.
Chattanooga Lookouts slugger Ruben Ibarra homers twice, including 489-foot blast | Local Roundup
Watsonville’s Ruben Ibarra, 27, produced the longest home run in the Cincinnati Reds’ farm system this season and led the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts to a 9-3 win over the Rocket City Trash Pandas in the teams’ Southern League game at Toyota Field in Madison, Alabama, on Sunday.
Aptos flamethrower Gabe Gaeckle chosen by A’s ahead of third round | 2026 MLB Draft
Aptos pitcher Gabe Gaeckle, a junior right-hander at University of Arkansas, was chosen by the A’s with their Competitive Balance Round B pick, 73rd overall, in the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday.
William Kelley, Azalea Groleau earn 10K wins at 41st Firecracker Run | Local Roundup
Santa Cruz’s William Kelley and Felton’s Azalea Groleau earned wins in the 10K race at the 41st Firecracker Run at Harvey West Park in Santa Cruz on Saturday.
Aptos native Nikki Hiltz runs to record-setting mile victory at 2026 Prefontaine Classic | Track and Field
Star middle distance runner Nikki Hiltz, 31, produced more fireworks on the track with a record-setting performance on the Fourth of July.
Santa Cruz surfer Riviera Hunter wins two titles at NSSA National Championships | Local Roundup
Santa Cruz’s Riviera Hunter made four finals and earned the Open women’s and Girls Air Show titles at the National Scholastic Surfing Association National Championships, which concluded Thursday in Huntington Beach.
Aptos All-Stars tops Capitola-Soquel for District 39 Majors title | Little League
Aptos Little League’s Majors All-Stars delivered another gutsy effort and secured their third straight elimination game win to claim the District 39 title and extend their season.
Aptos swimmer Jessa Melcer breaks 50 free record, earns three medals at Special Olympics | Local Roundup
Santa Cruz swimmer Jessa Melcer earned three medals, including two golds, and broke an event record at the Special Olympics USA Games Minnesota 2026, held in Minneapolis from June 20 through Friday.
Santa Cruz’s Karissa Cook rejoins Stanford’s beach volleyball program as assistant coach | Local Roundup
Santa Cruz’s Karissa Cook, 35, will rejoin Stanford University’s beach volleyball program for the 2027 season as an assistant coach, head coach Andrew Fuller announced Wednesday.
Consolation champs force decisive games to decide D-39 titles | Little League
Aptos Little League’s Majors All-Stars handed Capitola-Soquel its first loss in the District 39 championship, 11-0 in four innings on Saturday, to force a winner-take-all game.
Santa Cruz’s Haley Jones rejoins WNBA’s Dallas Wings with development contract | Local Roundup
Santa Cruz basketball star Haley Jones, 25, a former All-American at Stanford University, is back with the WNBA’s Dallas Wings.
Harbor outside hitter Cooper Lastition named MVP | 2026 All-SCCAL boys volleyball
Harbor High 6-foot-4 senior outside hitter Cooper Lastition was a driving force behind the Pirates’ boys volleyball team’s success this season, and league coaches rewarded his showing by naming him the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic…
Aptos native Nikki Hiltz wins 800 at LA Grand Prix | Local Roundup
Aptos native Nikki Hiltz, 31, named to Time’s The 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026 earlier this week, won the women’s 800 meters ‘A’ final at the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix at Allyson Felix Field on…