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Locals shine at 2026 USLA National Junior Lifeguard Championships in Florida | Local Roundup
Santa Cruz Surf Lifesaving Association turned in several stellar performances at the 2026 United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) National Junior Lifeguard Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Tuesday.
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.
Soquel grad Dylan Hull commits to UC Davis baseball program
Recent Soquel High graduate Dylan Hull, a talented and successful right-handed pitcher on the Knights’ league championship baseball team, was all set to continue his academic and athletic careers at Cabrillo College in the fall.
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.
Scotts Valley golfer Ashley Gettleman misses cut at 77th U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship | Local Roundup
Scotts Valley golfer Ashley Gettleman narrowly missed the cut after two rounds of stroke play at the 77th U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship in Durham, N.C.
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.
Rehabbing ace Jake Escalante ready for ‘whatever happens’ on MLB Draft weekend
Jake Escalante, the recently graduated star pitcher/outfielder for Soquel High, spoke with the Sentinel for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in early June and said he’s in a good headspace ahead of the 2026 MLB Draft.
Santa Cruz’s Brendan Bobo to compete in Frontier League’s 2026 Y’all Star Game | Local Roundup
Santa Cruz’s Brendan Bobo, 24, was chosen to compete in the Frontier League’s 2026 Y’all Star Game at Thomas More Stadium in Florence. Kentucky, on July 15.
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.
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 GJ Hill steals his way into MiLB’s record book | Local Roundup
Santa Cruz’s GJ Hill sprinted his way to one of professional baseball’s all-time performances on Tuesday night.
Santa Cruz Little League’s 50-70 All-Stars win D-39 title | Local Roundup
Santa Cruz Little League’s 50-70 All-Stars beat Capitola-Soquel 7-6 in the District 39 championship on Friday.
Cap-Soquel forces winner-take-all game with Aptos for D-39 Majors’ T.O.C. title | Glimpse of the Action
Capitola-Soquel tops previously unbeaten Aptos, forces winner-take-all game Tuesday in the Majors’ District 39 Tournament of Champions championship at Live Oak Little League.
Soquel two-way star Jake Escalante repeats as Player of the Year | All-SCCAL baseball
Soquel High two-way baseball star Jake Escalante posted even better numbers this season than he did a year ago, when he was voted the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League’s Player of the Year.
SC surfer Isla Hardy wins Rip Curl GromSearch’s West Coast Region title | Local Roundup
Santa Cruz surfer Isla Hardy won the Rip Curl GromSearch West Coast Region title in the Girls U16 division in Huntington Beach on Sunday.
St. Francis’ Nicky Fantl, Noah Magana earn first-team honors in Gabilan Division | 2026 All-PCAL baseball
St. Francis High baseball talents Nicky Fantl and Noah Magana were named to the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s All-Gabilan Division first team during all-league voting.
Soquel, Santa Cruz dealt tough losses in NorCal Regional playoffs | High school baseball
The Soquel High and Santa Cruz baseball teams both traveled four-plus hours, round trip, to play in the CIF NorCal Regional playoffs in the Greater Sacramento area on Tuesday, and both saw their seasons come to a close in tough-to-swallow losses.
Soquel, Santa Cruz baseball teams head to Greater Sacramento area for NorCal quarterfinals | Local Roundup
The Soquel High baseball team was placed in Division I and Santa Cruz was placed in D-III during the California Interscholastic Federation NorCal Regional playoffs seeding meeting on Sunday.