Santa Cruz boys tennis wins first league title since 2015 | Local Roundup

Junior Jeremy Arulanantham, freshman Lukas Novotny, senior Ian Burchell, and sophomore Anders Laurberg won their singles matches in straight sets on Friday to help Santa Cruz High's boys tennis team beat Harbor 6-1 in a make-up match and secure its first Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League team title since 2015.

The Cardinals (10-2 overall, 9-0 league), who have won 23 league titles since the league was formed in 1976, won five straight titles from 2011-15. Given the team's youth, the Cardinals are hoping to begin another run of dominance.

"It was a great year for the team," Cardinals coach Kumaran Arulanantham said. "They are all great kids with wonderful chemistry, working hard but having fun. And with a young team, the coming years look good too."

The coach said the Cardinals set a goal of winning the league title at the outset of the season.

"They worked hard, stay focused, and got the job done," he said.

Novotny beat Abraham Bachar 6-1, 6-3 at No. 2 singles, the closest match.

Santa Cruz sophomore Owen Vaughn and senior Aldon Fairchild, and freshmen Rowan Elfers and Max Scheidt didn't drop a game in their doubles wins.

Harbor's Zabel Oatey and Jasper Cattaert won 7-5, 2-6, 1-0 (11-9) over junior Kai Vargas and sophomore Oscar Sapunor at No. 1 doubles.

The SCCAL Singles and Doubles Championships, held at Imperial Courts, begin Tuesday at 10 a.m. and conclude with the finals on Wednesday at 3 p.m.

By winning the league title, Santa Cruz advances to the Central Coast Section Team Championships, which begin on May 6. The Cardinals will learn their first-round opponent at the seeding meeting on May 4.

High school baseball

Harbor 7, Aptos 2: Tied a 1-all, the Pirates scored six runs on five hits in the top of the seventh inning to stun the Mariners in SCCAL action Friday.

Senior pitcher Joey Raffo, a UC Davis commit, gave up three hits and one walk while striking out 10 batter over six innings and earned the win.

Evan Lampel had three hits, including a double, and two RBI for the Pirates (12-7, 5-4). Raffo had two hits, two RBI, and scored a run. Vivian Mould had two hits and scored twice. Noah Solano and Pierre Bell also had two hits each.

Dylan Bergh doubled and scored for the Mariners (10-5, 6-3). Jacob Kissinger had a hit and one RBI. James Reilly had one RBI, and Damien Espinoza scored a run.

Jacob Kissinger gave up three runs, two earned, in an inning of relief and was tagged with the loss.

On Tuesday at 4 p.m., Harbor hosts crosstown foe Santa Cruz (10-7, 5-4), and Aptos plays at league leading Soquel (15-3, 7-1).

At Santa Cruz 5, Scotts Valley 3: The Cardinals rallied from a 3-1 deficit to pick up the SCCAL win Friday.

Senior Cameron Fusari had four hits and two RBI for the Cardinals (10-7, 5-4). Sophomore Peter Astromoff had two hits, one RBI, and scored a run. Freshman Merrick Dacosta had two hits and scored a run, and senior Matteo Caltabiano had had a hit, walk, one RBI, and scored twice.

Junior Rex Thompson had two hits and one RBI for the Falcons (5-13, 2-7). Junior Owen Martin had a hit, two stolen bases, and scored a run.

Sophomore pitcher Adam Fowler gave up one unearned run over four innings of relief and picked up the win. Sophomore Elliott Smith gave up four runs, three earned, over 4 1/3 innings and took the loss.

On Tuesday at 4 p.m., Santa Cruz plays at Harbor (12-7, 5-4), and Scotts Valley plays at San Lorenzo Valley (3-16, 1-7).

St. Francis 7, at MVC 1: Junior pitcher Nicky Fantl picked up the win and homered in the Sharks' Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division victory Friday.

Fantl gave up three hits, five walks, and one run while striking out eight batters over six innings.

Sophomore Noah Magana had two hits, three RBI, and scored twice for the Sharks (5-14-1, 5-10), who finished with 11 hits. Freshman Brooks Drake had three hits, including a pair of doubles, two stolen bases, and three RBI. Fantl hit his second home run of the season, a solo shot, and scored twice.

Junior Mikie Melenudo had two hits, two stolen bases, and one RBI for the Mustangs (6-14, 3-12). Sophomore Carlos Alvarez had a hit and scored a run.

St. Francis. plays at Pacific Grove (9-9-1, 8-4) on Saturday at 11 a.m. MVC plays at Carmel (14-6, 13-2) on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

High school softball

Pajaro Valley 15, at Seaside 5; 5 inn.: Junior Hemeria Delatorre had four hits, including a double, four RBI, three stolen bases, and scored three runs in the Grizzlies' PCAL Santa Lucia Division win Friday.

The Grizzlies (8-11, 7-4) secured their highest season win total in program history, according to statistics published on maxpreps, and still have four games remaining in the regular season.

Olivia Contreras hit her third home run of the season, drove in three runs, drew a walk, and scored three runs for the Grizzlies. Freshman Alexia Duron had two hits, three RBI, and scored a run.

Nadia Renteria, Myah Diggs Lozano, and Jaqueline Alvarez Zavala each scored a pair of run for Pajaro Valley. Sophia Garcia had a hit, three stolen bases, two RBI, and scored a run. Diggs Lozano drew three walks and had five of the Grizzlies' 18 stolen bases.

Delatorre picked up the complete game win.

Pajaro Valley plays at Santa Catalina (4-5, 4-5) on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.

At MVC 16, Gonzales 6; 5 inn.: Addison Boles had two hits, three RBI, and scored three runs in the Mustangs' PCAL Cypress Division win Friday.

Juliana Lopez had two hits, two RBI, and scored twice for the Mustangs (9-11, 4-6). Ava Alvarado had one hit, two RBI, and scored twice. Samantha Bertoldi, who is committed to play beach volleyball at NCAA Division III University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, doubled, drove in two runs, and scored a run.

Sofia Calomeni and Sophia Lopez each scored three runs for MVC.

Addison Silva earned the complete-game win.

Mariana Camarena had two hits and three RBI for the Spartans (0-20, 0-10).

MVC hosts Rancho San Juan (8-5-1, 7-2) on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.

Surfing

Vans Jack's Surfboards Pro: Santa Cruz's John Mel advanced to the Round of 32 at the World Surf League's Vans Jack's Surfboards Pro, a Qualifying Series 4,000-point event in Huntington Beach, on Saturday.

Mel took first in Heat 7 of the Round of 64 with a two-wave score of 12.87. Rex Hennings (11.03) also advanced.

Santa Cruz's Max St. Denis (6.40) took third in Heat 15 of the Round of 64 and was eliminated. He finished tied for 33rd place and earned 280 points.

Santa Cruz's Adam Bartlett (9.47) was eliminated in the Round of 96 on Thursday. He finished tied for 65th and earned 212 points.

In the women's competition, Santa Cruz's Kaikora Nauenberg tied for 25th place and earned 532 points.

She took fourth in her Round of 32 heat with a two-wave score of 6.17. Kirra Pinkerton (10.50) and Alana Lopez (8.60) advanced from the heat.

Boys swimming

At Santa Cruz 93, Soquel 62: Jack Yoshimura took first in the 100-yard backstroke (1:02.48) and 200 individual medley (2:16.03) to help the Cardinals win their SCCAL dual meet finale Friday.

Pax Kantor (50 freestyle, 25.22), Robert Murphy (100 free, 55.93), Nico Van der Meer (200 free, 2:01.70) and Luka Gabersek (100 breaststroke, 1:16.28) also earned individual wins for the Cardinals.

Santa Cruz won the 200 free relay (1:46.78), 200 medley relay (1:50.91), and 400 free relay (3:47.31).

Soquel's Matteo Paiva took first in the 100 butterfly (54.75) and 500 free (5:41.69).

The SCCAL Championships take place at Aptos High on May 2 at 10 a.m.

Girls swimming

Soquel 98, at Santa Cruz 55: Caitlin and Izzie Bridi-Milligan each won two individual events in the Knights' SCCAL meet win Friday to close the regular season.

Caitlin took first in the 100 breast (1:17.64) and 200 IM (2:33.31), and Izzie took first in the 50 free (26.75) and 100 free (58.68).

Soquel also received wins from Ayla Nelson (100 fly, 1:02.31), Grace Graessle (500 free, 6:28.00) and its 200 medley relay (1:04.75) and 200 free relay (1:48.00) teams.

Santa Cruz's Aliana Merriam (100 back, 1:21.25), Annika Seasholes (200 free, 2:10.25) and 400 free relay (4:08.85) earned wins.

The SCCAL Championships take place at Aptos High on May 2 at 10 a.m.

Girls lacrosse

MVC 9, at Salinas 8; 2 OT: Junior Maya Moore had five goals and one assist in the Mustangs' PCAL win Friday.

Junior Jaleaha Mount scored twice for the Mustangs (8-2, 4-1), and Bella Myers and Raina Covarrubias also scored.

MVC plays at Soquel (5-3, 4-3) on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Boys volleyball

At Pajaro Valley 3, York 2: The Grizzlies upset the Falcons in PCAL Cypress Division play Friday. Set scores were not reported.

York dropped to 6-3.

Pajaro Valley (6-17, 3-8) hosts vs Kirby (6-11, 4-5) on Monday at 6 p.m.

Boys track and field

Santa Cruz, 66; Soquel, 42; St. Abraham's, 13: Senior Kaden Steele took first in the 110 hurdles (16.04) and 300 hurdles (42.14) for the Cardinals in their SCCAL tri-meet win Thursday.

St. Abe's senior Bryson Trent posted the top marks in the 200 (23.79), high jump (5-6), and long jump (19-5).

Aptos, SLV, Scotts Valley & Mt. Madonna at Harbor: Mariners junior Bryce Boudreault took first in the discus (132-3) and pole vault (10-6) in SCCAL action at Harbor on Thursday.

Girls track and field

Santa Cruz, 60.5; Soquel 38; St. Abraham's, 7.5: Junior Joy Roberts took first in the 100 (12.91) and 200 (26.48) for the Cardinals in their SCCAL tri-meet win Thursday.

Soquel senior Summer Shields took first in the shot put (27-2) and discus (90-10).

Aptos, SLV, Scotts Valley & Mt. Madonna at Harbor: Mariners senior Ella Boyes took first in the 100 hurdles (16.45), 300 hurdles (46.03), and long jump (18-0) in SCCAL action at Harbor on Thursday.

Falcons senior Ava Decleve took first in the 400 (56.85) and 800 (2:16.31).

Reporting Scores

Coaches are encouraged to report scores and highlights to sports@santacruzsentinel.com following games. Please include your name and contact number in the email.

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This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 12:58 PM.