Santa Cruz High sophomore tennis player Francesca Garces and Aptos senior Tiana Smith will square off for the girls singles title at the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League Championships at Imperial Courts in Aptos on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
Aptos senior Holly Hegna and sophomore partner Coral Collins face Scotts Valley juniors Sofia Niklaus and Erin Szymanski for the doubles title on a neighboring court at the facility.
In the singles semifinals, Smith, the No. 4 seed, upset No. 1 Isla Garcia-McDougall of Soquel 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (10-6). Garces, seeded No. 2, beat Aptos sophomore Aviana Andrews 6-1, 6-2.
In first-round action, Garces beat SLV senior Alyssa Struthers, 6-1, 6-0; Smith beat SLV senior Abi Krepelka, 6-0, 6-1; Garcia-McDougall beat Santa Cruz senior Sasha Wolfsen, 6-2, 6-0; and Andrews upset No. 3 seed Stella Cheney, a senior at Scotts Valley, 6-4, 6-3.
In the doubles semifinals, No. 1 Hegna and Collins beat No. 4 Ali Pierson and Lou Ellis of Santa Cruz, 6-1, 6-3; and Niklaus and Szymanski, seeded No. 2, beat Falcons seniors Maya Bensen and Samantha Warner, 6-2, 6-3.
In first-round action, Hegna and Collins beat the SLV’s Gabby Jubinveille and Hannah Morley, 6-1, 6-0; Niklaus and Szymanski beat Aptos’ Natalie Victory and Neci Hoeptner, 6-1, 6-0; Bensen and Warner upset No. 3 Mia Gonswieski and Mikalya Freberg of Soquel, 6-4, 6-2; and Pierson and Ellis beat Avery Amsden and Elle Woods of Soquel, 6-0, 6-1.
Girls water polo
At Harbor 15, SLV 7: Junior Abigail Higgins and sophomore Kate Brandon each scored five goals, as the No. 4 seed Pirates eliminated the No. 5 Cougars in the first round of the SCCAL Tournament on Tuesday.
Higgins also had three assists and three steals
Senior Scout Bauman had three goals, three assists, and two steals, and junior Serena Manildi had two goals, two assists, and three steals.
Senior goalie Simone Stromberg had nine saves and three steals for Harbor.
Girls flag football
At Aptos 32, Salinas 0: The Mariners used three pick-sixes, two from Angelique Nunez and one from Ellie Marta, to win their nonleague game Tuesday.
Siena Black also recorded an interception for the Mariners.
Aptos quarterback Gaby Dow scored on a 35-yard run, and Dakota Bamford completed a 7-yard touchdown pass to Ava “Gavin” Churchill. PAT conversions were completed by Nancy Cervantes and Natasha Newcombe.
The Mariners play at Watsonville on Thursday night.
Golf
Hole-in-one: Santa Cruz’s Mary Jane Austin aced the 105-yard 15th hole at Pasatiempo Golf Club on Oct. 15 with a 6-hybrid. It’s her first career ace.
Reporting Scores
Coaches are encouraged to report scores and highlights to [email protected] following games. Please include your name and contact number in the email.