Sports

South County high school athletic teams began observing “dead week” this past Sunday and athletes will have no contact with their coaches until July 30. Football, cross country and volleyball teams will resume regular practice after that date.

The beginning of March means baseball and softball teams at local high schools are finishing up non-league games and getting ready to start the league seasons.

King City graduate Megan Flores and Soledad High graduate Aaron Rodriguez were chosen by the Monterey County Herald as its 2017-2018 Athletes of the Year.

Facing elimination in the Central Coast Section Division II playoffs forced the Soledad High Aztec soccer team to take some risks against the Mt. Pleasant Cardinals. Unfortunately for Soledad, the Cardinals had enough firepower to roar back and handle the Aztecs 6-3 and advance to the finals.

A season of accomplishment ended with a tasty dinner, dessert, and applause on Friday night for the newly crowned Mission Trail Athletic League champion Lady Aztec basketball team.

The football season begins Friday for South County high schools at the South County Jamboree at War Memorial Stadium. The jamboree will kick off at 5 pm with a JV jamboree followed afterwards by the varsity jamboree.

Gonzales High School and Hartnell College graduate Norma Verduzco will be attending Cal State Monterey Bay to continue her studies and pursue a spot on the Otter women’s soccer team.

The Soledad Aztec softball team fell to 3-6 in the Mission Trail Athletic League as they lost for the third straight time to league foes.

Three players scored in double figures for Soledad High as they knocked King City out of a first place tie in the Mission Trail Athletic League with a 49-34 home victory on Jan. 31.

Three South County high school runners were awarded scholarships for their accomplishments as runners and their work in the classroom by the Monterey Bay Wednesday Night Laundry Runners (WNLR).