Sports

A nice cloud cover protected the lead runners on Saturday during the Salinas Valley Half Marathon that began at the Soledad Mission and finished 13.1 miles later at Pessagno Winery in Gonzales.

Lisa Villanueva had an outstanding tournament as a member of the Salinas Wildcats 10-and-under softball team that won the National Softball Association (NSA) Western World Series last week in Reno, Nev.

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).

Natividad Medical Center from Salinas sent many doctors and interns to Gonzales High last Thursday and provided free sport physicals to the student athletes that will be participating in extra-curricular sports this year.

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.

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.

Adrian Lopez of Soledad was named last week to the Cal-Hi Sports All-State small school second team as a pitcher.