The spring season is just barely underway, but Christopher is already burning up the track.
The Cougars set three school records at the Willow Glen Invitational Saturday in San Jose.
Senior Natalie Gutierrez led the Cougars with a 5-foot, 4-inch mark in the girls high jump, which set a new school record and earned her a first place finish.
Andrew Brisby also claimed a new CHS record, recording an 18-8.75 mark in the freshman-sophomore boys long jump to take second. Austin Hudson set the record in the freshmen-sophomore boys 1,600-meter run, finishing in 4:46.67 for seventh place.
Senior standout Ally Foster recorded two first place finishes in the long jump and 100m hurdles. She jumped 17 feet, 10 inches in the long jump and finished the hurdles in a blazing 15.67.
Cody Oberlander also claimed first in the boys varsity high jump, notching a 6-foot, 5-inch leap.
Teammate Haley Romero was third in the long jump at 16-feet and fourth in the 100m hurdles in a time of 17.40. Isaac McCrimon took fourth in the 100m dash with a time of 11.55.
The Cougars will take on North Salinas at 3:30 p.m. Thursday on the road.
SWIMMING
Cougars sweep first meet
The Christopher swim team won its first meet of the season as both the boys and girls recorded wins against Monte Vista Christian at home Thursday.
The girls won 115-59 and the boys won 101-54.
Sophomore Malaya Santos, Jacob Holm and Maria Higgenbothem each had two first place finishes, while Zach Gallardo and Darrien Yafai had one.
Santos won the 200-meter freestyle in 2:01.25, 20 seconds faster than her MVC competitor. She also won the 100m free in 57.43 and was followed closely by teammate Emma Seery who finished in 1:00.28.
Holm won the 200m individual medley, finishing in 2:06.06. He also won the 100m butterfly in 57.03.
Higgenbothem won the 500m free in 5:34.37—37 seconds faster than the second place swimmer from MVC. She also won the 50m free in 26.13.
Gallardo won the 200m free in 2:05.18, followed by teammate Yafai in 2:13.60. Yafai won the 500m free in 6:11.66.
Christopher won all the relays on the both the boys and girls side. The boys took the 200m medley relay it in 1:57.94, the girls in 2:00.70. The boys won the 200m free relay in 1:39.92 and the girls in 1:46.65. They completed the sweep with the boys taking the 400 free relay in 4:05.60, while the girls won theirs in 4:14.50.
The JV teams also won their meet. The boys beat their MVC counterparts 65-36 and the girls 97-14.
Christopher will take on Monterey at 3:30 p.m. Friday at home.Â
BASEBALL
Cougars top Central Catholic
A big sixth inning propelled Christopher past Central Catholic-Modesto Saturday at Gavilan College.Â
The Cougars posted four runs in the bottom of the sixth to edge the visitors 8-2.Â
Anthonee Bartholic was stellar on the mound for Christopher allowing just one run off five hits while striking out three through four and a third innings.Â
Christopher scored a run in the bottom of the first and third innings to lead 2-0 before CC answered. It notched a run in the top of the fourth to cut the Cougars’ lead in half.Â
But Christopher’s bats were far from done.Â
The home team scored two more in the bottom of the fifth for a 4-1 lead. CC answered with another run in the top of the sixth before Christopher shut the door for good with four runs in the bottom of the inning.Â
Richie Rios led the Cougars, going 2 for 4 with two runs, an RBI and a double. Anthony Rodriguez was 1 for 2 with two runs and RBI. Makaio Duyao went 1 for 2 with two runs, a walk, a sacrifice and a stolen base. Matt Adamkiewicz went 2 for 3 with a run and Justin Nelson also scored a run for Christopher.
The win came on the heels of a 9-0 loss at Carmel Thursday.Â
Christoper (2-3) will be back in action at 4 p.m. Tuesday when it hosts Palma.
SOFTBALL
Mustangs go 1-1 at Circle of Champions
Gilroy split its two games at the Circle of Champions tournament Saturday at the Salinas Sports Complex. It beat Leigh 4-3, but lost 5-0 to Notre Dame.Â
Lauren Castro led her team to victory against Leigh, going 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run at the plate. She was also stellar in the circle, allowing three runs—two earned—off six hits and struck out six through seven innings. She also walked five.Â
The Longhorns took an early 3-0 lead with two runs in the bottom of the first and another in the bottom of the second.Â
With two outs in the top of the fifth, Leizel Clark singled and advanced to second when Makenna Weiler walked. Castro scored Clark on line drive single to right field, cutting Leigh’s lead to 3-1.Â
Gilroy struck again in the top of the sixth. The Mustangs had runners on the corners when Ally Hathaway reached on a fielder’s choice to the shortstop to score Adrianna Figone. Nicole Dan singled on a line drive to centerfield, scoring Maria Sandoval to tie the game, 3-3.Â
A sac fly by Maddy Cox in the top of the seventh scored Castro gave the Mustangs the run they needed to win.Â
Weiler and Figone each had two hits a piece. Figone also had a walk and a double.Â
It was a different story against Notre Dame. Gilroy’s bats virtually fell silent against the Spirits as it was out hit 12-3. Cox, Castro and Weiler were the only three to get hits for the Mustangs.Â
Notre Dame scored a run in the bottom of the second, two in the third and another in both fifth and sixth innings for the final.Â
Alexis Conlon was handed the loss, allowing 12 hits and four walks through six innings. Four of Notre Dame’s runs were earned.
Gilroy will look to rebound at 4 p.m. Tuesday when it takes on Oak Grove on the road.Â
Mustangs edged by Branham
Gilroy took an early lead against Branham Thursday, but it just wasn’t able to hold it.
The Mustangs fell 4-3 at Braham, dropping them to 1-2 on the season.
Gilroy posted a two-spot in the top of the second to lead 2-0. Braham scored the tying runs in the bottom of the third, and took a 3-2 lead with another in the bottom of the fifth.Â
The Mustangs tied it up at 3-3 after scoring in the top of the sixth, but Branham got it right back in bottom half of the inning.Â
Stats are not yet available from this game.Â
Gilroy will play its league opener at 4 p.m. Tuesday at San Benito.
BOYS TENNIS
Cougars drop season opener
Although Christopher lost its season opener 5-2 to Pacific Grove Thursday, the game was closer than it sounds.
The No. 1 and No. 2 doubles teams both went to a third set tie-breaker, only to lose by just two points.Â
The No. 2 and No. 4 singles players recorded wins for Christopher. No. 1 and No. 3 dropped their matches in two sets.
The Cougars (0-1) will be back on the court at 4 p.m. Tuesday against Monte Vista Christian.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Mustangs fall to Palma
Gilroy dropped its third straight game, losing 3-0 to Palma Thursday at GHS.
The Mustangs lost 16-25, 8-25, 15-25. Stats are not yet available.
Gilroy (2-3) will look to rebound at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Pajaro Valley.Â
BOYS GOLF
Christopher bested by San Benito
The Haybalers beat out Christopher 229-267 Thursday at Gilroy Golf Course.Â
Christopher’s Dylan Saulo led his team by carding a 51.Â
The Cougars will be back in action at 3 p.m. Tuesday for a rematch with San Benito at San Juan Oaks.
Find out when and where your favorite Cougar and Mustang teams are playing this week:
CHRISTOPHER
3.10 — Boys golf at San Benito, 3 p.m.; Baseball vs. Palma*, 4 p.m.; Softball at Valley Christian-San Jose, 4 p.m.; Boys tennis vs. Monte Vista Christian*, 4 p.m.
3.11 — Badminton at Mt. Pleasant, 4 p.m.; Boys volleyball vs. Sobrato, 6:30 p.m.
3.12 — Boys golf at Monte Vista Christian*, 3 p.m.; Track at North Salinas*, 3:30 p.m.; Baseball at Palma*, 4 p.m.; Boys tennis vs. Oakwood*, 4 p.m.; Softball at Soquel, 4:30 p.m.; Boys volleyball vs. Carmel*, 6:30 p.m.; Lacrosse vs. Harbor*, 7 p.m.
3.13 — Swimming vs. Monterey, 3:30 p.m.; Baseball at Monte Vista Christian*, 4 p.m.
3.14 — Track at Wildcatz Relays, 8 a.m.
GILROY
3.10 — Boys golf vs. MBL oppoenents, Eagle Ridge, 3 p.m.; Baseball at San Benito*, 4 p.m.; Softball at Oak Grove, 4 p.m.; Boys volleyball at Pajaro Valley*, 6:30 p.m.
3.11 — Badminton at Oak Grove, 4 p.m.
3.12 — Swimming at Alisal*, 3:30 p.m.; Baseball vs. San Benito*, 4 p.m.; Softball vs. Sobrato, 4 p.m.; Boys volleyball vs. Soledad, 6:30 p.m.
3.13 — Baseball vs. Palma*, 4 p.m.; Badminton vs. Live Oak, 4 p.m.
3.14 — Track at Wildcat Relays, 9 a.m.; Baseball vs. Branham, 3:30 p.m.; Softball at Circle of Champions, TBD
*Denotes league contest