The Best of Capuchino High Sports in 2011

What were the most memorable accomplishments of Capuchino High School’s teams and athletes in 2011? We’re glad you asked.

Here is a look at the Mustangs’ top difference makers of the past year:

1. Softball: After falling agonizingly short a year before, Cap claimed the program’s first Central Coast Section championship in 14 years by beating Santa Catalina 5-4 in the Division III final. Senior catcher Jamie Navarro was named the Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division’s Player of the Year, and senior pitcher Michele Pilster and junior infielders Jennifer Lewis and Ariana Wassmer also starred for the 23-6 Mustangs.

2. Girls Soccer: The Mustangs enjoyed a fantastic season that featured a 13-1 mark that crowned them as PAL Ocean Division champions. Stephanie Vaquerano was tabbed the PAL Ocean Forward of the Year, and Jamie Navarro, Melanie Medina and Celina Ulloa all earned first-team honors. Cap, which finished 17-4-2, lost to Soquel 2-0 in a CCS Division III playoff opener.

3. Football: Former coach Adam Hyndman returned to the sidelines and promptly lifted the downtrodden program back to respectability. Powered by the dynamic running of Justin Ewing and a solid defense, Cap finished in a three-way tie for the PAL Lake Division title with Carlmont and El Camino at 4-1. The Mustangs went 6-4 overall, winning six of their final eight games to post their first .500 or better record in six years. Linemen Daman Stansberry and Zack Kohtz, linebacker Kevin Monford and defensive back Tim Gretter joined Ewing on the All-PAL Lake first team.

4. Boys Basketball: Like its football counterpart, the boys hoops team will remember 2011 as a resurgent year. After winning early-season tournaments in Lake County and in the central valley, the Mustangs (16-9 overall) went 6-2 in the PAL Lake Division to earn a co-championship with Westmoor. Evan Baker was named the PAL Lake MVP, and Daniel Afeaki and Mark Luttrell received first-team recognition.

5. Baseball: Cap went 11-3 in the PAL Ocean Division to finish second behind Half Moon Bay. Junior Tim Gretter collected PAL Ocean Player of the Year honors; he batted .479 overall and had a 3.54 ERA in a team-high 53 1/3 innings. Seniors Corey Faubel (.357 batting average) and Jon Wild (.318) earned first-team recognition, and versatile underclassmen Luciano Molina and Eddie Cecci also played important roles.

6. Anthony Blasko – Boys Swimming: Blasko stood out in what was quite a meager year for Cap in individual sports. He became a league champion by winning the 200-yard freestyle in 2 minutes, 5.17 seconds at the PAL Ocean Division finals.