Week in Sports: Baseball, Running at All-Gaucho Reunion
From running with dogs to watching seven-footers dunk the basketball, there’s something for everyone in Santa Barbara sports this week.
The spirited high school rivalry between Carpinteria and Bishop Diego hits the latter’s baseball diamond on Wednesday afternoon when Carpinteria’s Warriors take on the Cardinals in a Tri-Valley League game.
In Channel League baseball, Santa Barbara High and Dos Pueblos have home games Friday. See if DP shortstop Robert Vickers continues his torrid hitting (a .625 average and two grand slams in five games last week) against Buena.
UCSB will try to improve its 3-2 record against nationally ranked baseball teams when No. 12 Cal Poly comes into Caesar Uyesaka Stadium for a three-game series starting Friday. The Mustangs hold down second place in the strong Big West Conference (the top team, UC Irvine, is ranked No. 1 in the nation) with an 8-4 record, and UCSB’s Gauchos (5-4) can jump into contention.
Hundreds of alumni will be visiting UCSB during the third annual All-Gaucho Reunion, a homecoming-style event this weekend. Among the activities is Saturday morning’s Gaucho Gallop, featuring a 10k run, with a mile dash for dogs and their owners. A sign-up link is below.
At Carpinteria High all day Saturday, athletes will be competing for “best in the county” honors at the County Track & Field Championships. The basketball season begins anew for the Santa Barbara Breakers on Saturday night. The local club plays its home opener at the SBCC Sports Pavilion against Beijing Aoshen Olympian, the newest member of the West Coast Pro Basketball League.
Here is a selected list of sports events in the area this week:
TOP SPORTING EVENTS: APRIL 21 -27
Tuesday, April 21
College softball Ventura at SBCC (2), Pershing Park, 1 p.m.
High school softball Ventura at Santa Barbara, 3:30 p.m.; Buena at Dos Pueblos, 3:30 p.m.; Carpinteria at Bishop Diego, 3:30 p.m.
High school boys volleyball Ventura at Dos Pueblos, 6:30 p.m.; Bishop Diego at Carpinteria, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 22
High school baseball Carpinteria at Bishop Diego, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 23
College baseball Oxnard at SBCC, Pershing Park, 2:30 p.m.; Azusa Pacific at Westmont, 3 p.m.
High school softball Malibu at Carpinteria, 3:30 p.m.
High school boys volleyball Santa Barbara at Dos Pueblos, 6:30 p.m.; Santa Ynez at San Marcos, 6:30 p.m.; Buena at Bishop Diego, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, April 24
College baseball Cal Poly at UCSB, 2 p.m.
High school baseball Ventura at Santa Barbara, 3:15 p.m.; Buena at Dos Pueblos, 3:15 p.m.; Bishop Diego at Carpinteria, 3:30 p.m.
High school softball Malibu at San Marcos, 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 25
Running Gaucho Gallop (10K run, 5K run/walk, 1 mile Dog Dash, Kid’s Dash), UCSB lagoon, 8 a.m. Sign-up information..
Mountain biking Santa Ynez Valley Classic, Charlotte’s Meadow (off Zaca Station Road), 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
College baseball Cal Poly at UCSB, 1 p.m.
High school track & field County Championships, Carpinteria High, 9 a.m.
High school softball San Marcos at Carpinteria (2), 11 a.m.
Pro basketball Beijing Aoshen Olympian at Santa Barbara Breakers, SBCC Sports Pavilion, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday, April 26
Mountain biking Santa Ynez Valley Classic, Charlotte’s Meadow (off Zaca Station Road), 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
College baseball Cal Poly at UCSB, 1 p.m.
Monday, April 27
Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon, Harry’s Plaza Cafe, 12 p.m.
UPCOMING RUNS
Tuesday, April 28 Reef & Run Summer Series (1k swim, 1-mile swim, 2-mile run, 4-mile run), Cabrillo Bath House, 6:25 p.m. Continues every Tuesday through September 8. Sign-up information..
Wednesday, May 6 Nite Moves Summer Sunset Series (1k swim, 5k run), Leadbetter Beach, 6 p.m. Continues every Wednesday through September 2. Sign-up information..
SPECIAL EVENT
Monday, May 11 42nd Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Hall of Fame Banquet, Fess Parker’s Doubletree, 6 p.m. Inductees: Jeff Azain, Steve Collins, Ati Conner, Ken Duncan, Jenny Hehnke, Amelia White-Escalante, Virgil Elings, Mike Beresford and Stubby Herman. Reservations: www.sbroundtable.org.
