Week in Sports: Follow These Hometown Stars
Semana Nautica Festival Features Running, Swimming, Volleyball
Some of Santa Barbara’s favorite sons are performing on the national and international sports stage. In major league baseball, Colorado outfielder Ryan Spilborghs put the Rockies ahead of the Dodgers with a two-run homer on Monday night, but L.A. came back to win 4-2 in 13 innings. The series at Dodger Stadium continues tonight (Tuesday, June 30) and Wednesday at noon.
Pitcher Virgil Vasquez, a teammate of Spilborghs at Santa Barbara High and UCSB, may finally be getting a chance to show his stuff after languishing in the Detroit Tigers organization. Picked up by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the off-season, Vasquez was promoted from triple-A last week and responded by earning his first big-league win, striking out seven in a 5-3 victory over Kansas City. Vasquez returns to the mound Wednesday when the Pirates take on the Chicago Cubs.
In beach volleyball, Olympic champions Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser are defending their title at the FIVB World Championships in Stavanger, Norway. The Santa Barbara-based team is seeded No. 2 behind the up-and-coming Brazilian tandem of Alison Cerutti and Harley Marques. The finals will be Sunday, July 5. On-line coverage is provided by universalsports.com.
On the home front, the Santa Barbara Foresters, whose alumni include Spilborghs and Vasquez, have a spate of home games at UCSB in July. They will bring their act to town on Saturday for their traditional Fourth of July game at Pershing Park.
Also, the 72nd annual Semana Nautica sports festival swings into high gear this weekend. Events include the 15-Kilometer Run, starting at 8 a.m. Saturday at San Marcos High, and the California Beach Volleyball Association tournament Sunday at East Beach, offering $1,000 in prize money in both the men’s and women’s divisions.
TOP SPORTING EVENTS: JUNE 30-JULY 12
Tuesday, June 30
Baseball Conejo Oaks at Santa Barbara Foresters, UCSB Caesar Uyesaka Stadium, 5 p.m.
Running / swimming 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, July 1
Running / swimming Nite Moves Summer Sunset Series (1k swim, 5k run), Leadbetter Beach, 6 p.m. Continues every Wednesday through September 2. Sign-up information..
Thursday, July 2
Baseball Conejo Oaks at Santa Barbara Foresters, UCSB Caesar Uyesaka Stadium, 5 p.m.
Friday, July 3
Baseball SoCal Black Sox at Santa Barbara Foresters, UCSB Caesar Uyesaka Stadium, 5 p.m.
SEMANA NAUTICA
Through July 12 Semana Nautica (“marine week”) began in the 1930s when Santa Barbara residents organized sporting activities with visiting Navy seamen. It evolved into an annual sports festival open to the public around the July 4 holiday. Events include age-group swimming, ocean swims, a 15-kilometer run, beach volleyball, tennis and softball. Information: semananautica.com.
Saturday, July 4
Baseball San Jose Seals at Santa Barbara Foresters, Pershing Park, 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 5
Baseball San Jose Seals at Santa Barbara Foresters, UCSB Caesar Uyesaka Stadium, 1 p.m.
Tuesday, July 7
Running / swimming 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, July 8
Baseball Team Las Vegas at Santa Barbara Foresters, UCSB Caesar Uyesaka Stadium, 5 p.m.
Running / swimming Nite Moves Summer Sunset Series (1k swim, 5k run), Leadbetter Beach, 6 p.m. Continues every Wednesday through September 2. Sign-up information..
Thursday, July 9
Baseball Rawlings California Cup at UCSB Caesar Uyesaka Stadium. Game times 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Friday, July 10
Baseball Rawlings California Cup at UCSB Caesar Uyesaka Stadium. Game times 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Saturday, July 11
Baseball Rawlings California Cup at UCSB Caesar Uyesaka Stadium. Game times 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Sunday, July 12
Baseball Rawlings California Cup at UCSB Caesar Uyesaka Stadium. Game times 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. (if necessary).
Polo Mayor’s Trophy at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
