Week in Sports
TOP SPORTING EVENTS: MARCH 10-21
Santa Barbara High’s boys soccer team has played its way to the ultimate game for the second consecutive year. The Dons will face Oak Hills in the CIF State Regional Division 2 championship match Friday (Mar. 11) at 7:30 p.m. at Warren High in Downey. The regional is as far as a team can go, as Northern California schools play soccer in a different season.
The Dons lost to Corona del Mar 1-0 in the 2010 regional final, their only defeat of the season that included the CIF Southern Section championship. Last week, Santa Barbara (20-6-4) was defeated by San Clemente in the SS final but has a chance to win a bigger prize, a crown representing four CIF sections – Southern, L.A. City, San Diego and Central.
The Dons reached the final by defeating Canoga Park in a penalty-kick shootout, and Wednesday they traveled to San Diego where they knocked off University City, 2-0. Oak Hills (21-3-3), out of Hesperia, upset top-seeded Claremont in overtime, 1-0.
The basketball postseason is down to two college teams. UCSB’s men, defending Big West Tournament champions, are seeded fifth in this year’s tournament and open up today at 2:30 p.m. against fourth-seeded Pacific at the Honda Center in Anaheim.
Westmont College received a bid to the NAIA Women’s Championships. The Warriors will play Lewis-Clark State of Idaho in the opening round next Thursday (Mar. 17).
The semifinals of the Big West women’s tournament will not include UCSB for the first time since 1995. The Gaucho women were shocked by Pacific, 49-45, in a first-round game at the Thunderdome on Tuesday night. With a 19-10 record and a co-championship during the regular season, the Gauchos have hopes for a bid to the Women’s NIT, which would be announced after the NCAA selections Monday.
UCSB’s softball team will be busy this weekend, playing five games in the Gaucho Classic II, which includes Wisconsin, UNLV and San Diego.
Thursday, March 10
College baseball – Moorpark at SBCC, 2 p.m.
High school baseball – Righetti at Santa Barbara, 3:30 p.m.
College men’s basketball – Big West Tournament quarterfinals at Anaheim Honda Center: UCSB vs. Pacific, 2:30 p.m.
Friday, March 11
College softball – Gaucho Classic II: UNLV at UCSB, 9 a.m.; Wisconsin at UCSB, 3:15 p.m.
College men’s tennis – San Diego State at UCSB, 1:30 p.m.
College track & field – Bioa at Westmont, 2 p.m.
High school swimming – Dos Pueblos at San Marcos, 2:30 p.m.
College baseball – UCSB vs. USF at AT&T Park, 3 p.m.
College men’s volleyball – El Camino at SBCC, 6 p.m.
College men’s basketball – Big West Tournament semifinals at Anaheim Honda Center, 6:30 and 9 p.m.
High school boys soccer – State Regional Division 2 final: Santa Barbara vs. Oak Hills at Warren High (Downey), 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 12
College softball – Gaucho Classic II: Wisconsin at UCSB, 9:30 a.m.
College baseball – Biola at Westmont (2), 11 a.m.; UCSB vs. Louisiana-Lafayette at AT&T Park, 11 a.m.; Ventura at SBCC, 1 p.m.
College men’s basketball – Big West Tournament final at Anaheim Honda Center, 5 p.m.
Sunday, March 13
College softball – Gaucho Classic II: UNLV at UCSB, 11:45 a.m.; San Diego at UCSB, 2 p.m.
College baseball – UCSB vs. Rice at AT&T Park, 12:30 p.m.
College women’s tennis – Cal State Fullerton at UCSB, 1 p.m.
Monday, March 14
Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon, Harry’s Plaza Café, 12 p.m.
High school softball – Pacifica at Dos Pueblos, 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 15
High school softball – Channel Islands at San Marcos, 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 16
College baseball – Vanguard at Westmont, 11 a.m.
High school softball – Cabrillo at Dos Pueblos, 3:30 p.m.; Santa Ynez at San Marcos, 4 p.m.
High school boys volleyball – San Luis Obispo at San Marcos, 6 p.m.; Santa Ynez at Dos Pueblos, 6 p.m.
Thursday, March 17
College softball – Oxnard at SBCC (2), 1 p.m.
High school track & field – Buena at San Marcos, 3 p.m.
High school softball – Righetti at Dos Pueblos, 3:30 p.m.
College men’s basketball – NCAA tournament: UCSB vs. Florida at Tampa, 3:45 p.m.
College women’s basketball – NAIA Championships: Westmont vs. Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) at Jackson, Tenn., 7:45 p.m.
Friday, March 18
High school softball – Ventura at San Marcos, 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 19
High school track & field – Tri-City Relays at Dos Pueblos, 9 a.m.
High school boys volleyball – Dos Pueblos Invitational at UCSB, 9 a.m.; Loyola at Santa Barbara, 2 p.m.
College baseball – Nevada at UCSB (2), 12 p.m.; Hancock at SBCC, 1 p.m.
Roller derby – Mission City Brawlin’ Betties vs. San Diego Derby Dolls, Earl Warren Showgrounds, 5 p.m.
College men’s volleyball – Long Beach City at SBCC, 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 20
College baseball – Nevada at UCSB, 1 p.m.
Monday, March 21
Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon, Harry’s Plaza Café, 12 p.m.
FOR RUNNERS AND CYCLISTS
Saturday, March 12 – Solvang Century, 100- and 50-mile rides, Hotel Corque, 400 Alisal Road, 6:30 a.m. bikescor.com
Saturday, April 2 – Montecito Half Marathon. active.com.
Saturday, April 16 – Chardonnay 10 Miler/5K, Loma Alta and Shoreline Drive, a.m. sbactionpro.com.
Friday-Saturday, April 29-30 – Santa Barbara Endurance Races (100 mile, 100K, 50 mile, 50K, 35K, 25K 15K), Rancho Oso, 6 a.m. sber.co.
Saturday, April 30 – Gaucho Gallop, 10K/5K, UCSB Harder Stadium, 9 a.m. ucsbruns.com.
Wednesday, May 4 – Nite Moves Summer Sunset Series (1k swim, 5k run), Leadbetter Beach, 6 p.m. Continues every Wednesday through August 31. runsantabarbara.com.
Saturday, May 7 – Wine Country Half Marathon, Sagunto Street, Santa Ynez, 7 a.m. runsantaynez.com.
