Week in Sports

TOP SPORTING EVENTS: AUGUST 9-14

The Santa Barbara Foresters have battled their way into the winners’ bracket semifinals at the 77th National Baseball Congress (NBC) World Series. They are scheduled to play the Kenai Oilers of Alaska on Tuesday (Aug. 9) at 8 p.m. (Pacific time) at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in Wichita, Kansas.

The Topeka Golden Giants gave the Foresters a wake-up call early Monday morning, scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth to send their third-round game into extra innings. Santa Barbara responded by scoring five times in the top of the 10th. UCSB’s Joe Wallace stroked a two-RBI triple during the outburst. The clock was approaching 3 a.m. in Wichita when the Foresters closed out their 11-6 victory.

The Foresters also had to go an extra inning in the opening round, a 7-6 win over the Hutchison (Kansas) Monarchs. Then they cruised past the League City (Texas) Hornets, 9-1.

Kenai had a more comfortable journey to the semifinals, outscoring its three opponents, 20-5. The Oilers are three-time NBC champions, but they have not gone all the way since 1994. The Foresters won titles in 2006 and 2008.

Twenty of the 32 teams in the double-elimination tournament were sent home after the first week of play. The remainder will be whittled down to the final two that will play for the championship on Saturday (Aug. 13).

The championship polo match of the USPA Lucchese America Cup at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club will be played Sunday at 1 p.m. Friday’s semifinal matchups are Audi vs. Lucchese and Grant’s Farm vs. ERG.

IN MEMORIAM: A public tribute to Jeff Hesselmeyer, who coached football at Dos Pueblos and San Marcos Highs, will take place today (Mon., Aug. 8) at 6 p.m. at the San Marcos Greek Theater. . . . Friends of the late beach volleyball legend Henry Bergmann will gather for the unveiling of his headstone at the Santa Barbara Cemetery at 2 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 13).

Tuesday, August 9

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 13. reefandrun.org .

Baseball – NBC World Series at Wichita: Santa Barbara Foresters vs. Kenai Peninsula Oilers (Alaska), 8 p.m.

Wednesday, August 10

Running / swimming – Nite Moves Summer Sunset Series (1k swim, 5k run), Leadbetter Beach, 6 p.m. Continues every Wednesday through August 31. runsantabarbara.com.

Baseball – NBC World Series at Wichita: Winner’s bracket finals.

Thursday, August 11

Baseball – NBC World Series at Wichita: Quarterfinals.

Friday, August 12

Polo – USPA Lucchese America Cup semifinals at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club: Audi vs. Lucchese, 2 p.m.; Grant’s Farm vs. ERG, 4 p.m.

Baseball – NBC World Series at Wichita: Semifinals.

Saturday, August 13

Baseball – NBC World Series at Wichita: Championship.

Sunday, August 14

Polo – USPA Lucchese America Cup at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club: Championship, 1 p.m.; Consolation, 3 p.m.

RUNNING, WALKING, CYCLING

Thursday, August 18 – Westmonster 5K cross country race, Westmont College, 6:15 p.m. westmont.edu.

Sunday, August 21 – McConnell’s Ice Cream Endurance Events (5K run, 10K run, children’s mile, mile swim, biathlon), Goleta Beach, 8:30 a.m. sbrunning.org.

Saturday, August 27 – Santa Barbara Triathlon, long course (1-mile swim/34-mile bike/10-mile run), East Beach Bathhouse, 7 a.m. sbtriathlon.com.

Sunday, August 28 – Santa Barbara Triathlon, sprint course (500-yard swim/6-mile bike/2-mile run), East Beach Bathhouse, 7 a.m. sbtriathlon.com.

Sunday, September 4 – Pier to Peak Half Marathon, Stearns Wharf to La Cumbre Peak, 6:30 a.m. runsantabarbara.com.

Saturday-Sunday, September 17-18 –Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, Chase Palm Park to Carpinteria State Beach. avonwalk.org.

Sunday, September 25 – Carpinteria Triathlon (1.5K swim/40K bike/10K run or 0.5K swim/15K bike/5K run) Carpinteria State Beach, 7:30 a.m. carpinteriatriathlon.com.

Saturday, October 22 – Santa Barbara Century bicycle ride, Leadbetter Beach, 7 a.m. For experienced riders. santabarbaracentury.org.

Saturday, November 12 – Select Staffing Santa Barbara International Marathon, Dos Pueblos High School to SBCC, 6:30 a.m. Half Marathon, Tuckers Grove to SBCC, 6:30 a.m. sbimarathon.com.