Sports Highlights: March 18-26
Westmont College prevailed in the most defensive game in NAIA Women’s Basketball Division I National Tournament history, and the Warriors hope for more of the same today (Monday, March 18) in the semifinals against top-ranked Freed-Hardeman of Tennessee. Westmont (28-4) advanced Saturday with a 39-36 quarterfinal victory over Westminster of Utah. Freed-Hardeman (34-1) has won 21 consecutive games and is averaging almost 80 points a game. The other semifinal at the Frankfort (Ky.) Convention Center will match two more Tennessee teams, Cumberland (33-2) and Lee (33-2). The winners will meet for the championship Tuesday.
A highlight of the week’s high school competition is the 75th annual Santa Barbara Easter Relays. The track and field festival will start early Saturday, March 24, at seaside La Playa Stadium, and spectators and athletes are reminded to take precautions against sunburn on the first weekend of spring.
SCHEDULE OF GAMES
Monday, March 18
COLLEGE
Women’s basketball – NAIA tournament semifinals at Frankfort, Ky.: Westmont vs. Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.), 5 p.m.
Tuesday, March 19
COLLEGE
Men’s tennis – Amherst at Westmont, 1:30 p.m.
Baseball – Oxnard at SBCC, 2:30 p.m.
Women’s basketball – NAIA championship: Westmont vs. Lee (Tenn.), 3:30 p.m. (TV: CBS Sports Network).
HIGH SCHOOL
Baseball – Dos Pueblos at San Marcos, 3:15 p.m.
Softball – Santa Clara at Carpinteria, 3:30 p.m.
Boys volleyball – Nordhoff at Bishop Diego, 5 p.m.; Channel Islands at Laguna Blanca, 5 p.m.; Dos Pueblos at San Marcos, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, March 20
COLLEGE
Women’s tennis – Notre Dame de Namur at Westmont, 2 p.m.
Women’s basketball – WNIT, first round: UCSB at San Diego State, 7 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL
Baseball – Fillmore at Carpinteria, 3:30 p.m.
Softball – Rio Mesa at Dos Pueblos, 3:30 p.m.
Boys volleyball – Santa Ynez at Dos Pueblos, 6 p.m.
Thursday, March 21
COLLEGE
Softball – Oxnard at SBCC (2), 1 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL
Swimming – Dos Pueblos at San Marcos, 2:30 p.m.
Track and field – Santa Barbara at Dos Pueblos, 2:45 p.m.
Friday, March 22
COLLEGE
Baseball – L.A. Pierce at SBCC, 2 p.m.; UCSB at Cal Poly, 6:30 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL
Baseball – Malibu at Carpinteria, 3:30 p.m.
Softball – Buena at Santa Barbara, 3:30 p.m.; Ventura at San Marcos, 3:30 p.m.
Boys volleyball – Providence Hall at Laguna Blanca, 5 p.m.
Saturday, March 23
COLLEGE
Baseball – Bash by the Beach at SBCC; Cal Poly at UCSB, 2 p.m.
Softball – Cal State Fullerton at UCSB (2), 12 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL
Track and field – 75th Santa Barbara Easter Relays, La Playa Stadium, 9 a.m.
Sunday, March 24
COLLEGE
Women’s tennis – Oklahoma at UCSB, 10:30 a.m.
Women’s water polo—Pacific at UCSB, 12 p.m.
Softball – Bash by the Beach at SBCC; Cal State Fullerton at UCSB, 12 p.m.
Baseball – UCSB at Cal Poly, 1 p.m.
Monday, March 25
HIGH SCHOOL
Softball – Bishop Diego at Santa Barbara, 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 26
COLLEGE
Softball – Moorpark at SBCC, 2:30 p.m.
Men’s volleyball – Concordia at UCSB, Thunderdome, 7 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL
Softball – Channel Islands at Bishop Diego, 3:30 p.m.; Pacifica at Carpinteria, 3:30 p.m.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Friday-Saturday, April 5-6 – Sam Adams Decathlon and Heptathlon, Westmont College. Youth (ages 7-12) run-jump-throw competition on April 6, sign-up 8 a.m.
Friday, April 26 – Special Olympics School Games, La Playa Stadium, 9 a.m.
Wednesday-Thursday, May 15-16 – Amgen Tour of California professional cycling race. Stage 4 (May 15): Santa Clarita to Santa Barbara. Stage 5 (May 16): Santa Barbara to Avila Beach. 11 a.m. start at Cabrillo Boulevard and Calle Cesar Chavez.
Monday, May 20 – 46th Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Hall of Fame Banquet, Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort, 5:30 p.m. Inductees: Faha Banks, Danny Beal, David Phreaner, Todd Rogers, Amber Stevens, and Joby Nunez. Reservations: www.sbart.org.
RUNNING, WALKING, CYCLING
Information for most events: sbrunning.org.
MARCH: 30 – Kendra’s Sprint Triathlon, UCSB Campus Point.
APRIL: 6 – Are You Tough Enough? 100K Run and Relay, Toro Canyon to Nojoqui Falls. . . . 5K Run/Mile Walk for Brain Injury, Leadbetter Beach. biacal.org. 20 – Chardonnay 10 Miler/5K, Leadbetter Beach. 27 – Gaucho Gallop, 1K dog dash, 5K run/walk, 10K run, UCSB Harder Stadium. 28 – 5K/10K Walk/Run for Mental Wellness, Lower Manning Park. mentalwellnesscenter.org .
