Gaucho Games, CIF Playoff Openers on Tap

UCSB’s baseball team makes its delayed season debut today (Tue., Feb. 18), taking on Cal State Bakersfield at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.

The Big West championship hopes of UCSB’s basketball team may ride on two home games this week. On Thursday night, the Gaucho men host UC Riverside, which took them to overtime in January; and on Saturday, Cal State Fullerton, which defeated UCSB 74-72, comes to the Thunderdome.

Numerous CIF Southern Section playoff games are being played this week. On Wednesday, Santa Barbara schools will host two girls water polo matches and five boys basketball games. Three boys soccer games and two girls basketball games will take place Thursday. See the schedule below.

Santa Barbara High has the top-seeded teams in Division 3A boys basketball and Division 3AA girls basketball. Both are playing the Firebaugh Falcons of Lynwood in a first-round double-header. The girls game was moved to 5 pm Wednesday, and the boys game will follow at 7 pm.

COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS

Tuesday, 2/18: Baseball – Cal State Bakersfield at UCSB, 2 pm. Women’s basketball – Westmont at The Master’s, 5:30 pm. Men’s basketball – Westmont at The Master’s, 7:30 pm.

Wednesday, 2/19: Baseball – West L.A. at SBCC, 2 pm; British Columbia at Westmont, 2 pm.

Thursday, 2/20: Baseball – East L.A. at SBCC, 2 pm; British Columbia at Westmont, 2 pm. Men’s basketball – UC Riverside at UCSB, 7 pm. Women’s basketball – UCSB at UC Riverside, 7 pm.

Friday, 2/21: Baseball – Menlo at Westmont, 2 pm; UCSB at San Jose State, 6 pm. Men’s volleyball – Golden West at SBCC, 6 pm.

Saturday, 2/22: Track and field – UCSB, Pepperdine at Westmont, 10 am. Baseball – Menlo at Westmont (2), 11 am; UCSB at San Jose State, 1 pm. Men’s basketball – Westmont at Arizona Christian, 3 pm; Cal State Fullerton at UCSB, 4 pm; L.A. Pierce at SBCC, 7 pm. Women’s basketball – Westmont at Arizona Christian, 1 pm; L.A. Pierce at SBCC, 5 pm; UCSB at Cal State Fullerton, 6 pm.

Sunday, 2/23: Men’s tennis – Fresno State at UCSB, 1 pm. Baseball – UCSB at San Jose State, 1 pm.

HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS

Tuesday, 2/18: Girls water polo – CIF playoffs, wild-card round: Palm Springs at Cate, 3pm. Girls soccer – CIF playoffs, wild-card round: San Marcos at West Ranch, 3 pm.

Wednesday, 2/19: Girls water polo – CIF playoffs: Villa Park at San Marcos, 3:30 pm; Saddleback at Santa Barbara, 3:15 pm; Dos Pueblos at Newport Harbor, 5 pm. Girls basketball – CIF playoffs: Firebaugh at Santa Barbara, 5 pm. Boys basketball – CIF playoffs: Firebaugh at Santa Barbara, 7 pm; South Pasadena at San Marcos, 7 pm; Santa Rosa Academy at Bishop Diego, 7 pm; Santa Maria St. Joseph at Carpinteria, 7 pm; San Fernando Valley Academy at Laguna Blanca, 7 pm; Providence at Shandon.

Thursday, 2/20: Boys soccer – CIF playoffs: Chino Hills at Dos Pueblos, 3 pm; Orcutt Academy at Cate, 3 pm; Newport Harbor at Santa Barbara, 5 pm. Girls basketball – CIF playoffs: Downey Calvary Chapel at Bishop Diego, 7 pm; Carpinteria at St. Paul, 7 pm.

Friday, 2/21: Girls soccer – CIF playoffs: Santa Barbara at Valencia, 3 pm; Bishop Diego at Firebaugh, 3 pm.

Saturday, 2/22: Girls water polo – CIF quarterfinals. Boys basketball—CIF playoffs, second round. Girls basketball – CIF playoffs: Dos Pueblos at Cerritos, 7 pm; Cate at Ribet Academy, 7 pm.

RUNNING, WALKING, CYCLING

Information for most events: sbrunning.org.

FEBRUARY: 23 – Roses en la Playa 5K, Leadbetter Beach.

MARCH: 2 – Peabody School 5K/10K, Goleta Beach Park. 8 – Girl on Fire 5K/10K, Leadbetter Beach. . . . Solvang Century, 100- and 50-mile bike rides. bikescor.com 15 – Orchard to Ocean 5K/10K/mile, Carpinteria Main School.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Saturday, 2/22: Rugby – South Bay at Santa Barbara Grunion, Elings Park, 2 pm.

Saturday, 3/1: Rugby – Oceanside at Santa Barbara Grunion, Elings Park, 2 pm.

Saturday, 3/8: Rugby – Ventura at Santa Barbara Grunion, Elings Park, 2 pm.

Sunday, 3/16: Special Olympics – 14th annual Santa Barbara Basketball Tournament, UCSB Thunderdome, 9 am. sosc.org.

FUND-RAISERS

Monday, 3/10: Golf – SBCC Golf Classic, La Cumbre County Club, benefits the SBCC athletic program. Four-person scramble. Information: 805-730-4076.

Sunday, 3/16: Walking – Barbara Ireland Walk for Breast Cancer Research, Chase Palm Park. Information: 805-898-2116.