Sports Highlights: April 24-May 11

It’s a big weekend for college baseball in Santa Barbara. It begins today (Thursday, April 24), when the SBCC Vaqueros, ranked No. 10 in Southern California, play their final Western State Conference game at Pershing Park against L.A. Pierce at 2:30 pm.

On Friday, UCSB takes the diamond at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium to start an important Big West series against UC Riverside. The Gauchos (5-7 in the conference, 24-10 overall) need to pick up some wins to climb in the conference standings, which are topped by Cal Poly (11-1), now ranked No. 1 in the nation by Collegiate Baseball Magazine.

UCSB’s softball team (8-4, 28-17) is only two games out of first place in the Big West. The Gauchos will face Hawai‘i Friday and Saturday on their field adjacent to Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.

Westmont College’s baseball team (33-14) is ranked in the NAIA National Coaches’ Poll for the first time in 26 years. The No. 18 Warriors, winners of 12 straight games, close out the regular season with three home games against The Master’s, including a doubleheader Saturday. The third-place Warriors will try to lock up a berth in the four-team Golden State Athletic Conference tournament.

UCSB has advanced to the final four of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation men’s volleyball tournament, and a victory tonight at top-seeded BYU would give the Gauchos a shot at the NCAA tournament. Stanford and Pepperdine are playing in the other semifinal. The MPSF final will be Saturday night.

Track and field will be highlighted on two fronts – at Friday’s sixth annual Special Olympics School Games at SBCC’s La Playa Stadium, and at the high school County Championships on Saturday at Carpinteria High.

The School Games will bring together over 240 Special Education and Inclusion elementary, middle and high school students from Santa Barbara County. They will compete in running, jumping and softball and tennis ball throws. The opening ceremonies will take place at 9:15 am Friday.

Check the schedule below for these and other events.

COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS

Thursday, 4/24: Baseball – L.A. Pierce at SBCC, 2 pm. Men’s volleyball – MPSF semifinal: UCSB at BYU, 7 pm.

Friday, 4/25: Women’s water polo – Long Beach State at UCSB, 1:30 pm. Baseball – UC Riverside at UCSB, 3 pm; The Master’s at Westmont, 3 pm.

Saturday, 4/26: Softball – Hawai‘i at UCSB (2), 12 pm. Baseball – The Master’s at Westmont (2), 12 pm. UC Riverside at UCSB, 2 pm.

Sunday, 4/27: Softball – Hawai‘i at UCSB, 12 pm. Baseball – UC Riverside at UCSB, 1 pm.

Tuesday, 4/29: Baseball – UCLA at UCSB, 3 pm.

Thursday, 5/1: Baseball – GSAC tournament: Westmont at San Diego Christian, 12 pm.

Friday, 5/2: Baseball – Southern California Regional: San Bernardino Valley at SBCC, 2 pm. GSAC tournament. UCSB at UC Irvine, 6:30 pm.

Saturday, 5/3: Baseball – Southern California Regional: San Bernardino Valley at SBCC, 11 am; third game, if necessary, 3 pm. GSAC tournament. UCSB at UC Irvine, 1 pm.

Sunday, 5/4: Baseball – UCSB at UC Irvine, 1 pm.

Tuesday, 5/6: Baseball – UCSB at Cal State Bakersfield, 6 pm.

Friday, 5/9: Softball – Long Beach State at UCSB (2), 12 pm. Baseball – Cal State Northridge at UCSB, 3 pm

Saturday, 5/10: Softball – Long Beach State at UCSB, 12 pm. Baseball – Cal State Northridge at UCSB, 2 pm

Sunday, 5/11: Baseball – Cal State Northridge at UCSB, 1 pm.

HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS

Thursday, 4/24: Swimming – Santa Barbara at San Marcos, 2 pm.

Friday, 4/25: Baseball – Buena at Dos Pueblos, 3:15 pm; Santa Paula at Carpinteria, 3:30 pm. Softball – Buena at Dos Pueblos, 3:30 pm; Ventura at Santa Barbara, 3:30 pm. Boys volleyball – Ventura at Santa Barbara, 6:30 pm.

Saturday, 4/26: Track and field – County Championships at Carpinteria, 10 am. Baseball – La Canada at Santa Barbara, 11:30 am.

Tuesday, 4/29: Baseball – Dos Pueblos at San Marcos, 3:15 pm. Softball – San Marcos at Dos Pueblos, 3:30 pm; La Reina at Carpinteria, 3:30 pm. Boys volleyball – Bishop Diego at Carpinteria, 6:30 pm.

Wednesday, 4/30: Swimming – San Marcos at Dos Pueblos, 2 pm. Baseball – Nordhoff at Bishop Diego, 3:30 pm. Boys volleyball – Orcutt Academy at Bishop Diego, 5 pm.

Thursday, 5/1: Track and field – San Marcos at Dos Pueblos, 2:45 pm. Softball – St. Bonaventure at Bishop Diego, 6:30 pm.

Friday, 5/2: Swimming – Dos Pueblos at Santa Barbara, 2 pm. Baseball – San Marcos at Dos Pueblos, 3:15 pm; Santa Clara at Carpinteria, 3:30 pm. Softball – Dos Pueblos at San Marcos, 3:30 pm.

Monday, 5/5: Diving – Channel League Finals at San Marcos, 2 pm.

Tuesday, 5/6: Baseball – Oaks Christian at Dos Pueblos, 3:15 pm. Softball – Buena at Santa Barbara, 3:30 pm; Ventura at San Marcos, 3:30 pm; Lompoc at Dos Pueblos, 3:30 pm.

Wednesday, 5/7: Baseball – Fillmore at Carpinteria, 3:30 pm.

Thursday, 5/8: Swimming – Channel League Finals at San Marcos, 2 pm. Track and field – Tri-Valley League finals at Carpinteria, 3 pm. Boys tennis – Channel League Finals at Dos Pueblos, 3 pm. Softball – Malibu at Bishop Diego, 3:30 pm; St. Bonaventure at Carpinteria, 3:30 pm.

Friday, 5/9: Track and field – Channel League Finals at San Marcos, 4 pm. Baseball – Buena at Santa Barbara, 3:15 pm; Ventura at San Marcos, 3:30 pm.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Information for most running events: sbrunning.org.

Friday, 4/25: Special Olympics – 6th annual Santa Barbara School Games, SBCC La Playa Stadium, 9:15 am. sosc.org.

Saturday, 4/26 – Gaucho Gallop, 1K dog dash, 5K run/walk, 10K run, UCSB Harder Stadium.

Wednesday, 4/30 – Start of weekly Nite Moves swim-run, Leadbetter Beach (through August 27).

Saturday, 5/3: Roller Derby – Mission City Brawlin’ Betties vs. Pacific Coast Recycled Rollers, Earl Warren Showgrounds, 5 pm.

Sunday, 5/4: Running – Run for Ricky 5k run/walk, Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, 9 am. (Benefit for family of car crash victim Ricky Santos). active.com.

Thursday, 5/15 – Professional cycling – Amgen Tour of California Stage 5: Starts at Pismo Beach (11:45 am), finishes on Santa Barbara waterfront.