BY BLAKE DORFMAN, PRESIDIOSPORTS.COM
There have been some pretty impressive statistical performances being turned in by local athletes lately.
Take Hannah Harris, for example. The Dos Pueblos softball sophomore went 3-1 in the pitcher’s circle last week. Through the 25 innings, she had 28 strikeouts while only giving up one earned run. With the bat, she hit .667 with an on-base percentage of .742.
As a result, she was named Female Athlete of the Week at Monday’s Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table luncheon, which featured a small crowd but plenty of big perfomances.
SOFTBALL
DOS PUEBLOS: Charger baseball coach Nate Mendoza pinch-hit for softball coach Donn Roberts at Harry’s to discuss how the team is doing. The Chargers are at 6-9 overall and 2-2 in Channel League play heading into the second half of the conference season.
Harris has 76 strikeouts in 72 innings and a 1.85 ERA. Along with her at the luncheon was freshman Chloe Madill, who had a double and two triples last week. DP, the CIF-SS Academic Champion, plays host to Ventura on Tuesday.
SANTA BARBARA: The Dons have only one win on the season, but it was a league victory against rival San Marcos. It’s not as if they haven’t come close in other efforts, including a 4-3 loss at Buena and a 3-1 loss to Ventura.
“It’s one of the best games they have played this year,” said coach Bob Harris of the Buena game.
He brought along two of the team’s star players. Rebecca Neilsen-Robbins is a four-year starting pitcher and is deciding between numerous Ivy League schools next year. Sheila Lopez is the team’s junior catcher.
The Dons play at San Marcos on Tuesday.
UCSB: It’s been a rough season thus far for the Gauchos, who are 9-27 overall and 0-6 in the Big West.
“The good thing is that we have 15 games left,” said coach Brie Galicinao. “It’s tough right now where we’re thinking that things are getting better, but until you get that W it’s not quite what you want.”
Allison Taylor was brought to Harry’s because of her consistency despite the rough times.
“The good thing is that our team is still working hard and going after it,” said Galicinao. “We’re giving out awards, and she was are award-winner this week for being tough as nails… Whether we’re losing or whether we’re winning or whether it’s practice or a big game she’s always the same. Those are the kind of athletes that are going to help us get out of where we are right now.”
Next up is a series at first-place UC Riverside this week.
BISHOP DIEGO: Athletic Director Dan Peeters spoke on behalf of coach Tom Beamer. The Cardinals have an 8-6 non-conference record, including wins over Santa Barbara, Hueneme and Channel Islands. Peeters introduced sophomore Paige Sleep, who is a three-sport varsity athlete with a 4.4 GPA. He also introduced freshman pitcher Madison Ballard, who is also a straight-A student.
The Cardinals play Nordhoff on Tuesday.
SBCC: The Vaqueros’ Patty Martinez went 4-for-7 in a doubleheader split with Moorpark last week, including a double, her first homer and six RBIs in that stretch. The team then went down and beat L.A. Valley 7-2 before falling to East L.A. 4-3. They’re 20-14 on the year and 6-7 in the Western State Conference.
BASEBALL
SANTA BARBARA HIGH: The Dons have been playing in the Righetti Tournament off-and-on since the 70s, but had never made it to the championship game. That all changed last week, as they won all four of their games — including a 7-4 decision over Division I top-ranked Royal — en route to capturing the title. Santa Barbara was mercy-ruled by both Royal and Deer Valley last year, but downed both of them this time around.
Male Athlete of the Week Pepe Gil had 10 RBIs over the four-game stretch, including a homer and two doubles. One of his doubles brought in the final two runs of the win over Royal. Assistant coach George Rempe also brought along junior catcher Colin Eaton and senior Reuben Atkatz.
“All three of these players are different in personalties, nationalities, interests and everything else, but as baseball players they all have three things in common. They all work hard, they’re all good guys, and they all had a base hit and an RBI in the Righetti Tournament,” said Rempe.
DOS PUEBLOS: The Chargers were also busy up the coast last week, but in a different tournament as Dos Pueblos went 3-1 in the San Luis Obispo Spring Break Tournament. Sophomore Joe Huthsing did a little bit of everything in the four games, going 6-for-13 at the plate and also picked up a pair of wins and a save on the mound. He started at catcher and had four hits against St. Bonaventure. He also came on in relief with the game tied 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth, only to get the Chargers out of a jam. He nabbed a hit in the top of the seventh and DP went on to win.
“I think it’s just such a unique performance. Being in that situation might not happen again,” said Mendoza.
Junior teammates Steven Reveles and Michael Spiritosanto were also introduced by Mendoza. Reveles, who plays shortstop, had a double, a triple and his first varsity home run last week.
“It was about 12 feet high, no joke. It was a line drive the whole way out and it went about 40 feet over the fence,” said Mendoza.
Spiritosanto is a star running back on the football team on top of hitting in the clean-up spot for the baseball squad. He also has a 4.4 GPA, while Reveles carries a 4.2.
SAN MARCOS: The Royals weren’t as busy as the Dons or Chargers last week, playing just one game. Unfortunately, it was a 3-2 loss at the hands of Ventura. Former Athlete of the Week Nick Stathopoulos pitched the entire game and needed just 84 pitches to do so.
The action picks up quickly for the Royals this week, as they’ll place first-place Santa Barbara twice.
UCSB: The Gauchos got off on the right foot in Big West Conference play, taking two of three in a weekend series against rival Cal Poly. After dropping the Friday night opener in extra innings, UCSB came out and took a 6-0 lead in Saturday’s game. They lost the lead midway through and were trailing late before pulling back to win it in the ninth.
One of the big reasons they were able to win was the performance of pitcher Greg Davis, who was at the Harry’s on Monday. Davis came into the game with UCSB trailing by two and gave up a hit to the first batter he faced, but that was the only one he would allow in the next four innings.
“Greg also pitched our Tuesday game against Loyola Marymount. He got the start and pitched three perfect innings, so he went seven innings on the week and only gave up one hit with no runs and was just outstanding,” noted coach Bob Brontsema.
The coach also introduced Jesse Meaux, who went the distance in his start on Sunday to slam the door shut on the Mustangs.
SBCC: It was a sweet and then sour week for the Vaqueros, who beat rival Cuesta 3-2 before being demolished by first-place Oxnard, 24-9.
“We were down 6-0 and then we got to within 7-5 on back-to-back home runs by Daniel Howell and Steven Keller, and then the roof fell in — or it would have fallen in if there was a roof on Pershing Park,” said Sports Information Director Dave Loveton. “We’re putting that one behind us, and we play Oxnard again on Tuesday.”
TENNIS
UCSB WOMEN: Pete Kirkwood’s Gauchos are in a three-way tie for second place in the Big West, but it looks as if they’ll receive the fourth seed heading into the upcoming conference tournament. They are 10-10 after a 3-8 start.
While he wasn’t able to bring any athletes with him, Kirkwood spoke about two exceptional young ladies who have come back against some tough odds. Tova Hausman had to undergo back surgery as a sophomore and doctors didn’t think she would play tennis competitively again, but she is now back on the squad playing at the No. 3 singles spot with a nine-match winning streak.
Similarly, Jill Damion is playing in both singles and doubles after undergoing both wrist and shoulder surgery during her collegiate career.
DOS PUEBLOS: The Chargers are 9-4, and coach Liz Frech proudly announced that the team will be represented by three players at the prestigious Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament — Sasha Gryaznov, Austin Cano and Christian Edstrom.
Cano, nicknamed “The Volcano” by his teammates, joined Frech for the luncheon along with Malcolm “Malky” Sutton. Both began with Frech at the JV level and moved up to varsity when she did.
“I have watched them grow, not only as talented tennis players but also as fine young men,” said Frech. “They are both intense, fiery and very vocal on the court.”
BISHOP DIEGO: The Cardinals are in second place halfway through the Frontier League season, and for the second straight year the race for the title will come down to them and Villanova. Pinch-hitting for coach Ray “Slash” Vazquez, Peeters introduced Charlie Taylor and Nolan Tisdale.
Taylor is back from a broken thumb he suffered playing dodgeball last year and is playing at the No. 1 singles spot. Tisdale, who was also the quarterback for the JV football team this year, is playing at the No. 3 singles spot.
SBCC: The Vaquero women have qualified for the postseason after missing the playoffs for the past few years. Freshman Anna Slyutova, a Dos Pueblos grad, is 23-1 on the year. The men’s team is hosting the WSC individual championships on Friday and Saturday.
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