Pato Guerrero felt more like the head of a family rather than the girls soccer coach at Bishop Diego.
I’ve been coaching a long time and this is the first time I found a team that believed in each other, like a family,” he said Monday during the presentation of his CIF-SS Division 7 championship team at the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Press Luncheon at Harry’s Plaza Cafe.
He said after dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, injuries and a long break without practices or games, the team showed great resiliency.
“Once the season started, the girls put aside individual goals. They started fighting for each other and playing for each other. And we started having success,” he said.
“I think that’s the reason we won the championship this year.”
The Cardinals defeated Thacher, 6-5, in double overtime to win the first CIF girls soccer championship in school history. They then won their first CIF State Regional playoff game.
With only one senior on the squad, Guerrero is getting excited about next season.
“I think we have everybody coming back. We lose only one player, so I’m looking forward to next year,” he said.
SAN MARCOS BOYS VOLLEYBALL
The Royals have a big week of matches, starting Tuesday against a solid Westlake team. They play a Channel League rivalry match at Dos Pueblos on Thursday and finish the week at the 45th Dos Pueblos Invitational on Saturday at UCSB.
Coach Roger Kuntz introduced junior middle hitter Kyle Foley, junior opposite Luke Walker and sophomore outside hitter Jack Wilson.
He said Wilson has “a very explosive arm swing” and has a bright future.
Walker’s high volleyball IQ has helped Kuntz devise combinations to make the team successful.
On Foley, Kuntz said he’s put in a lot of work during the offseason to get better and solidify the middle position for the Royals (7-4).
SANTA BARBARA HIGH TRACK & FIELD
Athlete of the Week Davis Flanagin was joined by teammates Blaise Snow, Mackenna Show and London Moro.
Snow is a sophomore middle distance runner who is having a solid early season, said assistant coach Moki Nacario.
Show is sophomore who does the 800, 400 and 4×400 relay. Nacario said she might run on the 4×100 team.
Moro, also a sophomore, runs the 400 and 4×400 relay and is expected to enter some 800 races.
Nacario said Flanagin is one of the top jumpers, sprinters and relay runners on the squad.
DOS PUEBLOS BASEBALL
Coach George Hedricks called the Chargers’ games last week a Jekyll-and-Hyde performance. They slugged 18 hits in a 15-3 win at Lompoc and were shut out by Santa Ynez, 3-0
“I think we used up all our hits in that (Lompoc) game because we couldn’t seem to find a hit in our game Friday against Santa Ynez,” he said.
Hedricks introduced seniors Arjun Gunda and Tim Lisi. Gunda went 3-for-3 in the Lompoc game “and had a great approach at the plate, something he’s been working hard on,” said the coach.
Gunda plays catcher and left field. He’s outstanding in the classroom, carrying a 4.8 weighted GPA.
“He brings a lot to the table for us, and has continued to grow from his junior to senior year.”
Lisi starts at second base. He missed most of his junior year as he was playing football during the compressed sports season last spring and suffered an injury.
“To have him full time right now has been a huge, huge benefit to our team,” said Hedricks. “He is another good leader and a good kid in the classroom with a 4.5 GPA.”
The Chargers (1-2 in Channel League) host Santa Barbara (2-1) on Tuesday.
SANTA BARBARA HIGH BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Alex Rottman and Andreas Schuetz, two powerful outside hitters for the Dons, were introduced by assistant coach Jon Roberts.
He pointed out that their combined 54 kills led the Dons to a comeback five-set win at Mira Costa. Rottman had 34 kills and nine blocks to lead the team.
“Getting nine blocks in a volleyball match is like getting nine RBI in a baseball game,” Roberts explained.
On Schuetz: “He’s a very explosive, dynamic hitter,” said Roberts.
Schuetz and Rottman were key players on last year’s CIF-SS Division 2 championship team.
The Dons continue their tough schedule this week with a match at Loyola in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
LAGUNA BLANCA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Jason Donnelly has a group of seniors that have been playing volleyball at Laguna Blanca since middle school.
Middle Freddie Russell and setter Jack Shiebler are two of those veteran players who have learned the game from Donnelly.
Russell is a physical presence at the net.
“When he remembers to go as hard as he’s capable of going, he’s unstoppable,” said Donnelly. “He hit .800 in a match this weekend and was named to the all-tournament team at the Chadwick Tournament.”
Donnelly said it’s been a pleasure to coach a player like Shiebler.
“I’ve been doing this a long time and I wish every coach could get to coach someone who cares as much about his team and his sport as Jack,” said Donnelly. “Jack is so invested in what we’re trying to do that it’s noticeable on and off the court.”
His work ethic, drive and eagerness to learn has greatly benefitted the Owls.
Laguna Blanca plays a Tri-Valley League home match against Foothill Tech on Tuesday, travels to Dunn on Thursday and hosts Santa Ynez on Friday.
“Keep an eye on us. It’s going to be a fun year,” said Donnelly.
SAN MARCOS TRACK & FIELD
Coach Marilyn Hantgin has another strong team this season. She called Celina Zambrano Mayo, Kiala Haas, Jonas Strand and Ethan Dwelley as “important to our team and our success going forward to hopefully win our league championship.”
Zambrano Mayo runs middle distance for the Royals.
“She’s starting off at a great pace for the mile and 800 meters,” said Hantgin.
She was part of the Royals’ CIF-qualifying 4×400 relay team last year.
Haas also runs the 800, mile and 4×400 relay.
“Kiala is a very talented runner who has been battling injuries, but she looks really great right now. I’m really looking forward to great things from Kiala.”
Dwelley, a standout on the cross country team in the fall, is focusing on the 800 and the mile this spring, said Hantgin.
“He is tremendous. It’s so hard to see him in his last year and see him moving on. He’s been a great part of the program and a really important part of our distance crew with a couple of other guys,” said Hantgin.
Strand is one of those kids that will run anything without complaining.
“He’ll do it. He loves doing it, and he always runs hard, always always, no matter how hard it is,” said Hantgin.
Strand was part of last spring’s CIF-champion 4×400 relay team.
SAN MARCOS BASEBALL
Caden Hodina and Emmett Speake are two reasons for San Marcos’ success on the diamond.
Hodina, a junior with a 4.1 GPA, has been playing a solid third base.
Coach Wes Ghan-Gibson said Hodina set the tone for the Royals in their 6-1 win at Santa Barbara with his defense. He backhanded a ground ball on the short hop and threw the runner out.
Ghan-Gibson said while the backhanded play was unnecessary, “I guess that’s just the way he was feeling that day and it set the tone for us.”
He also delivered with the bat.
“On his first AB, he hit a triple and drove in two runs. That was really good to see from a junior,” said Ghan-Gibson.
Speake is batting .380 and has an on-base percentage of .517. He’s also turned in some solid appearances as a pitcher. In 10 innings, he has 19 strikeouts and allowed only three walks.
In a five innings against Santa Ynez last week, he didn’t allow a run, struck out nine and didn’t walk a batter.
Ghan-Gibson called Speake one of the best left-handed hitters in the Channel League.
“I think he’s got something to prove this year. He got honorable mention in the Channel League and he wants to bump that up and try to be better,” said the coach.
The Royals host Cabrillo on Tuesday and Lompoc on Friday.
DOS PUEBLOS SOFTBALL
Coach Mike Gerken praised the pitching of sophomore Georgia Wilson in the Chargers’ 1-0 win over Lompoc last week.
Wilson was named the female Athlete of the Week.
“It came down to the sixth inning and they have the bases loaded,” Gerken recalled. “Georgia looks at our catcher and she’s like, ‘We got this, me and you.’ And sure enough we got out of it.”
Wilson retired the Braves in order in the seventh to earn the complete-game shutout.
She followed that up with five RBI in a Friday win at Santa Ynez.
Gerken gave a shout out to third baseman Bella Nuno, who is on fire at the plate. Over the last two weeks, she’s batting 14-for-28 for a .500 average.
“It doesn’t matter who we’re facing,” he said.
The Chargers play Santa Barbara and Cabrillo this week.
— Noozhawk sports editor Barry Punzal can be reached at bpunzal@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk Sports on Twitter: @NoozhawkSports. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
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