SBART Luncheon: Local Teams Enter Championship, CIF-SS Playoff Season

With the calendar inching closer towards May, the high school spring sports season has entered league championship and CIF-SS playoff mode.

Local track & field, swim, boys volleyball, beach volleyball and softball squads provided updates on their teams heading into a critical week at Monday’s Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Press Luncheon at Harry’s Plaza Cafe.

Busy Playoff Week Ahead

The CIF-SS boys volleyball and lacrosse playoffs begin this week, while the girls beach volleyball season rolls on with quarterfinal matchups.

San Marcos and Santa Barbara High are the last local teams standing in the CIF-SS beach volleyball postseason brackets.

The Royals will hit the road to take on Redondo Union on Tuesday at 2 p.m. for the Div. 1 quarterfinals. San Marcos defeated Oaks Christian, 3-2, in the first-round matchup.

“All eight of the teams still in the division are ranked in the top 25 nationally,” San Marcos head coach Tim Loomer said. “We played [Redondo Union] a couple of weeks ago and lost, but we were really competitive. So we have an opportunity and it’s going to be great.”

Meanwhile, the Dons will host Long Beach Wilson on Wednesday at 3 p.m. at East Beach in the Div. 2 quarterfinals. Santa Barbara has defeated Foothill Tech (5-0) and St. Joseph of Lakewood (3-2) so far.

On the indoor court, six local squads will begin their quest for a CIF-SS title this week.

The Channel League champion San Marcos Royals will host Claremont for the Div. 3 opener on Tuesday inside the Thunderhut. Meanwhile, the Tri-Valley League champion Bishop Diego Cardinals will be on the road against Wiseburn DaVinci on Tuesday.

“We hope to have a good run,” San Marcos head coach Dave Goss said.

In Div. 4, Santa Barbara High will host Elsinore on Wednesday at 6 p.m. inside J.R. Richards Gym. Carpinteria High, slotted into Div. 8, will also begin the playoffs at home against Los Amigos on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Laguna Blanca will head down to take on Ramona High on Wednesday at 6 p.m. for the Div. 6 playoff opener.

Dos Pueblos earned a first-round bye in Div. 4 and will await the winner of Fontana or Westminster, who the Chargers will host on Saturday at 6 p.m. inside Sovine Gym.

As for lacrosse, there will be three local girls teams and three local boys teams vying for a CIF-SS championship.

After an undefeated regular season, Dos Pueblos will look to keep it rolling with a home matchup against either El Segundo or Orange Lutheran in the second round of the Div. 2 bracket on Friday at 5 p.m.

Meanwhile, in the Div. 3 playoffs, Santa Barbara High will host Woodbridge and Cate will be on the road against Millikan. Both games are set for Monday at 5 p.m.

On the girls side, San Marcos is fresh off its second straight Channel League title and will welcome Laguna Beach to Warkentin Stadium for the Div. 2 opener on Monday at 5 p.m.

On Tuesday at 5 p.m., Dos Pueblos and Cate will begin the Div. 3 playoff bracket. The Rams are on the road against Beckman, while the Chargers will host Paloma Valley.

Track & Field, Swim League Championship Week

While most sports are entering their first playoff matchups, the local track & field and swim teams will compete in their respective league championship meets this week.

On the track, San Marcos, Santa Barbara High and Dos Pueblos will head down to Ventura to compete in the Channel League championship meet on Thursday.

“It’s a great venue and a great place to compete. Usually there’s some big marks there,” Santa Barbara High head coach Olivia Perdices said. “Channel League is always a dogfight in every event, so we’re looking forward to having some fun with San Marcos, DP and the rest of the league down there.”

The Royals’ boys team is fresh off a Santa Barbara County title, while the Chargers placed in the top three in both the boys and girls meets.

Carpinteria High will host this year’s Citrus Coast League Track & Field championship meet on Thursday at Carpinteria Valley Memorial Stadium. The Warrior girls will look to make some noise, as they went a perfect 6-0 in the regular season.

Bishop Diego track & field will compete in their league finals on Friday at Ventura College.

In the pool, San Marcos will host the Channel League Championship meet, with prelims beginning on Tuesday and the finals taking place on Thursday.

Carpinteria High will begin the Citrus Coast League championship meet with prelims on Tuesday at Hueneme High.