Cusack carries Cate to CIF victory

Cate second baseman Justin Lucchesi avoids the baserunner to make a throw to first base.

When Cate head baseball coach Ben Soto told his pitcher to start singing his favorite song, Greg Cusack went to Blink-182's First Date.With the tune in his head, Cusack recorded the final three outs to seal a 7-4 victory over Eastside Christian in the first round of the CIF Division-7 tournament."I was thinking too much. I was trying to aim it," Cusack explained, having started to get tired after a season-high 5 2/3 innings. "And then the coaches said sing your favorite song and I … [Read more...]

Alta Loma axes Dons from postseason

Alta Loma kept up the good work at home this season, remaining undefeated at its own field in a 15-3 CIF-opening Division-2 victory over Santa Barbara on Thursday.The Braves scored seven runs in the first inning and six in the second on their way to their 14th win at home this season without a loss.The Dons had just won their wild-card game on Tuesday but had no answers on Thursday. CLICK HERE TO VIEW DIVISION 2 CIF BRACKET "The other guys pitched better, fielded better, and hit … [Read more...]

Dos Pueblos makes an early playoff exit

Two dribblers and a blast helped knock Dos Pueblos out of the CIF baseball playoffs on Thursday.Trabuco Hills found the holes in the DP defense and scored three runs in the top of the fourth inning, and that was enough to beat the Chargers, 3-2, in a Division 2 first-round game at Scott O’Leary Field.The loss spoiled a solid pitching performance by DP senior Joe Huthsing, who was making his first start of the season. The Azusa Pacific recruit played catcher for most of the year to rest … [Read more...]

Windward closes down Cardinals in CIF

Bishop Diego High School’s “great season” – in which the Cardinals won the Frontier League championship and went 18-4 overall - came to an end at home on Thursday afternoon in a 9-2 CIF playoff loss against Windward.The loss also snapped an 11-game winning streak for Bishop Diego, which was seeded third in the Division-6 tournament.The visitors scored two runs in the first inning, three in the second, and two more in the third to jump out to an early 7-0 lead. Bishop’s … [Read more...]

Crawford, Dons capture CIF wild-card game

Kenny Crawford pitched a complete game and Connor McManigal provided the timely hitting in a 3-2 CIF wild-card win for Santa Barbara High at Arcadia on Tuesday afternoon.The Dons will now travel to Alta Loma for Thursday's Division 2 First Round."This team, despite it's league record deserved to be in the playoffs," said Dons assistant Mike Cooney. "Now we just want to take it one game at a time."McManigal scored the go-ahead run in the top of the fifth inning after hitting a triple, … [Read more...]

Local baseball teams learn CIF matchups

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CIF brackets were released on Monday for baseball and Channel League champion Dos Pueblos and Frontier League champion Bishop Diego are both host opening-round CIF baseball games on Thursday.The Chargers (18-9) take on the winner of a Division 2 wild-card game between Trabuco Hills and Loyola. The Chargers won a playoff game a year ago before falling to eventual CIF champion Mission Viejo. With a win this year, DP could end up playing Pac-7 league champion San Luis Obispo in the second … [Read more...]

Yonke stays undefeated on Senior Day

The Bishop Diego baseball team started its game against Fillmore by scoring six runs in the first inning, then cruised to an 11-3 victory ay home on Thursday.Senior J.D. Yonke pitched for Bishop Diego and on Senior Day, he earned his seventh win of the year and protected his undefeated record."He's pitched great for us all year. I've always been impressed by his mound presence," coach Kai Solin said.Four consecutive Cardinal batters were walked on the team's first at-bat, then Nolan … [Read more...]

Warriors season ends with 1-0 thriller at Malibu

The Carpinteria baseball team was inches away from forcing extra innings, but ended up losing 1-0 at Malibu. The loss means Malibu will qualify for the postseason while the Warriors' season will end.With the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh and just one out recorded, Carpinteria pitcher Colton Rubio forced a ground ball. One runner was thrown out at second base, but the throw to first was a split-second late and the Malibu runner beat the double play. This allowed the runner at … [Read more...]

Nakano-West nails down Chargers

San Marcos freshman Sean Nakano-West makes a pitch on Wednesday at Dos Pueblos.

San Marcos denied Dos Pueblos the opportunity to close out an undisputed Channel League championship on Wednesday by becoming the only team to beat the Chargers twice this season in a 4-2 decision.A win would have given the league title to Dos Pueblos outright. Now a win for Buena against Ventura on Thursday would allow the Bulldogs a piece of it.Royals starting pitcher Sean Nakano-West threw four innings. The San Marcos freshman was making one of his few starts this season and allowed … [Read more...]

Lucchesi goes distance in shutout win

Justin Lucchessi pitched all seven innings for the Cate School baseball team and led the Rams to a 5-0 victory over Ojai Valley.This was the season finale for Cate, who finished with a 4-2 record in the Condor League, which landed them in second place behind Dunn.Lucchessi struck out eight batters and walked three while allowing four hits. He improved to 7-1 on the season.Greg Cusack, Michael Warren and Adam Werksman all had RBI-singles during Wednesday's game.Cate (10-3 overall) … [Read more...]

Williams pitches Cardinals to 10th straight

Bishop Diego won its 10th straight game on Tuesday in a 7-1 Frontier League win over Fillmore.The league-champion Cardinals (17-3, 10-1), ranked No. 3 in Division 6, finish up their regular season on Thursday at home vs. Fillmore.Aidan Williams pitched a complete game to get the Cardinals their 17th win and was 1-for-3 at the plate. Williams, a sophomore, is 5-1 on the mound this season.Catcher John Salda reached base four times and recorded two hits, an RBI and run scored. Jacob … [Read more...]

Warriors keep playoff path open

Carpinteria's baseball team locked up an important Tri-Valley League victory on Tuesday by topping Malibu 7-5 on Senior Day.The victory moves the Warriors (10-11, 5-6) into a tie in the league standings with Malibu (14-9, 5-6). The two teams play again on Thursday with the winner clinching a playoff spot.Tuesday's game was tied 3-3 when the Warriors posted four runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning.Marcus Hutchinson picked up the win by pitching five innings. Colton Rubio … [Read more...]