Last year, #10 Cuesta beat #11 Santa Barbara, in Santa Barbara, on the final day of the regular season to clinch sole possession of the 2022 Western State Conference title with an 11-4 win.  This week the Cougars and Vaqueros open the 2023 Western State Conference schedule with a three-game series.  The two teams meet in Santa Barbara today (2 PM), however Thursday's game in San Luis Obispo has been moved up to Wednesday (2 PM) due to expected inclement weather, while Saturday's (1 PM) game in Santa Barbara, currently, remains in place.  After this week's three-game series the two teams will not play against until April 18 in SLO.  

After beginning last week with an 11-inning tie against #17 Reedley, 8-8, baseball hit the road to face #3 Saddleback for a two-game set in Mission Viejo.  The Cougars downed the newly re-named Bobcats, 4-3, in the opener on the strength of Freshman Luigi Albano-Dito's (pict) stellar effort in relief.  Albano-Dito entered the game with the Cougars down 3-0 in the 3rd inning and held the Bobcats scoreless until the Cougars won the game, 4-3.  The series finale was a more offensive affair as each team went through five pitchers in the contest, which Saddleback salvaged, 8-3, to earn the split.  Outfielder and Leadoff Hitter Ethan Royal (pict) led the Cougars offensively against the Bobcats.  He was 4-for-8, including a double, on the weekend, while driving in a pair of runs.  Cuesta posted a 6-5-1 record during the pre-conference schedule, where they played five different ranked teams.  Santa Barbara and #18 Ventura are the only other teams in the WSC that are currently ranked.   

Photos courtesy of Emily Valdez