Baseball is a half-game behind Santa Barbara and tied with local rival Allan Hancock atop the Western State Conference standings.  The Cougars split their season series against Santa Barbara and took three-of-four against the Bulldogs, but the WSC title and a free trip to the playoffs come's down this week.  The Cougars open the week at home on Tuesday (2:30) with Los Angeles Pierce and also host Moorpark on Thursday (2:30), before concluding the regular season in Oxnard on Saturday (1 PM).  All three teams our out of title contention and only Moorpark maintains any post-season aspirations.  The visiting Brahmas, who are 6-14 in WSC play, are the only team in the loop with a winning record against the Cougars, 2-1, and Cuesta is eager to even the score on Tuesday.  The Cougars lost to Moorpark in a weather shortened game, 4-3, but took their next two against Raiders decisively, 11-0 and 13-4.  The cellar-dwelling Oxnard Condors opened conference play with a win over Santa Barbara, 7-3, but have only added two more victories since that March 2 triumph.  The Cougars took three games from them two weeks ago but must complete the sweep this Saturday to defend their 2022 title and bring home the program's 20th conference crown.  

The Cougars are looking to rebound this week after missing an opportunity to knock both Santa Barbara and Allan Hancock out of title contention.  Last week, Cuesta sandwiched a Thursday-win over Ventura, 9-6, between a loss to the Vaqueros, 6-5, on Tuesday and another setback to the Bulldogs on Saturday, 13-7. 

Coach Bob Miller (pict-L) entered this season tied with Larry Lee, the current Head Coach at Cal Poly, at 460 for the most wins among Cuesta's seven Baseball coaches since 1966.  Miller claimed the win record on opening day against his former team Riverside, 12-8, and is now closing in on breaking another tie with his 10th conference title in sight.  Lee led the Cougars to nine titles during his 16-year tenure and Coach Dan Marple won a Coast Conference title with the Cougars in 1982; the program's last year in the Northern California Region.

Cuesta's College All Time Coaching Win List (Bold- Active)

1. Terry Bowen, Men's Water Polo (556-238-16)
2. Rusty Blair, Men's Basketball (548-406)
3. Bob Miller, Baseball (481-330-3)
4. Larry Lee, Baseball (460-231-3)
5. Ed Musolff, Women's Basketball (427-418)
6. John Marsh, Men's Water Polo (425-204-1)
7. Pete Schuler, Women's Water Polo (405-264-3)
8. Allison Grant, Softball (335-231-2)
9. Don Hansen, Men's Basketball (328-447)
10. Mike Lee, Softball (313-235)
11. Roche Nystrom, Women's Volleyball (303-237)