Cuesta and Santa Barbara City tied for the 2025 Western State Conference title and met this season for the first time with a three-game series this week.  The Cougars took Tuesday's game, 17-13, and improved to 4-0 in conference play, but the Vaqueros evened the series in Pershing Park on Thursday, 9-1.  In today's rubber match, the Vaqs took the lead for good, 3-0, on Cole Ide's three-run, home run to open the game.  The Cougars got on the board in the second inning, when Rightfielder Jak Sinclair Doubled to lead-off the inning and scored on Jarom Damery's groundout.  Unfortunately,  Santa Barbara added the eventual winning run on in the 4th inning Elijah Garcia's RBI-single, with two outs, plated Bradley Cekada for a 4-1 advantage.  The Cougars closed the gap with a pair of unearned runs in the 3rd, when Henry Hanavan scored an error, before Justin Lemaster stole home on a successful double steal. The Cougars still trailed, 4-3, by one-run. However, both teams were unable to score again until the 8th inning.  Vaquero Centerfielder Damos Deworken ignited a rally with a one-out walk and moved into scoring position on an errant throw over to first, before scoring on William Matuszak's Single.  Matuszak later scored on Cekada's bases loaded walk to boost the eventual final score, 6-3.  Both defending champions boast a 4-2 record in WSC play; however, they are both trailing the current loop-leader Ventura, who is 5-1 against the WSC.  

 

The Cougars continue their Western State Conference schedule with three games against Ventura next week.  The Cougars will play the Pirates in Ventura on Tuesday (2 PM)  and Saturday (1 PM), while also  hosting the Bucs on Thursday (2 PM)