Week in Sports: Karch Kiraly TOC Features Strong Teams

High school boys volleyball comes to the fore this Friday and Saturday (April 17-18) at Santa Barbara High, host of the Karch Kiraly Tournament of Champions. Five of the top 10 teams on the CIF Southern Section Division I poll will be competing, led by Mira Costa (No. 2), Santa Barbara (No. 3) and Newport Harbor (No. 4).

Four local teams participating in the tournament will compete Tuesday night (April 14) San Marcos visiting Santa Barbara in a Channel League match, and Santa Ynez playing at Dos Pueblos.

The most unpredictable sport in the Channel League is baseball. All five teams enter the week sporting 2-2 records in league action. Dos Pueblos and San Marcos will host games this week.

UCSB‘s baseball team edged its Big West record to 5-4 after taking two of three games at UC Davis last weekend. The Gauchos, 19-10 overall, take a break from conference play while hosting four games this week, including a three-game weekend series against San Jose State.

UCSB’s softball team will shoot for its third straight win over Cal State Northridge on Wednesday afternoon. In a double-header against the Matadors last Saturday, the Gaucho women rallied from a 6-3 deficit to win 7-6, and then freshman Krista Cobb pitched a shutout in a 6-0 victory.

Westmont College has gone 9-7 in baseball after winning only three of its first 23 games. The Warriors host Biola on Wednesday. Also surging is the SBCC baseball team, 7-2 in its last nine games. The Vaqueros return home Saturday against Cuesta. SBCC’s softball team, winners of four out five, hosts Hancock on Tuesday.

For the active set, one of the area’s most popular road runs returns for the 30th time on Saturday morning the Santa Barbara Chardonnay 10-Miler. It starts at 8 a.m. on the waterfront. Many runners undoubtedly will be looking forward to the wine-tasting that follows the finish.

Here is a list of events to check out this week:

TOP SPORTING EVENTS: APRIL 14-20

Tuesday, April 14

College softball Hancock at SBCC, Pershing Park, 2:30 p.m.

High school swimming San Marcos at Santa Barbara, 2:30 p.m.

High school baseball Ventura at Dos Pueblos, 3:15 p.m.

High school softball Santa Ynez at Santa Barbara, 3:30 p.m.; Buena at San Marcos, 3:30 p.m.

High school boys volleyball San Marcos at Santa Barbara, 6:30 p.m.; Santa Ynez at Dos Pueblos, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 15

College softball Cal State Northridge at UCSB, 1 p.m.

College baseball Cal State Bakersfield at UCSB, 2 p.m.; Biola at Westmont, 3 p.m.

High school baseball Fillmore at Carpinteria, 3:30 p.m.; Foothill at Dos Pueblos, 4 p.m.

Thursday, April 16

College baseball Biola at Westmont, 3 p.m.

High school track & field Santa Barbara at Dos Pueblos, 2:45 p.m.

Friday, April 17

College men’s tennis Western State Conference Championships, Pershing Park: Singles, 11 a.m. Doubles, 3 p.m.

College baseball San Jose State at UCSB, 2 p.m.

College men’s volleyball Cal State Northridge at UCSB, Robertson Gym, 7 p.m.

High school boys volleyball Karch Kiraly Invitational at Santa Barbara, 11 a.m.-7:45 p.m.

High school swimming Dos Pueblos at San Marcos, 2:30 p.m.

High school baseball Buena at San Marcos, 3:15 p.m.

High school softball Ventura at Dos Pueblos, 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 18

Running Santa Barbara Chardonnay 10-Miler and Patsy Dorsey 5K, Leadbetter Beach, 8 a.m. Sign-up information.

College men’s tennis Western State Conference Championships, Pershing Park, 10 a.m.

College baseball San Jose State at UCSB, 1 p.m.; Cuesta at SBCC, Pershing Park, 2:30 p.m.

High school boys volleyball Karch Kiraly Tournament of Champions at Santa Barbara, 9 a.m. Championship match, 6:15 p.m.

High school track & field 90th Russell Cup at Carpinteria, 9:30 a.m.

Sunday, April 19

College baseball San Jose State at UCSB, 1 p.m.

Monday, April 20

Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon, Harry’s Plaza Cafe, 12 p.m.

UPCOMING RUNS

Saturday, April 25 Gaucho Gallop (10k run, 5k run/walk, 1 mile Dog Dash, Kid’s Dash), UCSB lagoon, 8 a.m. Sign-up information..

Tuesday, April 28 Reef & Run Summer Series (1k swim, 1-mile swim, 2-mile run, 4-mile run), Cabrillo Bath House, 6:25 p.m. Continues every Tuesday through September 8. Sign-up information..

Wednesday, May 6 Nite Moves Summer Sunset Series (1k swim, 5k run), Leadbetter Beach, 6 p.m. Continues every Wednesday through September 2. Sign-up information..