Softball
On March 29, Santa Ynez High defeated Cabrillo High by a score of 1-0, to win the Pirates’ second consecutive Los Padres League game, and move themselves into first place in the league standings at 2-0-0. This was the first time the softball program has defeated Cabrillo High in 14 years. With the win, the Lady Pirates also upped their overall record to 6-5.Coaches Gretchen Savidan and Jeff LaTour took the reins of the softball program in late 2010, and brought with them a set of high expectations for this year’s young team. “We want our softball players to “compete on and off the softball diamond. We expect them to work just as hard in their classes, as they are expected to do for the softball team. If they work hard, the results will come,” said Savidan.
This year’s team is young by varsity sports standards. There is only one senior, and one junior on the 16-man roster, while the rest of the team is composed of freshmen and sophomores. “We’re trying to make a positive out of having such a young team. We have some excellent athletes and they’re going to be even better next year. We’re trying to teach them to believe in themselves and know they can compete with the older and more experienced teams,” said LaTour.
The game against the Lompoc Braves on March 25 adjourned in extra innings due to darkness. “As it stands right now the score is 1-1 and we will pick up right where we left off in overtime,” said Savidan.
The Pirates lost 1-0 to Morro Bay on April 1. Results from games against Carpinteria and Santa Barbara, neither of which were league match-ups, were unavailable at Journal press time. Up next for the Pirates is a league game at Santa Maria at 4 p.m. Friday.
“With the help and support of our athletic director, parents, and booster club, we’re trying to create a culture of winning for the softball program. Our goal is to win the league and to advance in the playoffs this year,” said Savidan.
Varsity tennis
Pirate tennis continues their looting ways, taking home all the gold. “The last two matches were easy for us, and they were a good opportunity for me to use all my subs,” says coach Larry Popkin. “Miles Seemann and Joe Herman are undefeated in league and Joseph Kavaloski has only lost one match in league play. And our number one doubles team of Tyler Dalo and Alex Aichinger are also undefeated in league.”Recent wins include and 18-0 rout of Morro Bay, a 14-4 trouncing of Templeton and sound 17-1 defeat of Santa Maria.
“I don’t think there’s anyone in our league that can touch us. We have some very tough matches in the next few weeks that will really be a tough challenge,” said the coach.
Junior high tennis
The 1st Annual Valleywide Girls Jr. High Doubles Tournament was held recently. There were 76 participants over two days. The first round for both the beginner and intermediate divisions were held at the Dunn School courts. The final rounds were held at Hans Christian Anderson courts the following day. It was a two-day single elimination doubles team event.The school teams participating were Solvang, Jonata, Dunn, Los Olivos, Charter, Christian Academy and Santa Ynez. The boys’ tournament will be held at the end of their season on May 4 and 5. “We hope to keep it going for the years to come as the school tennis season has not had a consistent running tournament schedule in the past,” said Sonny Armstrong, who spearheaded the event.
Armstrong is the Coach at Los Olivos School for Girls tennis. Winners in the intermediate/advanced division were as follows: 1st-place medal winners: Representing Christian Academy, Emma Newton and Reagan Mroz; 2nd place: representing Los Olivos, Cade Sorenson and Emily; in the beginner division, 1st-place medal winners, representing Charter School, were Caira Moirot and Brontee Cintron; 2nd place, representing Santa Ynez, Ashley Von Tillow and Hayley Sadecki.
Track and field
The Pirates recently had two meets, after a big day at the Easter Relays. First up was the rain delayed Nipomo league contest. “This was definitely the closest/hardest dual the girls have had since I have been here,” said head coach Brian Wallace.“Lexi Borroell, Cat Truax, Rachel Szeyller Kaci Mexico, Emilie Newton and Hailey King were the stars. All of these athletes had to match or set new PRs for the win,” he said. Final individual results were not available, but girls’ varsity won 70-66 and the boys finished 85-51.
“The junior varsity girls would have won their meet if I had left some of the best freshmen at that level, but the varsity girls needed every point we could muster so freshmen Dana Illes, Brooke Goodwin and Ariel Johnston all scored points and helped the varsity stay undefeated,” Wallace said, adding that “we didn’t dominate in any one aspect; we just slowly added to our total all day and ended up with a hard-earned win. The coaches and I couldn’t be prouder of the team. “
The Pirates stayed undefeated as they took on Morro Bay at home March 31. Varsity girls won 91-45 and the boys 96-40. Both junior varsity teams took home wins.
First-place finishes were had by Lexi Borroel in both the 100- and 200-meter dash. Shay Calderon took the 800 and Truax the 1600. Emilie Newton finished out the track wins, crossing the 100 hurdles line first.
On the field, high-jump honors were shared by Truax and Hailey King. Kaci Mexico took pole vault, Brynn Fallon the long and Dana Illes the triple jump. Shot and discus went to Rachel Szeyller. For the boys, both relay teams won their match-ups. In individual events, the 100 and 200 fell to Cody Uhrig, whose father, Charlie, coaches the hurdlers. Connor Reck took the 800 and 1600. Erik Sheldon took top honors in 110 and 300 hurdles as well as the triple jump. Long and triple jump went to Zach Foss.
Also with a double win was Dane Underwood in the shotput and discus.
Volleyball
The Santa Ynez boys’ team opened Los Padres League play with a 25-10, 25-12, 25-11 sweep at Santa Maria. Offensively, the Pirates were led by Wyatt Garley and Clay Adam each getting 8 kills.“Wyatt, Clay and especially Andrew Palmer got things going with their passing and defense. They combined for 33 digs tonight and just vacuumed up most of the balls hit by the Saints,” said coach Chip Fenenga. As a team, the Pirates serve put pressure on the Saints with Dane Bolitho (5 kills, 19 assists, 2 stuff blocks) serving for 17 points Austin Lippincott (6 digs) serving for 13 and Russ Fenenga (3 aces, 11 assists) serving for 10. “Everyone who came in was able to contribute. Chris Gil hammered 4 kills from the left side, while Mitchel Oaks added 6 kills and 4 stuffs from the right side,” Fenenga added.
Swimming
It may have been April Fool’s Day, but as impossible as it seemed, the Pirate boys took home their first win against Cabrillo in years. “We ended up winning, 95-90. This was the first win over Cabrillo in swimming since I remember, probably since I started coaching here 5 years ago,” said an enthusiastic coach Jake Kalkowski.First-place finishes for the boys included: 200-meter medley relay (1:54.17) with Lukas Lastra, Jared Butler, Adam Parlato and Greg Hatchell. Individual wins were had by Butler 200 free (1:53.25) and 500 free (5:13.50); Parlato 200IM (2:23.09); Hatchell 50 Free (24.46), 100 Free (54.56); Lukas Lastra 100 Back (1:08.22) and the 200 free relay with Lastra, Ryan Krause, Eric Illes, and Hatchell (1:39.32).
But the big win of the day came from the 400 free relay team of Krause, Parlato, Illes, and Butler, with a time of 3:37.51. “The 400 relay team was huge. We were up by 3 points heading into this race. If this relay team lost, then we lost the meet. If they won, we won the meet. We only had one relay team here and Cabrillo had 3 teams. Our boys stepped up big time. Parlato and Illes dropped 3 seconds from each of their 100 free splits, which I think was crucial to the win,” said Kalkowski.
The Lady Pirates did not fare as well, losing their meet 11-64. “Although the girls lost, we had some really good swims. They improved on 33 of their best times in the meet. The boys had 22 improvements,” Kalkowski.
First-place finishes included Alex Savage 200 Free (2:08.28) and 100 free (59.03); Kaeli Hanson 500 free (6:18.11). The 200 free relay with Jessica Meyers, Jena Deming, Holly Walter and Savage (1:52.19) also won.
“Overall, I was very proud of our teams. I don’t ever remember having a single meet with so many season best times set. We have a great group that is coming together and realizing how fast they can swim when they put their heart into the pool,” said their coach.
Dunn baseball
Senior Joe Eisaguirre with the help of freshman Ryan Layton combined to throw another no-hitter April 1 against league-rival Thacher School in a 16-2 victory. Eisaguirre struck out 10 in 3 1/3 innings and Ryan struck out 5 in 2 2/3 innings in the six-inning contest shortened by the 10-run mercy rule. The Dunn School baseball team is 3-3 overall and 3-0 in Condor League play.
Diving
The Pirate team is all rookies save for Rodney Roberts, but that didn’t stop them from making a good showing at the San Luis Obispo Dive Preview where Sean Griffiths, “a new and very naturally talented diver placed 1st with a score of 133.15,” says coach Jenele Martin. Roberts, who was in the finals for drafting in the architecture competition, did not compete, but teammate Marcelino Ortiz finished 10th (93.20). For the Lady Pirates, Ana Everhart finished 10th (104.10) and Hannah McCurdy finished 17th (86.40). “Essentially, our whole team is brand-new to the diving experience, yet they learned enough to compete. That means they all learned a dive in each of the five required categories, plus two in one category. They are well on their way to having two in each category which will allow them to compete at the varsity level,” said Martin.